Sending children to hostels

"SHOULD you send your child to a hostel" by Gitanjali Sharma (September 21) asked a valid question.

In my opinion, education without hostel life is incomplete. Knowledge is obtained in a school or college, but life in a hostel teaches how to live in a community.

Self-confidence, self-reliance, decision-making abilities independent abilities are learned in hostel. Besides, one has to deal with students with different natures and this helps one gain experience in dealing with all kinds of people.

The most important factor is the age at which a child should be sent to a hostel. Impressionable years (upto six years) should be spent with parents for proper guidance. The best age is 15 or 16 years or after a child has completed class XII. He is then mature enough to handle himself.

R. N. PAL, Hisar

This refers to Reeta Sharma’s article "How secure is India" (September 28). In our country, internal threats originate from a number of problems such as population, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, rising prices, corruption, terrorism, and other related social evils. Political instability, a weak economy, adverse balance of payments and repeatedly resorting to deficit financing further add up to internal threat. Over the last five decades, our leaders have failed to overcome these problems.

NIRMAL KUMAR SAINI, Panchkula

This refers to Khushwant Singh’s "How a rapist should be punished" (September 28). Rape is one of those heinous offences against the dignity of women, the torture and agony of which cannot be driven out of the victim’s mind till death. Whatever be the motivating factors behind this inhuman violence inflicted upon women, society by and large has not been sincerely sympathetic towards her. She is exposed to shame time and again and is forced to live the public disgrace even in the corridors of justice and redress.

The male-dominated society, instead of suitably punishing the criminal, has only preferred to highlight the victim’s disgrace. It is the fear of public humiliation and of punishment that can check rape. If one were sure to be disgraced before his own friends and relatives — parents, wife, sons and daughters — the so-called display of masculinity and adventurism would not come to the fore in one’s attempt to infringe a woman’s right to equality and a dignified living.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

H. Kishie Singh’s column "Good motoring" gives information about the safety features available in the cars, besides giving useful tips on good driving habits.

Unfortunately, the car door lock meant to prevent car thefts is one of the most unsafe devices. A car thief doesn't need a duplicate key to open the door. All that he needs is a simple steel foot-rule which when inserted in the door at the right place and given a smart down ward knock is enough to open the door lock.

Aren’t car manufacturers aware of this vulnerability of the locking system? Why can’t they devise a reliable and fool-proof locking device?

Meanwhile, could the writer suggest some method to make the existing car locks a bit safer until the manufacturers wake up to remedy the problem?

Wg Cdr C. L. SEHGAL, Jalandhar

This refers to Khushwant Singh’s write up "Keeping Urdu Alive" (October 5, 2002). The correct name of the compiler and publisher of Ranga Rang Shaaeree is Triloki Nath Kamboj (pen name T. N. Raz) who is a well-known Urdu poet of humour and satire of this region, and not Triloki Nath Kanoj (pen name K. N. Raz).

RAJENDRA CHAND, Baltana

Nagina Singh’s "Branded existence" made an interesting reading. These days the ideal of ‘Simple living and high thinking’ has been replaced by lavish living and’ no thinking’. An open display of one’s possessions is the bane of many social ills. Once we come to know the value of living within sensible limits we are bound to be blessed with poise and peace within and around. All other virtues of life like rightful concept and conduct, thoughts and actions, feelings of joy and elation, benevolence and charity, concern and compassion — in fact everything that makes our life sublime and chisels our senses — depends on moderate and modest living. In an age where money has become obvious obsession with all, frugality is the only answer to the growing culture of conspicuous consumption.

SAROJINI NAUTIYAL, Ambala Cantt.

This refers to "When are we going to put a stop to ragging?"( September 28) by Jangvir Goyal.

Every year, the authorities gives directive to ban ragging, but no action is taken against the erring students. The need now is for student bodies to ban ragging.

Another measure that should be taken is to counsel seniors about the impact of these activities have on minds of freshers. They should be told that the pain they have gone through should not be inflicted on others.

MANU, Chandigarh