LET US WELCOME FOREIGN UNIVERSITES

LET US WELCOME FOREIGN UNIVERSITES
In his article “Pursuing Excellence And Equity” [April 10] Arvind Panagariya has clinically demolished the objections to the reform oriented Foreign Universities Bill. The objections do not stand the scrutiny of logic .They are mostly ideological and political in nature. Even these frivolous objections can be faced with some tweaking of the bill. Firstly, instead of waiting for the foreign universities to approach us the government itself should identify the best and the top ranking foreign universities and invite them to open their campuses here. This will automatically ensure that unscrupulous and ill reputed universities do not enter the country. Secondly a cap [viz; 25%] should be laid on the faculty to be recruited from within the country. This will ensure that all the best faculty of our premier institutes are not hijacked by the foreign universities. Thirdly the entire student admission process should be merit oriented with a provision for reservation for the meritorious among the disadvantaged sections. All those who get selected should be automatically eligible for educational loans on liberal terms. This will guarantee the social justice and allay the fears that only rich and upper classes of the society will garner all the seats. In view of huge supply- demand gap for high quality university education in the country, it would be advisable for everyone to come out of the outdated ideological and political shell and support the bill rather than opposing it for the sake of opposition.

GAMBLING SHOULD BE REGULATED

GAMBLING SHOULD BE REGULATED
This refers to the editorial ‘Legalise Gambling’ [April 22]. Gambling is a basic instinct of human beings. India has a long tradition of gambling, the first and most celebrated instance being the gambling between Pandavas and Kauravas during the Mahabharata episode. That gambling is injurious to the gambler and his family has been amply demonstrated by the plight of Pandavas in that great epic. Hence ideally gambling should be completely banned and the governments should effectively enforce the ban. However the experience the world over is that the bans have not succeeded. Neither the governments have been able to curb gambling. Therefore the only alternative is to legalise and regulate it in such a way that the poor people are not ruined by such legalizing. The governments can also derive some moolah by suitably taxing the gambling. By such an action at least the ill effects of illegal gambling can be curbed.
N

GAMBLING SHOULD BE REGULATED

GAMBLING SHOULD BE REGULATED
This refers to the editorial ‘Legalise Gambling’ [ Times of India-April 22]. Gambling is a basic instinct of human beings. India has a long tradition of gambling, the first and most celebrated instance being the gambling between Pandavas and Kauravas during the Mahabharata episode. That gambling is injurious to the gambler and his family has been amply demonstrated by the plight of Pandavas in that great epic. Hence ideally gambling should be completely banned and the governments should effectively enforce the ban. However the experience the world over is that the bans have not succeeded. Neither the governments have been able to curb gambling. Therefore the only alternative is to legalise and regulate it in such a way that the poor people are not ruined by such legalizing. The governments can also derive some moolah by suitably taxing the gambling. By such an action at least the ill effects of illegal gambling can be curbed.

ARE KHAP PANCHAYATS RIGHT OR WRONG?

Khap Panchayats exert heavy influence on the societal behavior in the rural areas in north India.They are the repositories of our ancient culture and tradition.Governments can not simply ignore or wish them away.These panchayats also represent democratic institutions.Their views and recommendations represent the majority views of the community. Therefore the democratically elected governments,like state and the central ones must respect the views of the Khap Panchayats.As demanded by them The Hindu Marriage Act should be amended to ban sagotra [same gotra] marriages not only to uphold and respect the ancient tradition but also to uphold high moral standards in the society.Otherwise tomorrow people of loose character may start marrying any one he or she lusts ignoring all the relations between themselves which maybe likened to the behavior of the animals.Let us not go the wild characterless western way. Let us preserve our character and traditions.To this extent the Khap Panchayats are right.But if they take law into their own hands and order killings they are wrong.

CLEAN SOUL FOR MOKSHA

CLEAN SOUL FOR MOKSHA
The article ‘The Internal Laundry’ [April 17 ,Times of India] makes an interesting and enlightening reading. Throughout the life everyone should make all out efforts to maintain the inherited pure soul in clean and pristine manner. However if due to our karmic actions the soul becomes impure the soul should be laundered with the help of techniques like kayotsarga. Another way to keep the soul pure and pristine is to follow the simple path of doing the karma without any expectation and offering all the fruits of karma to the Lord Krishna. Living a life without any bondage and attachment to men and materials but with total attachment to the God and living in his service all the time helps in keeping the soul pure and pristine. This way one can hope to achieve Moksha or freedom from the cycle of birth and death

LET US WELCOME FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES

LET US WELCOME FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES
In his article “Pursuing Excellence And Equity” [April 10] Arvind Panagariya has clinically demolished the objections to the reform oriented Foreign Universities Bill. The objections do not stand the scrutiny of logic .They are mostly ideological and political in nature. Even these frivolous objections can be faced with some tweaking of the bill. Firstly, instead of waiting for the foreign universities to approach us the government itself should identify the best and the top ranking foreign universities and invite them to open their campuses here. This will automatically ensure that unscrupulous and ill reputed universities do not enter the country. Secondly a cap [viz; 25%] should be laid on the faculty to be recruited from within the country. This will ensure that all the best faculty of our premier institutes are not hijacked by the foreign universities. Thirdly the entire student admission process should be merit oriented with a provision for reservation for the meritorious among the disadvantaged sections. All those who get selected should be automatically eligible for educational loans on liberal terms. This will guarantee the social justice and allay the fears that only rich and upper classes of the society will garner all the seats. In view of huge supply- demand gap for high quality university education in the country, it would be advisable for everyone to come out of the outdated ideological and political shell and support the bill rather than opposing it for the sake of opposition.

ONLY EDUCATION CAN UPLIFT THE POOR AND THE DALITS OF UP

ONLY EDUCATION CAN UPLIFT THE POOR AND THE DALITS OF UP
This refers to the editorial ‘UP’s Warped Priorities’[Times-April,7]. You have hit the nail on its head, when you say, that statues can wait, but not schools. It is really surprising and sad, that, Mayawati who considers herself as messiah of the poor, dalits and the ‘bahujan’s of UP, puts forth the ruse of shortage of money, as the reason for not being able to implement the RTE Act. However for establishing the statues of herself and of her leaders all over the state she has no problem in finding the money. What a tragedy for the poor and dalits of UP! Bihar, UP and other northern states have not kept pace with rest of the country in development precisely for the reason that they have shown neglect in educating their poor and the dalits. The RTE Act provides a golden opportunity to them to reorient their priorities and focus on their efforts on education so that the vast majority of poor and dalits do get not only the basic education but also high quality professional and vocational education. Only this will empower them and help them to cross the poverty line. Therefore let the statues wait till all the poor and the dalits get their rightful education.

SANIA HAS INSULTED INDIAN MALES

SANIA HAS INSULTED INDIAN MALES
Sania Mirza’s selection of Shoab Akhtar of Pakistan as her life partner is causing a huge controversy on several grounds. There are over 100 crores of Indians. At least 20% of them are eligible bachelors. She could have arranged a programme like ‘Rakhi Savant’s marriage or like that of ‘Rahul Mahajan’s marriage on TV and found out a suitable guy for herself from among the millions of Indians. By selecting a Paki over an Indian male that too without giving an opportunity to the aspiring Indian males she has certainly not only cheated them but also insulted them. Naturally she is now facing the music. Alas! So there is no one to support this poor[rich] little girl in this country.