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

Hasina must live up to goodwill

Now that Ms Sheikh Hasina has been welcomed back in Bangladesh, it is important for the Awami League to remember its exalted inheritance and do justice to the public goodwill that has been bestowed on it so unconditionally.

Especially, Ms Hasina should never compromise on her resolve to fight fundamentalism and radicalism. Only then, will Bangladesh find its place in the league of developing nations.

MEGHA M, Bradford, UK

Stamps on Musafir?

Roopinder Singh’s article “Musafir: Politician on wings of poesy” (Dec 25) gave an incisive biographical detail of Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir. I was enlightened to learn that the famous story of ‘Baghi di dhee” was based on a real incident. It is a story, which fills one with patriotic fervour.

SATINDER PAL SINGH, Muktsar

Interesting read

Both articles (Dec 19), “Without a future — Movement to end child labour” by Usha Rai and “Understanding Mayawati” by Satish Mishra were very interesting. It is regrettable that national convention on abolition of child labour held jointly by NCPCR, UNICEF and the ILO have not been given due publicity by various media channels.

But, it is reassuring that Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has promised to end the distinction between hazardous and non-hazardous industries as far as the child labour is concerned.

Poverty can be the major cause of child labour. But the child labour has a direct link with our archaic values too. We are highly insensitive towards child welfare in society and the state has also failed to provide free and compulsory primary education to children up to 14 years. Our government continues to tread softly when it comes to implementation of laws regarding social issues.

As for Ms Mayawati, she can aspire to be future Prime Minister of our country. But, first she must meet the needs of her state. Only if she provides free and compulsory primary education to all the children of the UP state and creates necessary infrastructure in her state, can she claim to have fulfilled her role as the Chief Minister.

Satish Mishra is right when he says that Mayawati became a suspect in the eyes of the public , when she started installing her own statues along with those of Kanshi Ram.

G S BAL, Jalandhar

Right counsellors

To the article “Making Right Choices” (Dec23) by Nonika Singh, I wish to add that the youth, especially students of classes X, XI, and XII, are a stressed lot today due to cutthroat competition in all aspects of life.

They need counselling not only on academic front but also on various aspects of life, too. There is definitely no substitute to parents, as they know best about their progeny. But professional counsellors can also be good guides.

However, only the best, qualified, genuine and selected counsellors should be allowed to function in this sensitive realm as the students are at an impressionable age. It becomes the duty of schools, colleges and parents to filter out the fake counsellors, which instead of helping the students confuse them in making right choices.

ANITA KATARIA, Vice-Principal, DAV Public School, Patiala

Friends or lovers Lovers today say they are just good friends! But they hold hands, cuddle in parks and when confronted with, “when are you marrying?”, they say “we are just friends.” These are the vagaries of modern romance. Why can’t they say, “We are just lovers.” Love gives warmth, constancy and confidence which friendship does not. It provides the emotional space in which you can make mistakes in the hope that it will not matter. In the company of the beloved person, you begin to love your own self. Friends pass through your life. You are with them for a short period of time. It is different in love. Love lingers like an intimate perfume. You do not have to be present all the time. Absence makes love grow, unlike in friendship where the dictum “out of sight out of mind” applies. I M SONI, Chandigarh