Why The C master Dennis Ritchie introduced pointers in c? and why the other programming languages like vb.net or java or c# eliminate them? I have found some points in google and I wanna listen your comments too.Why do they eleminate pointers concepts in the modern languages?

People say c is the basic language to every language and pointers is the concept that makes c powerful and outstanding and makes c still to compete with the modern languages.Then why did they eliminate it in the modern languages.

Do you think knowledge on pointers to the young people I mean to these generation is important? because People are getting with vb.net or java these days, which supports highly advanced features than c (does not use any pointers concepts)and Many people as I see now (my friends) choose these languages ignoring c as they support advanced features.I tell them to start on with C. They say its waste to learn the concepts on pointers when your doing the advanced things in vb.net or java which are not possible in C.

What do you think so ? guys