Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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Assumptions versus reality

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Editor,
Apropos the letter “Education woes” by Lewis Sooting (STJuly 29, 2014), I would like to make a few observations.
1. Yes, one does get a subjective view that the quality of education in Shillong has gone down. But are there any objective metrics to back up this ‘feeling’?
2.Yes again, in my opinion education is a social obligation, but are private institutions bound to such obligation by any law (of course morally, everyone is)? Are public institutions such as government schools and colleges doing better in this front? If not what is the solution?
3.Is there any moral or legal binding against a teacher giving private tuition? Yes, “tutored students normally fare better than their weaker classmates who cannot afford the highly priced tutorials(sic)” and cars are more comfortable than buses, but I fail to see the point.
4. He contradicts his opening statement “Shillong’s reputation as an educational capital (sic)” by his subsequent statement “They opt for those students with higher scores mostly from outside the State”(proof?), if Shillong is the education capital, then of course students from “outside” will come, which, in the first place, makes (or made) Shillong the educational capital. Further, just the merit of a student in any preceding exams is a questionable criteria for admission, but are there any other options/criteria either in theory or practice that are better? If so, I request Mr Sooting to provide them with justifications.
The letter by Mr. Sooting seems nothing but an overarching personal opinion and a very prejudiced one at that, with no research to back up his claims.
Yours etc.,
Apollo Sunn
Department of Chemistry,University of Hyderabad,
Gachibowli, Telangana, India

Sold to the highest bidder

Editor,
From maintaining a sulky silence on the NGT ban for the past three months, the ultra-right wing HANM is going on the warpath citing “heavy economic losses” due to the ban. By doing this, they have finally revealed their true motive. It is so easy to “buy and sell” groups like HANM that even a child can predict the outcome of agitations these days. No doubt other “patriotic” groups like KSU, FKJGP and others will join them shortly for their pound of flesh. The coal mafia’s move to buy shady groups to launch agitations has been under open discussion ever since the ban came into effect. The only thing which was in any doubt was – when it would happen. So too will be Mukul Sangma’s eagerness to cave in to their demands since he has a personal interest. It is almost laughable the way the script is playing out! Just as the Congress-led UPA Govt was Mukesh Ambani’s  “Dukan”, so too is our Govt a “Dukan” for every blackmailer who wants to try his luck. Everything is up for sale here – honour, dignity, culture, environment, nature, jobs, health and life. It is almost as if we are living in some lawless banana republic in some remote corner of the world. Neither the Indian Govt nor any other govt is interested in what goes on in this banana republic since it consists of retarded people who are best left to their own devices. The Govt is more than happy to fill our begging bowl as long as our Netas don’t bother them with internal issues. Meanwhile groups like HANM will continue to sell their services to the highest bidder and thrust their brand of patriotism down our pliable throats. In the end, people will suffer bandhs, agitations, vandalism, hooliganism and murders just to make these groups rich and nothing more!
Yours etc.,
James Kharpuri
Shillong -4

Toilets in response to Badaun rapes?

Editor
While toilets are essential to safeguard women and girls (especially in poor rural areas and for those belonging to the oppressed castes),it is naive to think they can solve the problem of rape in India or elsewhere. The solution has to come from a dialysis of masculinity, removing from its depths the proclivity to sexual violence. Good hearted men have to take on the depraved and combine this with stiff, shaming, expiatory punishments for all culprits. Why not have the Badaun rapists clean the toilets set up for women, for the rest of their lives … in full public view?
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email

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