L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Tagging students is humiliating

The editorial “Tags of embarrassment” (Feb 1) echoed the sentiments of all Indians by highlighting the humiliation of the Indian students at the hands of high-headed US authorities. The US has no business of treating them like animals. Radio tagging is a violation of human rights, freedom, and dignity. It exposes the hypocrisy of the US, which claims to be a champion of human rights. What is the use of Barack and Michelle Obama dancing with the children at Mumbai, if our students are going to be radio tagged in their country?

Where is the respect for India and its national pride? Where is that special concern for India which is so important for better Indo-US relations? Where is that equal footing?

It is time we stopped bowing down to the US. We are a strong and big nation, with a sound economy. India must take up the issue more strongly.It is also time to put our own house in order. The government should crack down on the immigration rackets which are misguiding and fleecing our citizens. We also need to educate our students not to run to foreign countries for education. Our universities are one of the best in the world. Lets also create better job opportunities at home so that our youth do not have to look outwards.

Col R D SINGH, Ambala

II

The use of ankle monitors is widespread across the US. It is a standard procedure for a variety of investigations and does not necessarily imply guilt or suspicion of criminal activity. In fact, radio tagging is used to know the movements of migratory birds so as to know from where they come and where they are heading.

But the use of radio tags for Indian students in the US is inhuman, unwarranted and unacceptable. Students must be given ample opportunity to clarify their position and present their case.

I would suggest that students who are interested to return to India voluntarily should be safely deported; those who have not violated any visa or immigration laws should be given opportunity to adjust their status and those who are eligible to seek transfer to other universities should also be adjusted.

At the same time, it is not understood as to why Indian students are seeking admission abroad when a number of good educational institutions are available in India itself. Even if they are interested in higher education, they should seek admissions only after completing the required visa formalities.

HARISH K. MONGA, Ferozepur

China’s vision

M S Menon’s article, “China’s power play” (Jan 28) is an eye-opener and reflects how far-sighted and determined Chinese are. To meet the power and water shortage of the rising population, increased industrial development, higher demand from agriculture and pollution in the rivers, China is working on a plan to overcome the engineering impossibility of constructing a mega-dam and a tunnel through the Himalayas in Tibet over Brahmputra near the ‘great-bend’ to divert the water and generate power which could be used to pump water to the provinces of Xing Jiang and Gansu in the dry northern-region.

China has already shown its capacity to make it happen by constructing a rail-track to Tibet and 85.3 km long tunnel to divert 1.8 billion water annually in the difficult mountain ranges of the north-east China.China has every right to build dams in its territory on Brahmputra (Yarlung-Tsangpo) and is not answerable to India in the absence of any water-treaty. But India should remain prepared about these Chinese projects because the reservoir operations could cause wide water-level fluctuations in the river downstream to upset the hydel schemes.

If China diverts lean-season flows through the tunnel towards its own territory then the schemes in Arunachal Pradesh would have to be shut down for want of water.

If China releases heavy discharges then the vast areas in Arunachal Pradesh would be submerged. At present no international law exists to control such unilateral action. The situation also needs attention as China has a history of dual use of its infrastructure projects both in peace as well as war.

India should pay heed to the advice of its experts who had identified and proposed a project with large storage potential on Brahmputra in Arunachal Pradesh. The sooner it is constructed, the better it would be for the future of our country and its people.

ARVIND DHUMAL, Jalandhar

Down memory lane The photograph of the founder of The Tribune, Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia (Feb 2), reminded me of my association with the great paper since my childhood. Born and brought up in 1933 in Rawalpindi, I remember snatching away the paper from the hands of my father, sitting down on the floor near his feet and turning the pages. I could recognise Netaji, Gandhi, Nehru, Hitler, Stalin and many others. I remember that when Jinnah was questioned as to how he proposed to commute between the three parts of Pakistan in Punjab, Bengal and Hyderabad, he added another demand, for a corridor between the three. A map appeared in The Tribune, with a triangle of sorts, cut off from the rest of India. In those days of slow communication, The Tribune was very fast. Even today I enjoy reading the paper. DALJIT SINGH CHOWDHARY, Chandigarh

Tiger moms

Amy Chua’s just released memoir on parenting as reported by Guy Adams in “Roar of the Tigress” (Jan 26) may find favour with some failed or failing Spartan mothers who were themselves brought up in over-regimented households. However, her ‘successful’ raising of two high-achieving daughters using almost draconian methods does not stand the rigours of psychology.

The joy and pleasure of parenting as also the adventure of being mothered will be robbed if the advocate-turned-counsellor’s recommendations are even considered. No wonder, even her own husband, a litterateur of repute, brands her book as a blueprint for breeding neurotic billionaires. A hug, a kiss, a candy or any achievable goal and a small reward or recognition will surely succeed but breaking children’s toys or denying them their chosen games or sport will not.

Let the tiger mom ‘roar’ in a totalitarian state but Indian moms (and grand moms) are advised to heed her advice only at the risk of driving their wards to hate studies.

Prof MOHAN SINGH, Amritsar

BJP’s credibility

The editorial “Frittering goodwill away” (Jan 26) has rightly asserted that the BJP’s credibility is at a low ebb. Strangely, even its top brass leaders coin new phrases every time. They have a fascination for the word ‘yatra’. It is time it assumed the role of a disciplined Opposition.

RAVI DATTA, Jwalamukhi, Kangra