M A I L B A G

Terrorists have no moral qualms

I refer to the editorial “Avoid paranoia”. Milton wrote, “The mind is it’s own place”. Why not visualise the other aspect? Terrorism is an all-pervading global phenomenon with dire consequences. India, like other countries, has also been its frequent victim. It has been smitten with chain blasts in trains, buses, etc.

Kanishka was blown up mid-air, erasing families, leaving relatives in trauma. India’s plane had been hijacked to Lahore. India, being a soft state, allowed the hijacked plane’s fuelling at Amritsar and granted permission to take off. Later, a passenger on honeymoon was killed in cold blood. The passengers were got released after undergoing much humiliation at Kandahar.

It is not written on a terrorist’s face what he is. He has no moral qualms. India is abound with Trojan Horses and Mata Haris. Why not fault the 12 passengers who refused to cooperate with the airliner staff, but aroused their suspicions?

V.I.K. SHARMA, Jalandhar

Fillip to medical education The Centre’s decision to standardise PG medical exams is most welcome. Over the years, I have watched rapid mushrooming of medical colleges all over India along with gradual deterioration of medical education both at the graduate and postgraduate levels. The medical education policy has been aimless and rudderless. Not only is the infrastructure woefully deficient in most institutions but the curricula are outdated and research virtually non-existent. In the absence of any standards for examinations, medical teachers and consultants are busy minting money rather than devoting time for research and education. This has led to proliferation of substandard medical graduates and postgraduates. If the government can formulate broad guidelines for the proposed Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PMEB) to conduct PG exams and implement it properly, it will promote healthy competition at the national level and improve the standard of medical education. The proposed PMEB will, certainly, help improve medical education in the country. Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bathinda

Ghaggar bridge

The bridge over the Ghaggar river between Chandigarh and New Delhi National Highway has been closed for heavy vehicles for repairs. The route to reach Ambala from Chandigarh has been diverted to Rajpura. The government has also increased the bus fare, perhaps to meet the cost of a longer route.

The daily commuters face great hardship on the route as most government buses follow the short route via Banur instead of via Rajpura. This route is quite congested because of a narrow road and causes frequent traffic jams. The transport authorities should resolve the problem in public interest.

VINOD JAIDKA, Panchkula

II

I visit Ambala frequently. The Ghaggar bridge is under repair now. It would take more than a year for operationalising the bridge. To add to the miseries of regular commuters, the Haryana government has increased the bus fare from Chandigarh to Ambala by Rs 40.

It is said that the Haryana Roadways has been directed to follow the congested Banur route to save diesel and toll tax. The Haryana government should withdraw the fare hike and route diversion immediately.

Capt GULSHAN SATIJA, Panchkula

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who passed away recently, could well be described as a Professor Emeritus of artistic and tasteful film-making. It was Hindi cinema’s good fortune that he strayed from a career in science to cinematic art.

He was the best protagonist of the Indian middle class life with ethos of small is beautiful and that simplicity of 6 feet sari and kurta pyjma can be as graceful as designer clothes. He exhibited enormous intellectual force to bring out cerebral sentimentality and an equally sharp mind to immerse it with visceral comedy.

He gave each film such rigour and vigour that it would shame much younger directors of today who go abroad to discover ersatz Indian ethos in the flashy West. The freshness of his classics has remained unjaded and they have become cult benchmarks.

R.C. KHANNA, Amritsar

II

With the death of Hrishikesh Mukerjee, the elite class of such directors, best represented and championed by Bimal Roy, has almost come to an end. His films like Anand, Abhiman, Anuradha, Anupama and Avishkar were great hits—both at art and commercial levels.

Prof AMARJEET K. MANN, Sangrur