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Unity in Diversity

Sir,

This has the reference to the news item "Youth from across the world come together for Unity in Diversity" published in DE of December, 29,2000. To understand, realise and propagate the essence of Unity in Diversity is a must for the new world order and the country which can effectively pursue it for the humankind is India and India alone. Diversity is variety which we keep on coming across in our day to day life at all levels including religious variety.

Diversity is unavoidable and it has to be purposefully negotiated with a sense of unity for attaining harmony in whichever society we live in. If unity is not uniformity then how do we explain this term to a common man. Unity can be defined as an attitude of mind which enables us to see oneness and communities in the entire existence so that the feeling of divisiveness in removed. Those who are spiritually unlined have no problem in understanding Unity in Diversity. The verse from the Gita where Lord Krishna says, "In Me all are strung like gems in a string" clarifies this concept as the Divine soul is the common factor in all existence. Which acts like a string to hold together gems or objects of different shapes and sizes. Those who are not inclined towards spiritually unity in Diversity implies that one should acquire a vision to feel others as an extension of their own self. We may belong to any religion or may live in any part of the world our expectations from life remain almost similar.

Our basic requirements are of similar proportion and this should give us a feeling of oneness as there are quite a few things common between us and others. Unity in Diversity can be best achieved if mentally we step out of our region and language to understand and feel for others otherwise we shall ever remain localised. And when we are localised our thinking becomes narrow limited and we remain confined to our little world. So what is required is to make our outlook wide and universal. This is absolutely necessary to understand Unity in Diversity.

In the present era of globalisation if there is any one single country which is going to gain maximum is our India. Why ? Because, India has a fair amount of idea of Unity in Diversity both in negative and positive proportions. Whenever India has applied the principal of unity it has gained and where India has overlooked, it has suffered. The Indian thought of world is a family though understood not by many people in the correct perspectives still encourages us to take the lead to work for unity in the new world order, by moving away from our fixity of mind. The world including India is currently passing through a phase of changes and adjustments in old habits and customs. India has to come forward and take a lead in the establishment of a united world order. India has the capacity and resources to do so.

As far as our younger generations is concerned, Unity in Diversity should be taught and practised by them at the college and University level. In the final analysis Unity in Diversity means to be morally correct also. So we cannot practise Unity in Diversity in isolation but as a part of a bigger plan to make ourselves good human beings.

Yours etc....
Lt Col R K Langer,
Shastri Nagar, Jammu

Red Fort attact

Sir,

The recent attack by the Pakistani militants in-side the historic Red Fort, Delhi has evoked and revived an forgotten event that took place in 1947, when I was a prisoner alongwith my family members in Alibeg Camp, District Mirpur which is now in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. At that time I was merely 13 year old. Mirpur town was raided and destroyed by the raiders by burning it.

The Prisoners' camp was in the famous Gurudwara and was guarded by the Pakistani soldiers who were very ruthless and inhuman. With our detention there for more than four months in the burnt out Gurudwara, some times the Pakistani Sepoys would warn us (prisoners) by asserting that one day Pakistani flag will fly on the ramparts of Red Fort Delhi and only then the dream of Pakistan would be fulfilled. Today, after fifty three years of independence, I heard the news of Pakistani militants having sneaked in the Red Fort and killed three people and also have escaped, sent me back in the Prison in Alibeg 1947.

Yours etc...
Dharam Vir Gupta
74-75, Gurha Bakshi Nagar,
Jammu

Fleecing the parents

Sir,

I would like to expose the rot that has pervaded in our educational system. Today, most of the private schools are run by individuals and families. These schools are either managed by some educational trusts or societies.

Most of the private schools are run by these men for the sake of private gain. The reason behind the mushrooming growth of private schools in the laxity on part of the government. The loopholes in government rules are well utilised by such brilliant men for their own benefits.

Private schools have turned into money minting factories. There is no element of public benefit. The schools are victimising the parents who are ready to do anything for the better future of their children. Its not school fee that the parents have to pay but everyday hapless parents have to check out the school diary of their wards with a great agony that it might contain some demands like building fund, annual function fund, foundation day celebration fund, printing charges etc. etc.

I would like to quote the Supreme Court lawyer Ashok Agarwal's opinion "Any school that seeks recognition from the Department of Education has to have infrastructure in place buildings, laboratories, playgrounds, instruments and stationery. Its totally illegal to charge any sort of development funds from the students, only revenue expenditure i.e. salaries of staff, cost of running the general administration are to be charged from the students. Construction of building is covered under capital expenditure, and it is illegal to ask parents to pay for it."

The exploitation of hapless parents by the school authorities has been prevalent for long but now it has become intolerable. The aggrieved parents do not want to openly protest against unjust demands because of the fact that some parents are apprehensive that their children may be dismissed, failed, given less marks or ill-treated.

What to speak of teachers employed in private school. They too are not spared as they receive a much lower salary than is shown in the record books. They are not paid according to their experience and qualifications.

I on behalf of the aggrieved parents and private school teachers request the Education Minister to formulate stringent laws to bring these money making schools book and tell them the real object i.e. service to the society and not profits and benefits for which these schools are not entitled.

Yours etc...
Vikas Kant Sharma
Kishtwar.