The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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M A I L B A G

UN and a bumpy road to peace

This refers to Mr Simranjit Singh Mann’s letter
“UN resolutions haven’t lost their validity” (Jan 23). If India and Pakistan want to continue their march on the bumpy road to peace, even if hurriedly constructed by a not-so-hidden third party, their leaders have to adopt a flexible attitude, remembering that no dispute can be resolved peacefully without following the policy of “give and take”. Of course, the views of the people of the state, including those of its part under Pakistani control since 1947, ascertained through a plebiscite or in any other manner, cannot be ignored while trying to reach a “final settlement on Jammu and Kashmir”.

DALIP SINGH GHUMAN, Chandigarh

Apropos of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann’s strong belief in the validity of the 1948 UN Resolution pertaining to the holding of a plebiscite in J&K, even the rationality of the resolution is questionable, the non-compliance of a pre-condition viz, vacation of the Pakistan-occupied territory by the so-called “Cabbalies” and Pakistan’s regular forces before a free and fare plebiscite could be held, naturally invalidates the resolution.

Rationality is related to practicability or implementation. As Mr Mann has rightly stated, when Pakistan had refused to comply with the UN Resolution, the holding of a plebiscite became null and void. India had made a request to the UN for securing vacation of aggression and not for holding a plebiscite in its territory ceded by the ruler of J&K upon signing the Instrument of Accession. As two wrongs do not add up to one right so unfairness of the UN Resolution from India’s point of view and non-compliance with the pre-condition for vacation of aggression by Pakistan, decidedly made the said UN resolution obsolete.

BRIG H.S. CHANDEL (RETD), Una

Thanks, teachers!

Being a student and a teacher of literature for almost a decade, that too in six colleges, I have seen some excellent, and many not very excellent, teachers.

First, those teachers deserve appreciation who are the favourites of students and the authorities as well. Students love them because they never take lectures and the authorities adore them as they are always handy, just at their beck and call. No matter how many students remain unaware about the basics of their subjects, they remain in the good books of the authorities because they are always busy doing this or that for them.

Second, thanks are deserved by those teachers who are always late for their lectures and are eager to leave as quickly as they enter the institution. They are a joy for all those freaks who come to enjoy college life. They are better truants than their students.

Third, thanks are deserved by those excellent teachers who are never late for their lectures and they never miss their lectures also, but students fail to understand and appreciate their strange way of teaching.

The last, but not the least, are those exceptionally well read and sincere teachers who come only to teach, not to cheat students and themselves. They are the chosen few who have still maintained the dignity of the profession.

SEEMA SAHORE SHARMA, Karnal

Cycling for good health

This refers to the editorial “Bicycle chief” (Jan 22). Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has wanted to pedal your way on bicycle for good health. No doubt, it is anti-pollution drive and will help save petrol. It will also help the economy. Her government has identified pick-up points from where the poor and the fitness freaks can borrow a bicycle. In developed countries, bicycle clubs are common.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh UT Administrator O.P. Verma had approved laying of cycle track on a number of city roads. It is expected to lay a 106-km of cycle track on V-2 and V-3 roads in two phases at a cost of about Rs 6.69 crore. The Engineering department is already on the job. The tracks were a feature that Le Corbusier had put into the Chandigarh Master Plan. The roads are being widened for the purpose.

The cycle track on dividing roads in Sector 22 and 23 has almost been completed and work on many roads is going on. Last year, Yuvsatta, an NGO, had organised a cycle rally in the city. Students participated in it. Work on the cycle track was started on 19 and 27 dividing road but the work has been stopped for some reason.

The Chandigarh Administration should note that there are nine illegal open ways in the Sadar Bazar Rehri Market in Sector 19 C. This has prevented the cycle track project. The authorities should start the cycle track work near Sadar Bazar, Rehri Market, in Sector 19 C to help cyclists ride on the safe roads.

M.L. Garg, Chandigarh

Mrs Sheila Dixit has rightly decided to start bicycle clubs in Delhi. This needs to be popularised in all other cities including Chandigarh and other cities in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The use of bicycles will reduce pollution and improve the health of the people by way of exercise. It will also help check avoidable wastage of petrol and unnecessary expenditure on it.

C.L. ARORA, Ferozepore City

India shining dimly

Apropos of the editorial “India shining dimly”, how long will the feel-good factor last? The country is teeming with poverty-stricken and uneducated people, who have neither shelter nor food to eat. Then there is the ever-growing population rampant corruption, communal violence. The list is unending.

AMRITBIR KAUR, Ludhiana

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