Editor,
Our heads bow down in honour of the martyred troopers of the CRPF in Pulwana. The dastardly act perpetrated by terrorist groups based in Pakistan and in the Kashmir valley is highly condemnable. At a time when politicians seem to have started playing the blame game and lampooning the intelligence community for failure to warn of the IED blast it is time to uplift the morale of our soldiers and give them the respect they deserve. There are also a number of Khasi and Jaintia youths in the Army. Some are also in commanding ranks with various units of the Army, Navy and Air Force about whom many of us do not know. The need of the hour is to ensure peace, communal harmony in society and boost the morale of our forces even while a policy to effectively deal with cross-border terrorism is put in place.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3
Unfair selection
Editor,
Apropos the letter, “Children’s education at stake” (ST Feb 18, 2019) by some concerned parents, I would like to shed some light into this matter. I was one of the candidates who had applied for the same post but was rejected on grounds that I am not qualified for the desired post. The first question that I was asked by the Principal of the school was if I am a Computer Science Honours student to which I replied in the negative but I stated that I had completed a few courses from Ram Krishna Mission, Umsohsun. Then the Principal told me that they were looking specifically for a candidate who is a Computer Science (Honours) graduate and not any candidate with “Computer Knowledge” as they want a teacher who is capable of teaching Computers for classes 9 and 10. On the day that I went to submit my application there were other candidates as well for which the same explanation was given by the Principal. We were not saddened by the rejection because we are B.Sc degree holders with Honours in other subjects and so we knew then and there that we were not qualified. To therefore learn that the School had chosen a candidate who is not qualified and rejected an experienced Computer teacher reeks of favouritism. If the school had given all the candidates a fair chance to participate in the interview or perhaps the “computer courses” that they had sent the chosen candidate to complete then maybe a more qualified candidate would have emerged. I also wish to point out the B.Sc. Computer Science is one of the courses that is offered only in few colleges in Shillong and to combine B.Sc. Computer Science with B.Ed. is a rarity. That is why applicants have lesser chances of being selected while someone who is already officiating becomes the candidate of choice.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Shillong-8
Congress Party dilemma
Editor,
The former political entry of Priyanka Vadra Gandhi has been inspiring. She has tremendous fan following and commendable support of party workers from the lowest level and won the respect of leaders of various ranks within the Congress party. The Indian National Congress is a purely dynastic party within which only the will of the Nehru-Gandhi family members prevails. Without this family the party is almost non-existent. Mr. Rahul Gandhi must be appreciated for his political maturity and courage in bringing Priyanka Vadra Gandhi into the party as its General Secretary in charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and that just before the national elections. Indeed this is a masterstroke!
However, the rising popularity of Priyanka and her broader acceptance among voters and citizens of the country over Rahul Gandhi may be a matter of concern for both siblings in the forthcoming power struggle. As the saying goes, two tigers cannot roam the same forest; two heavyweight contenders for the top executive job of running India, the coveted seat of the Prime Minister may make the loud expression of happiness on the face of Rahul Gandhi change to anxiety and insecurity. I anticipate that Priyanka Vadra Gandhi will be a much more appealing leader to the masses compared to Rahul Gandhi and when the opportunity for the change of guard does happen in the power corridors of India we may, unfortunately see another Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi episode coming back to haunt Indian democracy. The trump card of bringing Ms. Priyanka Vadra Gandhi could prove to be a Waterloo for Rahul Gandhi in the not so distant future! The ensuing power struggle could make or break the Congress party in the long run.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB Canada