Tibetan cause

Apropos the news report “Dalai Lama says no need for successor” (September 8), the Dalai Lama calls himself “popular” and his would-be successors “weak”. The people of Tibet are unhappy. The youth are frustrated as they think that the Dalai Lama has abandoned them. Are these signs of one's popularity?

The Dalai Lama during his 55-year long exile in India has achieved little for Tibet. He could have served the cause better if he had stayed back with his struggling people.

His prolonged stay in India along with tens of thousands of refugees has put India under unnecessary strain. His running the Tibetan government-in-exile from the Indian soil has soured our relations with China. It will be in everyone's interest if he winds up his paraphernalia and returns to his native land along with his followers.

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), Jalandhar

Widows of Vrindavan

It was appalling to read that the newly elected BJP MP from Mathura and well-known film star Hema Malini has asked the widows from Bihar and Bengal who have taken refuge in Vrindavan’s Vidhwa Ashram to go back to temples in their respective states. She should know why so many widows who have been abandoned by their families go to Vrindavan for food and shelter even though life there is no good. The Supreme Court has commented adversely on the state of hygiene and other facilities for the unfortunate widows.

The MP could have spared money from her MP discretionary fund to set up better homes for widows.

RJ Khurana, via email

Kudos to J-K doctors

This refers to the news “Doctors pitch in for ‘op clean’ in medical college”. The spirit of dedication shown by the doctors and students of medical college, Srinagar, is praiseworthy, specially when doctors and nursing staff in some parts of the country often resort to strikes and dharnas, caring least about the plight of patients.

MS Rana, Chandigarh

Score for teachers

The UGC’s proposed scores for academic performance indicator (API) in recruitment and career advancement scheme(CAS) and promotion of university and college teachers is tilted against college teachers aspiring for selection as principal. It mandates an API score of 400 in category-III that involves research and academic contributions. Reaching this level is a distant dream for college teachers as they are mainly involved in teaching, with a workload of more than 24 periods per week. On the other hand, university teachers have more thrust on research than teaching and thus they have an advantage in this category. The UGC must address this mismatch by giving due importance to the achievements of the college teachers so that they can also serve as principals with their experience.

Dr Ramesh Dogra, Panchkula

Teaching aid?

I am a student of a prestigious government college of Chandigarh. But I feel concerned about the method of teaching followed there. College teachers divide the syllabus into presentations to be given by volunteer students without first giving lectures on the chapter or explaining the topics. The entire syllabus is covered by giving teaching responsibility to students.

I doubt if this way by which teachers ease out their work is fetching us the desired results. The students are being burdened with teaching as well as learning. I feel my and my friends’ future is endangered by this scenario.

REETIKA GUPTA, Chandigarh

Conserve heritage

Apropos the editorial “Conserving red tape; Punjab allows heritage to collapse”, I do not agree with the last recommendation mentioned: of getting all heritage buildings vacated by the government offices. Some buildings were constructed for the specific purpose of serving as office complexes. Such buildings should be allowed to serve this end, except when under rehabilitation and renovation. For example, the District Court House at Kapurthala was built in 1889 as the administrative head office of the princely state of Kapurthala. Later, when the princely states were merged into the Indian Union, this complex became the District Court House of Kapurthala. It has served as the administrative complex for 125 years. The portions under renovation should be temporarily vacated for rehabilitation, after which those should be reoccupied by the same offices.

Harjap Singh Aujla, New Jersey (USA)

Helping NRIs

Taking advantage of the absence of NRIs, some of their relatives or other people grab their properties by bribing government officials. As a victim suffering for eight years in fighting for my land, I think the NRI Police wing is doing a good job of helping the NRIs.

Kulwant Singh, Kuwait