M A I L B A G

Defining real aim of education

I endorse the views of Mool Chand Sharma in his article “Challenge of education” (March 9). The author states that “the real aim of education is to produce more responsible citizens imbued with humanism”.

In the modern times of globalisation everyone is running after a kind of education that can help the aspirants earn large sums of money. Education that does not help one in minting money is seen as futile. In this blind pursuit of amassing money, the modern generation has become so inhuman that it does not mind leaving their parents, what to talk of fellow human beings.

It is high time, as the author wishes, one developed the faculty to see oneself as a citizen of the world. We must come out of those narrow walls erected by vested interests. A system of education ought to be evolved that may teach us to treat everyone humanly. Only then there will be no Bihari, Marathi or Punjabi. All will belong to one community of humanity and people will stop fighting over trivial issues.

Dr VINOD K. CHOPRA, Hamirpur

In bad shape

I want to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the pathetic state of National Highway – 1 from Pathankot to Amritsar. This stretch of road, measuring around 115 km, is in a deplorable state, to say the least. To drive a car from Pathankot to Amritsar or vice versa is a nightmarish experience.

Only a couple of days ago a bus met with an accident on this very road near Naushera Majha Singh and many precious lives were lost and many more suffered grievous injuries. Admitted that the bus driver was driving fast, but it must not be forgotten that he lost control of the bus due to potholes in the road. It seems that the present state government is so occupied with the idea of building a mono rail project that it has begun to ignore the pitiable condition of roads in the state!

If the government is so fund-starved that it cannot afford to recarpet the roads, it should at least pay some attention to repairing the roads. If a government cannot provide basic amenities like roads, education and hospitals, it has no moral right to stay in power!

ARUN HASTIR, Babehali, (Gurdaspur)

Luxury hotel at Kapurthala? The Kapurthala chapter of INTACH views the proposed change in the use of land belonging to the Sainik School with much trepidation and concern (“Punjab wants Sainik School land back” —March 10). The Kapurthala Sainik School is the oldest and, perhaps, the most prestigious of all such institutions. This fact in itself makes the school unique and historic. The total apathy displayed over the years towards the district as a whole has taken a serious toll of its heritage assets. Kapurthala has a road connectivity of poor quality. No tourist attractions exist here. Even the holy Bein rivulet has not been restored by the erection of a new micro-hydel barrage in place of the damaged weir. The old Mughal route, the pilgrim circuit or the Harike-Karmawali mand island river project suggested many years ago to the state government, have not taken any tangible form. The contention of offering frills such spas, professional golf or other such attractions pale in the harsh light of reality that all these attractions are readily available in more accessible places. Kapurthala is sandwiched between Amritsar and Jalandhar/Ludhiana, which boast of four- and five-star facilities. The survival of a “luxury” hotel in Kapurthala is consequently highly questionable. Perhaps, a practical solution is to transfer the entire campus to the Ministry of Defence, which has the requisite funds and in-house accountability to maintain this prime estate for the purpose for which it was originally conceived. As for a “luxury” hotel, the state government can consider the conversion of the entire former State Durbar Hall Complex for such a project once it is vacated after the new district administrative complex is completed. I K SARDANA, Convener, INTACH, Kapurthala

Law-breakers

MPs and MLAs, who are the trustees of our destiny, are involved in 1,300 criminal cases (Tribune, March 11). They sit in Parliament and legislative assemblies and enact legislation for us. It is a very sad state of affairs and a great challenge to our democratic system.

For petty reasons, we do not mind compromising with our fundamental right to vote, thus tilting the balance in favour of the corrupt and unprincipled politicians and paving the way for their entry into Parliament and legislative assemblies.

To get out of this situation, the only remedy, to my mind, is that the people must bring change in their thinking and, treating this malady as a national issue, should give it a joint fight in a democratic way. The ball is in the court of the voter and if we still do not wake up, remember, this country would not remain worth living.

MEHAR CHAND, Bagli Kalana (Ludhiana)

Starve PTAs

The one-man committee in its report on the inquiry ordered by the Himachal Pradesh government into PTA appointments has made a suggestion that the Parent-Teaching Associations (PTA) should be starved of grants so that teachers appointed during the Congress regime do not get salaries, forcing them to quit themselves. The Hindu religion preaches us to give food to the hungry. The suggestion of the inquiry officer is not only unconstitutional but also against the law and the Hindu religion. An inquiry should be held in a fair and judicious manner.

It was enough to have pinpointed irregularities and left it to the government to take appropriate action against the appointees and the officers concerned who managed their appointments in violation of the rules.

SHAKUNTLA, Sanjauli (Shimla)