Mailbag

Pak blackmailing India

Sir,

The terrorism as an instrument to blackmail India has never been jettisoned by Pakistan. Terrorism was flagrantly encouraged in the post Kargil intrusion and the usurpation of power by Musharraf removing democratically elected Government with the perception that it would force India to succumb to the Pakistan's dictates on Kashmir issue. Recurring of this notion often finds mention in the speeches of President Pervez Musharraf. Whenever pressure is mounted on Pakistan from the US to reign in Al Qaeda/Taliban terrorists enjoying safe heaven in Pakistani territories, the ISI/Pak Army swing to action. The sudden action in Waziristan against Al Qaeda and HuM hideouts in Gilgit and Baltistan of northern areas simply indicated the outcome of the talks between President Bush and Pervez Musharraf during later's recent visit to the US and the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani authorities always have tried to deflect world attention from the real issue of global terrorism in the name of freedom struggle in Kashmir or UN/third party mediation on the conflicting Kashmir issue, prevaricating bilateral talks with India, whenever they find themselves on stricky wicket.

Yours etc...
Begam Nusrat Bano
105, Sukdev Vihar
New Delhi

Praising Sourav

Sir,

The splendid century by Sourav Ganguly in the Brisbane test against Australia is really worth-praising. The 144 knock came at a time when India was placed in a difficult position. It helped India to achieve a respectable score. And the rain washed test ended in a draw. And for this performance Sourav was lavishly praised. Some said that he proved critics wrong who had been unduly criticising him. Commentators, journalists almost every body nodded in affirmative. However, one thing is clear that it is too early to judge his performance. If we go by his track record, he has not been able to perform well during his last some matches. Only one match of the series has been played yet. One can evaluate him only once the test series is over. The result is yet to come. Barring Sourav and Laxman no other batsman has performed well. Even matches with Queensland team have embarrassed Indian players. The players are not showing a consistent performance.

Let us wait and see the result first and then shower compliments.

Yours etc...
Raj Kumar
Gandhi Nagar,
Jammu.

What ails higher education

Sir,

Although things are not based on fair play, justice & logic, yet day in and day out we listen to various discourses in seminars & conferences about academic excellence, quality control & accountability in the temples of learning that is colleges & the Universities. This is really disgusting. Being a person associated with higher education department for three decades, it pains me to see the ground realities which are in contravention to the hollow slogans & thunderous applauses made in the public gatherings which is only the public consumption, media type & formulation of various gorgeous CD cassettes of the functions organized for preaching various parameters to be kept in mind for the good governance in higher education. Before taking good governance to the material level I may record my observations is respect of higher education governance is our State and more so in our province, that is Jammu. As always spelt out teacher is a pivot along which the whole system of education is based and to run the institutions where the teacher has to play a role -the role of captain i.e., the Principal is of great significance. The best team in the field of sports have been seen to perform excellently by change of guard i.e by replacement of the captain as he has to infuse spirit in the team of teachers is an institution by his or her personal capabilities, stability of character and the capacity to perform in a crisis. If my experience has served me right, the principal of an institution should have an excellent quality of crisis management.

But the higher echelons of the higher education have forgotten the maxim-round peg is a square hole or a square peg in a round hole which is the present disgusting scenario of the higher education. The college cadre is the only cadre in our State where a person is assessed thrice in a career-first while joining as a lecturer, second at the time of placement as SGL and third at the time of selection as a principal. Rest all other departments have a procedure of giving promotions by virtue of sheer seniority and review by departmental promotion committee. But if this system of getting assessed by an honourable body of the J&K Government i.e PSC, has any relevance then the observations made by this august body should be respected in letter and spirit. But I think that these norms have been thrown to winds. The order of seniority by PSC and experience as a principal should have been the criterion of adjustment of principals in the place of posting, but to my surprise I have found that persons who are in the waiting lists of the selected panels are given top slots, where as meritorious and experience once are suffering at places where they are not able to outshine and give their best which is expected to them in the larger interest of the people of this State. In this changed scenario where degree colleges are becoming PG colleges, the selection of the person for a particular place is of prime importance, that it should not be taken lightly as a game of musical chairs without giving much thought to the acumen of the incumbents.

Yours etc...
Dr. J L Raina
Trikuta Nagar
Jammu.