Shout out loud

What?s on your mind this week

 

Healing hearts

nHeal the world,

Make it a better place

For you and for me

And the entire human race...

This song by Michael Jackson has invaded the hearts of many. It encourages us to dream of a world free of bloodshed and animosity. But each time we endeavour to transform this dream into reality, all our hopes seem to be shattered by heinous crimes like the recent London blasts and the bombings in Bangladesh. The common people generally fall prey to the whims and fancies of the exploiting classes. These criminals seem to be oblivious to moral values and the discrimination between good and evil. But if everyone of us who has the power to dream of a beautiful world was to come forward, then surely no evil force could stand in our way and hinder our progress.

Godhuli Goswami,

2nd year English (hons), Lady Brabourne College

 

Killer strokes

nThe gruesome bomb blasts in Bangladesh proved that the country?s greatest enemies are its Islamic fundamentalists. It also raises doubts about the ability of the Khaleda Zia government to tackle terrorism in Bangladesh. The Islamic fundamentalists cherish anti-developmental beliefs. They are against the four pillars of a democracy ? the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and the press. That is why the prime targets were the institutions that symbolise civil liberties and democratic values. The most ominous message that came from the blasts is: Islamic law must be established in Bangladesh by creating terror and panic among the people. But who should be blamed for the violence? The Khaleda Zia government, because it had been warned about the religious fanatics in the country. Repeated attacks on secular politicians, authors (Taslima Nasreen) and social activists were conveniently ignored by the Zia regime for selfish political gains. India, too, cannot remain complacent about her own security, because the porous border between India and Bangladesh actually puts the religious fanatics of Bangladesh in an advantageous position. It?s time the Manmohan Singh government pondered the impending peril.

Anjan Chatterjee

 

Quota culture

nThe Supreme Court has taken the right step by getting rid of the quota system in private institutions. It not only benefits unwanted beneficiaries, but also harms deserving candidates. However, stripping states of the powers of reservation in unaided professional colleges will affect not only the needy, but also those with merit among the economically weaker sections. Also, private institutions are better known as ?teaching shops?. It will now be easier for them to uphold their educational entrepreneurship. What is more disturbing is that instead of forming a watchdog committee to monitor the institutions, political parties jumped to the conclusion that this is against the backward class. In reality, they fear losing votes. Many mediocre students from affluent families get chances in good institutions because of the quota, whereas often good students miss the race because they are from the general categories. Real needy backward students seldom taste the benefits of the government?s rhetoric policy. If the government quota in colleges and institutions are designed for the poorer sections of society, then the reservation policy should be based on the economic status of a family and not caste. It will be wrong for the government to make a law promoting reservation in private institutions.

Shubhajit Chakraborty