M A I L B A G

Left not on the right track

Khushwant Singh has rightly observed in “Left not on the right track” (Saturday Extra, Oct 6) that the Indian communists’ allergy towards everything American is ‘juvenile’, while their ‘enthusiasm’ for everything Chinese is ‘pathetic’. Indeed, the Left, led by Prakash Karat, Bardhan and co. have been blocking ab initio insurance, labour and pension reforms.

They also stalled the sale of loss-making public sector units and opposed privatisation of airports in Delhi and Mumbai. They are also averse to the entry of foreign universities in India. Their current dissent is against the N-deal and the joint defence exercises with the US, their bugbear.

For three years they have been enjoying the fruits of power from the sidelines, without being accountable. They never had it so good. In their misplaced belief, they feel that they have the self-ordained right to speak for everything and for everyone else. The Left parties, despite being the government’s allies, are playing the role of the opposition ever since the UPA came to power in 2004.

DEEPAK TANDON, Panchkula

II

Being an inveterate Anglophile and insidious India-baitor, the writer must have sucked up to the Communists when they had taken a stance against national policies. Now when the party has adopted a correct stand on an issue, it is natural for him to criticise it. The Communists are, perhaps, for the first time, on the right track and Singh, true to his style, is lobbying for the US.

GEETANJALI KORPAL, Amritsar

Dismal state of education in Punjab Lt-Gen Harwant Singh’s article, “Education in Punjab” (Sept 30) was very informative and analytical. He has examined various issues affecting education, especially at the primary and secondary level, in the rural areas. While going around in Punjab, one comes across so many institutions of higher learning in engineering, IT, dental, pharmacy and education. The government also has a vested interest in these institutions because of the nexus of businessmen and politicians in this crucial sector. However, it is the primary and secondary education where things have deteriorated with no one trying to rectify the same. Some time back, Punjab was sixteenth in literacy among the states. Punjab’s countryside boasts of ultra modern houses with all gadgets of modern life, but the lack of education among the younger generation is evident by their indulgence in liquor, drugs and other social evils. Unfortunately, the population continues to live in the old milieu of ignorance, superstition and litigation. The socio-economic gap between the urban and rural population is increasing. Sadly, no administration has given attention to issues of low attendance and poor results in rural areas over the decades. Opening of a few “Adarsh schools” won’t make much difference. Unless a concrete and time-bound programme is launched by ensuring accountability of teachers and administrators at various levels, there is little hope of any improvement. H. S. SANDHU, Mohali

Forgotten hero

Sher Jung: The forgotten hero (Spectrum, Sept 30) by Shakti Singh Chandel was interesting. The writer has revived the saga of sacrifices that had otherwise faded away from pages of history.

Not many people had heard of Sher Jung, even though his sacrifices were not less than his contemporaries. It is a matter of pain to see how the contribution of freedom fighters is ignored. In this 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence, all state governments should acquire a piece of land to raise statues to these heroes. An annual mela should be held to perpetuate their memory. Only then will this couplet by Mohammad Iqbal come true: Shaeedon ki chittaon pe lagenge har baras mele. Watan pe marne walon ka yahi baki nishan hoga.

NARINDER SINGH JALLO, Mohali

On the rocks

This refers to the article, “Marriage on the rocks” (Spectrum, Sept 16). The increasing rate of divorce in different states is alarming. The main reason is that divorce is nowadays easier to obtain due to the amendments made in the Hindu Marriage Act. Economic insecurity, unemployment, addiction to drug and liquor, egotism, marital incompatability, infidelity and lack of adjustment are responsible for the increase.

Besides, people demand and expect perfection of the other person. Increasing individualism and the lack of focus on the family as the core of society is the root cause of this problem. Divorce is “not a thief that comes upon you in the night. It is a conscious decision that you could choose not to make!”

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepore