All teachers are not killers

I HAD to hang my head in shame while reading the editorial “Teachers as killers” (December 19). Never in my entire career as a college teacher had I come across an incident like the one as happened in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. A single sinner sinks the boat, and so the action of one teacher has brought disgrace to the entire teaching community. The action of the teacher is indefensible and deserves to be condemned by all irrespective of the calling which one may have. It is beyond doubt that the law will take its course, and the guilty will get his due.

I did not relish the way the editorial has dubbed the entire teaching community as “killers”. What has happened in Madhya Pradesh is an exception and not the rule. One swallow does not make a summer. It was too much on the part of The Tribune to paint all the teachers with the same brush and call them “killers”.

The role and importance of teachers is a fact which is recognised by one and all. The role of a teacher has not changed even now despite the tremendous and disastrous changes happening all around in society. Still a teacher is regarded as a harbinger of change, the upholder of values and a champion of truth.

Instead of blaming the entire community for the fault of one teacher, let us go into the matter to find out the causes for such gory incidents.

Nothing is wrong with the system. It is not the system but the human beings who have failed to deliver the goods. Gone are the days when selections of teachers were made on merit, keeping in view the aptitude. Now selections, transfers and promotions of teachers are done on considerations other than merit.

If people with the right attitude are appointed as teachers it will do a lot of good to society in general and the students in particular.

M.L. DHAWAN
Chandigarh

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Supersession in military

The ongoing crisis in the Navy, involving the Ministry of Defence, the civil courts and Naval Headquarters over the appointment of the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, has brought to a sharp focus the growing inglorious practice of Service officers approaching civil courts at the drop of a hat for all the cases of supersession. Why is it that this is happening only in the Indian military? We have never heard of any Service officer going to a court of law against supersession either in the USA, Britain or elsewhere in the western world. People elsewhere accept supersession as something normal, and not worth losing one’s sleep over it.

The main reason for this appears to be the exaggerated emphasis on careerism in the Services, to the point of acquiescing in almost every policy without opposition. This has failed to develop in the military an ethical doctrine of resistance.

The loss of traditional military values seem closely connected to the transformation of the Services from a cohesive corporate structure into a largely careerist business type one. Whereas the business type structure stresses on ethics of self-interest intended to stimulate individual advancement and initiative, the cohesive structure of the military develops operating procedures and norms that are valued for themselves. Unless this is realised, a time may soon come when we may have to establish special civil courts for the sole purpose of trying supersession cases of officers of the armed forces only.

BRIG N.B. GRANT (retd)
Pune

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Mansa: an ignored district

Mansa is the most backward district of Punjab, especially in the field of education. According to the 1991 census, its literacy percentage is 37.21 which is the lowest in the state. There is no institution for the study of B.Sc (medical), B.E. and other such courses. There are 22 senior secondary schools in the district but with only two regular heads. Many posts of teacher always remain vacant.

To promote the standard of education, especially in the field of teacher training, some time back the Punjab government had decided to set up a District Institution for Educational Training (DIET) in each district, with the help of the Centre. Almost all the districts have got these institutions, but the fate of Mansa is still hanging in the balance. The district authorities have miserably failed in site selection for the institution.

Although the Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman of the Site Selection Committee, he could not spare much time for this purpose.

Now I request the Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, that he should make extra efforts for this institution in the district headquarters town or in a nearby area.

I hope the establishment of the institution will definitely improve the literacy rate in this district.

K.K. SINGLA
Mansa

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Call of conscience

IN his beautiful middle article, "Call of conscience" (December 16), Mr M.K. Kohli has mentioned his boyhood incident. I also mention two incidents, which took place about 30 years ago. In one, I was rewarded for acting conscientiously, and in the other I had to be remorseful for my improper behaviour.

I used to take tea at a particular shop and foot the bill at the end of every month without checking its correctness. Once, on checking the bill, I found that two rupees had been shown less in the total. Following the promptings of my conscience, I corrected the bill and made payment accordingly. On my way back to home in the evening, I found a 5-rupee note on the desolate road.

One day, I had only one one-rupee coin, which I wanted to offer in a gurdwara. On entering the holy place, I changed my mind. When I prostrated before Guru Granth Sahib, the coin fell from my pocket and ran straight towards the "golak" (chest). Having qualms of my improper behaviour, I put it in the receptacle. Since then I have never broken any vow made by me.

Conscience is the sense within human beings of what is right or wrong. It enjoins us to act in accordance with the moral law. Those who abide by the dictates of conscience display virtuous conduct and character.

BHAGWAN SINGH
Qadian