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M A I L B A G

Entry of youth into politics is welcome

This refers to The Tribune reports on political parties “Riding on youth wings” (Windows, March 20). The entry of the youth into active politics should be welcome.

In the fight for freedom from the British rule, the youth of this country played a significant role. The real trouble started when the old heads argued that the youth were immature and, hence, incapable of taking decisions.

It is a mistaken notion that age is always synonymous with wisdom and youth with irresponsibility and immaturity. According to a survey, 80 per cent of the youth remain untouched by government plans and policies. The new trend will restore the confidence of the youth in themselves.

K.M. Vashisht, Delhi

Fee hike no guarantee to quality education

Apropos of the article “Mess in education: Fee or grade isn’t the issue” by Balvinder (Perspective, March 14), I agree with him that fee hike is no guarantee to standardised education. Everyone is aware of the fact that standard of education — especially higher education — is deteriorating in India.

Amassing considerable amount of money through hefty fee hike and erecting huge buildings do not set the seal of quality education. The core of the problem today is the lack of discipline and students’ indifferent attitude towards their studies. On the other hand, colleges and universities seldom exhibit their will power and interest to impose 180-day teaching schedule properly, not to mention 242 days as fixed by Panjab University. What is required today is to pave the way for the atmosphere of discipline in the so-called temples of learning, where neither the students nor the teachers are serious enough in their respective fields.

Unfortunately, the teachers cannot be spared of their responsibility of maintaining conducive teaching atmosphere. They themselves fail to perform their duties earnestly as even at the fag end of the academic session the syllabus is hardly complete in most colleges and universities. How can we expect improvement in the field of quality education when the learners are keeping themselves off their classes and teachers do not bother about all this laxity?

Ironically, these students are marking their presence in the cultural programmes’ and sports meets in the colleges! Isn’t it true that cultural activities or games sans education are meaningless? Similarly, the quality of education cannot be made better by showering subsidies on the learners as we can take a horse to water but cannot make it drink water.

Dr VINOD K. CHOPRA, Hamirpur (HP)

Politics of outsourcing

This refers to “Storm in the USA, clouds over India” by Peeyush Agnihotri (Spectrum, March 28). Now that the US is losing jobs on account of outsourcing, it is having a rethink on its commitment to the principles of free trade which it has for long espoused. As elections are slated to be held in the US this year, the US government might pass more bills to curb outsourcing. At present, as many as eight such bills are pending in the US Congress.

Gurdershan Singh, Chandigarh

Sikh coins

I read with pleasure the highly informative article
“Coins that never were” by Surinder Singh (Spectrum, March 21).

I read the article many times. I am in possession of one such coin which has the picture of Guru Nanak Dev sitting under a tree with Bhai Bala with a chaur on the right and Bhai Mardana with rabab on the left. Also shown in the picture in the forefront are a khrawan and a lota. On the reverse side of this coin is the picture depicting Guru Gobind Singh resting on a takia. Also shown sitting nearby is a bai. The coin was minted in 1804.

Lt- Col Mukand Singh Guru (retd), Ludhiana

Enigma of love

To the age-long proverbial saying that there is no place for calls, claims and considerations of three things — caste, colour and creed — in the realms of love, Vimla Patil in her write-up, “Love is not elsewhere” (Spectrum, March 7), has added another one, and that is age. Love has its own reason about which conventional reason knows nothing. Love defies any definition or even discussion with finality because it comes from the heart. So, all is not only fair but possible in love. The uncommon affairs of Kishwar Ahluwalia and Meghnad Desai or V.S. Naipaul and Nadira amply prove this.

Surjeet Mann, Sangrur

Academic excellence

This refers to the article “A centre for academic excellence” (Windows, March 27) by Reeta Sharma. The writer says that the three students who won the second prize at an exhibition held at Pragati Maidan were Abhey, Alok and Atul. The correct names, however, are Abhoy, Alok and Ajay.

Alok Aggarwal, Sangrur

An equal partnership

Apropos of Humra Quraishi’s write-up, “Married to loneliness” (Spectrum, March 21), the writer has blamed men for marital discord. While the basic rights of women deserve to be protected, it should not be forgotten that both partners are equally responsible for making the marriage work.

T.C. Kathpalia, Chandigarh

Scarecrows & satires

Apropos of Khushwant Singh’s write-up “Of scarecrows and political satires” (Windows, February 28), darna is the Punjabi equivalent of scarecrow. The use of satire dates from times long past. About 650 B.C., Greek poets Archilochus and Simonides wrote satires.

Bhagwan Singh, Qadian

Leap year

This refers to the article “A leap in time” (Spectrum, February 29) by Shirish Joshi. The year 1982 was not a leap year. The year 1984 was a leap year. Thus, if you were born on February 29, 1984, you would have celebrated five birthdays till 2004.

Inderjit Singh, Mohali