M A I L B A G

A jobless topper’s open letter to Chief Minister

Dear grandpa,

Sat Sri Akal

You will feel happy to know that I have cleared the M.Sc (Chemistry) examination of Panjab University, Chandigarh, by obtaining 83 per cent marks with the top position in the university.

I am sorry to inform you that in spite of my high merit, I am unable to get selection as a teacher in the TGT or JBT rank. The reason is that I cannot pay Rs 2 lakh to an agent of the (SAD+BJP) government which is compulsory for the selection of a teacher. Since you are a landlord and head of a political party, I request you to kindly send me Rs 2 lakh for the agent of this poor government. I promise to return this amount from my salary after the selection.

The manager of the bank has told me that there is no scheme for loans to pay bribes. Otherwise, I would have applied to the bank for this purpose. I am sure that you cannot help me in getting selected as a teacher without the payment of a bribe even if you may be the Chief Minister. It is also doubtful whether any court can give me justice.

Wishing you a long life and ability to control corruption,

NISHAN KAURA, Raikot (Ludhiana)

Non- governance

It is a matter of anguish that all the successive governments have totally ignored the welfare of the people. The apex court is forced to take over the responsibility which, as per the Constitution, should have been performed by the legislature and the executive. Whether it is a case of saving the river waters or the TAJ from pollution, the apex court has to give directions to the governments for compliance.

MAJOR NARINDER SINGH JALLO (retd), Kapurthala

Research guide

Apropos the news "Physical chemist, but guide in another" (Feb 1), it is unfortunate that the standard of higher education research is declining. It is only because the research degree boards (RDBs) in the universities, which consist of Deans of faculties, Professors and Heads of departments, remain sleepy.

This seems to have happened in the RDB of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, which allowed a physical chemist to guide Ph.D research of two candidates in computer engineering. These pseudo-computer engineers will give directions to our coming generations. Being a retired Professor in Inorganic Chemistry with 30 years of experience and having guided more than 10 Ph.D candidates, I cannot think of guiding a Ph.D candidate even in another branch of chemistry.

Already a lot of deterioration in the quality of research being carried out in various Indian universities has been mentioned in international journals. The University Grants Commission and the All India Council of Technical Education must take necessary steps in this direction.

Prof P. C. AHLUWALIA, Ludhiana

Beggar's gesture

In November, 2001, I along with some friends was travelling by bus from Lahore to Punja Sahib. A beggar woman was begging from the passengers. I offered her a five rupee note. But she didn't take a notice of it and went ahead. I thought she had a poor vision so couldn't see me. As she came back, I tried to push the note into her hand. But to my amazement, she returned the note and said in Punjabi: “Naheen Sardarji, aseen mehmanan ton naheen mangde".

MANJITINDER SINGH JOHAL, Mandiani

Primary schools

In his letter 'Primary education' (Feb 5) Sandeep Fogaat has rightly shown great concern about the deterioration of primary education in Haryana. In rural areas any individual can start a so-called primary school and play with the lives of children. He has no proper training, no infrastructure, no necessary equipment. It is strange that somehow he gets recognition from the district education authorities supervising primary education. No one in the government office knows who is running this school and whether it fulfils the required norms or not. Some underhand deal takes place in granting recognition to these shop-like schools.

These schools manage to acquire a bogus certificate from some registered society in a city and the society gives them the certificate after charging some “settled fees”. The district primary officer never cares to verify whether actually that society is managing the school. Such haphazard growth of teaching shops is downgrading primary education, specially in villages, and this must be checked early.

ROSHAN LAL, Dhurala (Kapurthala)

Incomplete road

The Municipal Council, Sangrur, started the construction of a road from the Nabha Gate to Kishanpura (old octroi post) about 400 yards in length about eight months ago. It looks as if the authorities are awaiting some mishap to occur to complete the road. The residents of the area are forced to walk on scattered stones and that too without light at night.

P. C. CHOPRA, Sangrur

Tailpiece

Q: Guess what do people expect from the government with respect to its constant cry of Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism?

Ans: Don't talk of labour pains, show us the baby!

K. J. S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar