The HRD Ministry’s decision to introduce Sanskrit instead of German in Kendriya Vidyalayas may lead to controversies in a multilingual country such as India, and with 22 scheduled languages (“Merkel raises axing of German from KVs,” Nov.17). Moreover it might also pose problems for children whose parents are in transferable jobs. Keeping these in mind, the Ministry should employ more language teachers in KVs throughout the country and allow students the option of choosing their third language among these options — the official language of the respective State, Sanskrit, or a foreign language like German. Besides this, according importance to all Indian languages and a foreign language will eventually help a student in the job market.
A.V. Ramanathan,
Chennai
In many of our schools, instead of taking into account the importance of native tongues, a dominant and alien language is thrust upon them at various stages. As for foreign languages, they can be taught at the senior secondary level. But before all this, it needs to be ensured that students across the nation get equal opportunities. The introduction of these in select schools should not become another tool of discrimination between children already battling problems in an unjust system of education.
Firoz Ahmad,
New Delhi
The decision to do away with German must be condemned. Learning a foreign language is an asset as students otherwise cannot afford to learn the language; Max Muller Bhavan is restricted to the metros. The HRD Ministry should stop attempts to politicise the move. Politicians always fail to understand the fact that learning any additional language will greatly enhance the confidence of a student in real-time situations.
R. Giridharan,
Hyderabad
The move goes against the basic freedom to learn a language. Students must be allowed to learn whatever they want to instead of imposing rules on them. At the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that students nowadays are unable to read and write in their mother tongue.
Amit A. Taradale,
Belagavi, Karnataka
A Singapore model
United Andra Pradesh was a disaster due to continuous and violent protests, a lack of dynamic leadership and a paralysed administration despite access to bounteous natural resources. Now, the residual Andhra Pradesh has all the opportunity to rebuild itself and get back on the track to development under the leadership of N. Chandrababu Naidu (“Singapore weighing A.P. help to build capital,” Nov.17). His vision and mission will undoubtedly be instrumental in rebuilding the State and one hopes that the Singapore government will take a favourable decision in extending help in planning world-class systems in the areas of water supply, power, gas, roads and fibre optic grids.
Prasad Kandra,
Nellore
Putin’s walkout
The churlish behaviour of the G-20 towards Russian President Vladimir Putin is appalling (Nov.17). One is reminded of the script of the film “Mean Girls.” Do many of the world leaders who ganged up against Mr. Putin think that they are squeaky clean? President Barack Obama is the leader of a country that is a world bully. There are more important issues for global leaders to tackle such as climate change, Ebola and the IS menace. Isolating Russia will not pay. The only leader who appears to be focussed is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Anoop Hosmath,
Mysuru
Mullaperiyar level
The tussle over the age-old Mullaperiyar dam row has again reignited (Nov.17). Tamil Nadu has been operating the dam. Apart from providing drinking water to a number of districts, the dam is also the lifeline of irrigation. The question now is about dam safety and not about water sharing. In a quake-prone area, an old dam is a potential threat. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister must immediately start talks with his counterpart in Kerala and allay fears.
K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha
Why subject an old dam to an endurance test? This is the right opportunity for Tamil Nadu to come forward and extend support to Kerala. Tamil Nadu can draw more water from Mullaperiyar and store it in the Vaigai. This will also help raise the water table in Madurai and surrounding areas. Tamil Nadu needs to pay heed to Kerala’s request. A give-and-take-policy is a must in any democracy.
O.R. Nandagopan,
Kochi
Turning a deaf ear to the genuine apprehensions of Kerala is not conducive to our federal set-up and good neighbourly relations between the two States. Since the Vaigai dam is in a position to store more water, Tamil Nadu could help ease the apprehensions of Kerala and in a way that does not jeopardise the interests of Tamil Nadu. This is not the occasion for a game of one- upmanship but of fostering kinship.
Ayyasseri Raveendranath,
Aranmula, Kerala
When the issue of safety of the dam has been raised a number of times, why is it becoming an issue yet again? Just because the dam is over a 100 years old, why is there a fear psychosis being created? No gravity masonry dam will ever burst and no gravity dam has so far burst in any part of the world. The dam is as good as new after strengthening measures were devised by the Central Water Commission, the highest technical body in India, and which have been carried out with the concurrence of engineers of the Kerala government.
Graham Pennycook,
Theni, Tamil Nadu
Oil supply scenario
In India, the fall in oil prices has gained goodwill for the government though it has nothing to do with any form of intervention by the government (“Gulf stability and the oil supply scenario,” Nov.17). Even then, a stable Middle East is in India’s favour. New Delhi should be committed to helping the Gulf region especially in combating terrorism. After reading about the factors that govern the supply of oil, one hopes that India quickly adopts sustainable development aimed at limiting our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy.
Mohd Younis,
Tujan Pulwama, J&K
That energy security will be a major factor to worry about by 2035 is cause for concern. Though the government has a number of policies towards petrol-energy security like the New Exploration License Policy (NELP), the coal bed methane policy, using gas hydrates and shale gas may be solutions for the future. Moreover, spending on solar energy (a target of 100GW of solar energy by 2020) has to be stepped up. Public transportation systems need to be encouraged.
Ponnamabalam Kalidoss Ashok,
Madurai
Asian countries should not find themselves in a position where they are dependent, of all countries, on the U.S. for their oil supply. It is also ironic that despite the fall in oil prices, India is still unable to pass on the benefits to consumers. Oil shocks will continue to be a reality and India must think of concrete policies to insulate itself from energy crises.
N. Visveswaran,
Chennai
Hindu chaplain
While I agree with Pratima Dharm’s view (“Comment,” Nov.17) that in today’s advanced scientific world we must not believe too much in mythologies, the fact is that Robert Oppenheimer, regarded as the “father of the atomic bomb” referred to the Bhagavad Gita to express his hopes and fears. He is quoted as having thought of the verse: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Santhosh Mathew,
Puducherry
It was enlightening to know that the Gita formed the foundation for Ms. Dharm counselling Hindu soldiers during the Iraq war, and in her role as an interfaith chaplain. The fact that Hindus are increasingly becoming a part of the U.S. military is encouraging.
Dammalapati Shyamprasad,
Guntur
