In recent days, Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, Kimmane Ratnakar, has been facing a series of problems. He, who was facing criticism from the Opposition and educationists over the increasing incidents of sexual assaults in schools, wrong questions in papers, and grace marks for class 12 exams, is now facing the wrath of students for “gross errors” in evaluation of class 12 answer scripts. The errors have been so glaring that many students, who scored well in practical tests, have received single digit marks in theory. The Pre-University Board received a whopping 20,000 applications seeking photocopies of answer scripts in the first three days. Aggrieved parents even complained to the Lokayukta. While Mr. Ratnakar admitted to lapses on part of the PU Board officials, he did not take steps to soothe the sentiments of thousands of students, who were staging protests before the Board’s office since the results were announced on May 18. After a gap of four days, he convened a meeting of department officials only to announce the postponement of CET and COMED-K results and to allay fears that CET counselling will not affect the future of students. The Minister told the Principal Secretary to conduct an inquiry to identify the officials responsible for the “wrong results”. Now, justice to aggrieved students will be ensured only through re-evaluation of answer scripts and impartial probe into identifying officials indulged in wrongdoing.
Transfer politics
Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner, C.M. Noor Mansoor, who is in news for acting against encroachments over parking spaces in the twin cities, has become the subject of a ‘political fight’ although he has no role in it. Mr. Mansoor, at present, handles dual responsibilities as the Municipal Commissioner and Managing Director of Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System. The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and State president Pralhad Joshi, have demanded a full-time Commissioner for the corporation, for which the Chief Minister has given consent. However, district-in-charge Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, insisted that since Mr. Mansoor was doing good work he should not be transferred. Even as Mr. Joshi and Mr. Shettar clarified that they had no objection if he continued in the present position, they said he should be relieved of one responsibility to enable him to dedicate more time to the corporation. But, it did not end there. Both the BJP and the Congress leaders, especially Mr. Joshi and Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao, have now engaged in personal attacks over the issue. While Mr. Rao categorically ruled out any transfer, Mr. Joshi wants a full-time Commissioner for better administration. And Mr. Mansoor is caught in a fix as the issue often gets raised in his presence.
Dynasty on a road
This is about dynasty politics of another kind. We are talking about something as simple as names of health institutions located on one road. Three institutes are named after prominent members of the Gandhi family — Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, and Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics — on Hosur Road in Bengaluru. Now, if you are wondering how Jawaharlal Nehru’s name can possibly be left out, then we might as well change what ‘N’ represents in NIMHANS. Right now, it’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences and we could just replace National with Nehru. This observation, which sent the audience into splits, was made by a speaker at a recent programme organised by NIMHANS.
When names go wrong
People who sit on the dais at conferences and public events presumably know who they share the stage with. Or they ought to. How often haven’t we flinched when a speaker got his or her fellow VIP’s name or position wrong. Then there are some who quickly correct their faux pas or are ticked off right there. For, many people are offended or at the least annoyed if someone gets their name wrong; some even find it outright rude.
You may argue that it’s a common malaise and after all, what’s in a name. Yet, there is no excusing some careless public goof-ups with others’ names. Such as the one that happened at a scientific seminar last week. How do you explain a prominent Kiran Kumar being referred to as Krishna Kumar? A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, who was the chief guest at the event, sat deadpan and graciously let it pass when it happened to him. Probably the senior gentleman who said it never realised the mistake.
Nagesh Prabhu,
Girish Pattanashetti,
Afshan Yasmeen, and
Madhumathi D.S.
