M A I L B A G

Time to cleanse universities of hoodlums

All the educationists, specially the teachers, welcome H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “Carry on Professor: The nation will be with you” (Jan 1). He has rightly expressed his concern about the deteriorating environment in our universities.

Dr R.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, is a scientist of international repute. He is facing an uphill task in repairing the damage inflicted on the university by politicians, former students and their associates, many of whom are not even students.

The university’s hostels are being used as sanctuaries and a number of musclemen have continued to parade as students for many years.

The VC has rightly decided to implement the guidelines for the students’ union elections in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee report.

Dr S.K. AGGARWAL, Dean, Amritsar College of Engg & Technology, Amritsar

II

The front-page editorial, published on New Year’s Day, gave a new hope to our sagging system of education. The rot in Panjab University, in the absence of people like Prof R.P. Singh, has rightly been exposed in a Tribune report today in which the Vice-Chancellor justified his questionable decision to increase seats in certain colleges. His unjustifiable argument is that this practice has been there for the last six years, and accepted by all those senators who raise objections now!

Going by the continuation of such anti-education “standardised” practices, the day is not far off when Panjab University will also be like Lucknow University.

With the kind of well-deserved pat and assurance that Mr Dua has wisely given on behalf of the nation, one hopes that righteous persons in education like Prof R.P. Singh, who are not in short supply, would come to the fore without having any fear of being alone.

Thus, one can hope for a better education system in the near future.

BALVINDER, Principal (retd), Chandigarh

Sino-Indian ties on focus PL Mehra’s article, “Dealing with China”, is an elaborate attempt to highlight India’s long-term challenges with respect to its relations with China. Fifty years later since the Chinese possession of Aksai Chin in Ladakh, the Chinese have fired another salvo that Arunachal Pradesh is part of their territory. The war of words came shortly before Chinese President Hu’s visit though during the 1960s’ negotiation on border issues, Indian officials proved beyond doubt that Aksai Chin is part of Ladakh. The Chinese have now occupied an area for half a century. The latest claim on Arunachal Pradesh is a clear indication that China wants to build up psychological pressure on India and is not keen to resolve the 50-year-old dispute in a hurry. The Chinese will never relinquish the strategic artery. However, India has to reinforce its determination to bolster friendship with China. With China being a major supplier of arms to Pakistan, its reluctance to support our claim for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council is enough reason for India to realise the Chinese intent of reducing our political gains. During President Hu’s visit to India, we should have mooted an international board of neutral historians to ascertain both countries’ claims. VARINDER SINGH JAWANDA,New Delhi