M A I L B A G

VCs should be eminent scholars

All the appointments in the universities should be done in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the University Grants Commission in the Fifth Pay Commission report. Whatever the Himachal Pradesh government has been suggesting in the name of amendments in the qualifications of the Vice-Chancellor or the Registrar, will create an unhealthy academic atmosphere in the universities in Himachal.

The Vice-Chancellor must be an eminent scholar. The Registrar must qualify all the norms fixed by the UGC. I hope, before accepting any recommendation of the government, the Chancellor should follow the UGC recommendations in this regard. All appointments of teachers and non-teachers should also be done on the basis of the UGC recommendations.

— S.P. GUPTA, Rohtak

Kalam’s call

The editorial on President Kalam’s call for "Second Green Revolution" (Sept 6) is timely. The target of the growth of cereals from 200 million tonnes to 360 million tonnes is really big. It won’t be easy to achieve this in the present-day circumstances.

— R.K. MALHOTRA, Chandigarh

Of power and pelf No doubt, the post-independence India has witnessed tremendous material progress almost in every walk of life. However, somewhere on the way the “idealism” that brought freedom to the country vanished. And this has made all the difference. As a consequence, power brokers and criminal groups have displaced the motivated/ devoted leaders. Little wonder that naked pursuit of power and money rule the roost on the vital political front. — TARA CHAND, Ambota

DA instalment

The release of one more DA instalment at the rate of 4 per cent, effective from July 2003, by the Central Government for its employees and pensioners is most welcome. It will raise the quantum of DA/DR from 55 to 59 per cent of the basic pay/ pension.

More than seven lakh Punjab government employees, including those working in various boards and corporations and pensioners urge Punjab Finance Minister Lal Singh to release the instalment at the earliest in the wake of substantial improvement in the financial health of the state. This is evident from the hefty increase in the salaries and various allowances of Punjab Ministers and MLAs.

— YASH PAUL GHAI, Ludhiana

Blind followers

When the Coca Cola episode broke, I had gone to see off a friend at Chandigarh railway station. We were feeling thirsty and so asked for Pepsi. The vendor looked at us as if we had asked for something illegal and declared, “Hum woh sab nahi bechte” (I don’t sell all that) and turned away.

A couple of days later, when I was at the station again, I noticed the same vendor proudly displaying his Pepsi/Coca Cola bottles. It seemed he had changed his mind. This incident made me realise how gullible we Indians are. We will believe everyone and blindly follow even without giving others a chance to prove themselves.

RAKESH MALHOTRA, Chandigarh

Quota for EBCs

The Centre’s proposal to provide reservations for the economically backward classes (EBCs) is welcome. Even after 56 years of Independence, we could not abolish caste-based reservations which are creating a wedge among the various castes. Quota for EBCs will help promote a healthy society. Reservations for ex-servicemen, physically handicapped, Kargil victims etc (about 10 per cent) should, however, be retained.

S.K. MITTAL, Shapurkandi (Pathankot) 

DEP Command

With reference to Col. Pritam Bhullar’s Fauji Beat (Sept 9), I would like to remind the writer that after Partition, the Indian part of Punjab was known as the East Punjab and the Pakistani part as West Punjab. The present Western Command was initially designated as Delhi and East Punjab Command (DEP Command for short) and not Delhi and Punjab Command.

— MAJ DALIP S. GHULAM (retd), Chandigarh

Meaning of “anchal”

Apropos of Mr K. L. Noatay’s letter “Of anchal and border” (Sept 9), it is true that “anchal” literally means a veil that a woman wears. However, metaphorically speaking, it is a “border”, may be of a thin and transparent veil, which not only separates the wearer from others physically but is also considered a big socio-psychological “barrier”.

— BALVINDER, Chandigarh