Violence on varsity campus

THIS is with reference to Mr M. B. Naqvi’s above-captioned letter (March 16) regarding the beating up of certain students on the Karachi University campus by the students of another group. While this was surely a deplorable incident, the punch line of his letter describing the restoration of students union as the panacea for violence is however debatable.

Beyond idealistic and utopian notions like student unions were a virtual parliament to teach students highest standards of civilized argumentation and behaviour amidst heated arguments, the ground realities have unfortunately been very different. One of the worst gun battles in the history of Karachi University among student groups occurred on the day of polling in the student unions’ election of 1981, in which one student was murdered and armed students took some teachers hostage as a human shield against the law-enforcing agencies.

Throughout the 1980s, the use of fire arms by the rival groups of students was the order of the day, culminating in the worst violence on the campus in July 1989 when three students were murdered. In the wake of this grave emergency, the then vice-chancellor had to take the unpleasant decision of calling in the Rangers.

The student unions, employees and even teachers have largely been indulging in power games rather than practising healthy democratic activities. Mostly, powerful groups have been working as auxiliaries of certain political parties and, in the long run, have done more damage than any good to the university.

In the past 28 years or so, I have witnessed, both as a student and a teacher, the decay of academic standards and collapse of administrations at the hands of these power politics.

From the late 1970s to the early 1990s successive administrations continued to succumb to powerful student groups and their guardian groups among teachers to the extent that teaching at the campus became no more than a mockery of higher education. Teaching per semester got squeezed to an average of 12 weeks, with the examinations spanning between eight and 10 weeks on the demand of students for more “gaps” between their papers.

The Academic Council of the university continued to give concessions to students on attendance requirements and promotions, despite their failing in most or even all papers. One session used to take up one and a half years for completion.

In the mid-1990s, the then vice-chancellor took the bold decision of abolishing the boys’ hostel, reducing the semester examinations’ duration to 15 days and fixing 16 weeks a semester for teaching, thereby ensuring strict implementation of the attendance and promotion rules. Had there been a students union in place, he might not have succeeded in taking these steps.

Politics and democracy per se could be very good, but in our academic institutions these have been grossly misused by the vested interests, thus damaging the standards of higher education. Please give us a breather.

DR SURAYYA KHATOON

Karachi

Teaching in English

THIS refers to the letter titled ‘English as medium of instruction’ (March 21) by Intisar Ahmed Sulehry.

I am a little amazed that there still exists among the literate people of our nation the kind of logic which Mr Sulehry has so profoundly expressed in reply to Naveed Afridi’s letter on the same subject. He seems to me to be advocating illiteracy rather than offering support for the Urdu language.

He states that “in a situation where people cannot even read or write in their own mother tongue, is it possible to adopt English as primary medium of instruction?” So, does he suggest that we lower educational standards to simplify life for the uneducated/illiterate people? If so, then he has given ‘progress’ an altogether new meaning.

Deploring the literacy levels of our nation is spot on, but the solution does not lie in narrowing horizons and removing the English text from the primary levels.

To begin nationwide campaigns for educating the poor at nursery and KG levels should be the prime target and to introduce these students to good Urdu (rather than the street lingo used by them) in tandem with English lessons would be a sure-footed route to progress for this country.

He compares us with the advanced (G-8) nations like Germany and France that stress the use of their mother tongues in educational institutes. Does he realize that they possess a plethora of advanced educational text in such professional subjects like science and other technological topics?

And how, pray, are the students to grasp the advanced English text at secondary levels if they have no basic grounding of the same? What he is suggesting is akin to letting the poor become poorer and enabling the elite to become more elitist!

My suggestion to Mr Sulehry (and other like-minded individuals) is to approach nationalism through a different and more pragmatic route like raising their voice for better medical facilities for our underprivileged population or to promote the culture of public libraries for those who do not have ample means to procure academic/intellectual material for higher education.

Pursuit of English for the sake of advancement will not undermine the status of Urdu, which in itself is a treasure trove of literature.

On the other hand, being ably conversant with English just might do well to promote Urdu, and to spread its rich heritage to the English-speaking nations. And that can only happen if we know how to communicate to them in their language.

MAHEEN A. RASHDI

Karachi

Cold-blooded killing

HATS off to Ms Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old peace activist who stood in front of an Israeli army bulldozer in her bid to prevent demolition of houses in the Gaza Strip. The woman was crushed to death by the bulldozer on March 16. The great woman left her home town in the US and stayed in Gaza as a human shield.

On March 3 an Israeli bulldozer killed a nine-month pregnant Palestinian woman, Nuha Sweidan, while destroying the house next door in a neglected Gaza refugee camp. Witnesses said Mrs Sweidan, 33, had bled to death under the rubble as she cradled her 18-month-old daughter. Her unborn baby also died.

Rachel Corrie and Nuha Sweidan probably never met, but they will always be remembered as victims of Israeli war crimes.

These incidents are eye-openers for human conscience. I wonder whether the world would have been a better place if the OIC or the UN could have a part of Corrie’s courage and conscience.

WASEEM ASRAR AHMED

Karachi

Learning from China

SHORTLY Prime Minister Jamali will be on his maiden visit to China at a very crucial juncture in terms of both international and Chinese domestic political environment. Also, he will be seeing his new Chinese counterpart since a generational change is taking place there these days with power passing into the hands of a younger lot in their 50s from the older stewards in their 70s.

After some experiments with systems, yet without committing double blunder, the Chinese leadership has reached a stage where it can distinguish its national interests from its personal interests and make a smooth run on both economic and political courses.

At last today’s Chinese leaders have realized their Great Leader, Mao Zedong’s dream of “Great Leap Forward” by sustaining a remarkable growth rate between 8 and 9 per cent a year in the last 20 or so years, a growth rate hardly ever has any of the countries of modern history achieved.

On various issues of international importance, they take a ride on the highway which directly leads to the point where their national interests lie.

During his visit, apart from signing other agreements with his hosts, Mr Jamali should conclude a special agreement by which a Chinese team of experts should regularly visit Pakistan to conduct “regular courses on national interests and objectives”. This will surely help our “guardians of nation” learn as to what is the difference between national and personal interests and how to secure national interest.

RAJA YASIR IMTIAZ

Rawalpindi

Heart patients: Indian offer

I WOULD like to inform you that we are a group of heart- care specialists who have performed over 19,000 major surgeries on patients, predominantly from poor families, in the last 13 years at Kolkata and Banglore, India. We have done over 8,000 operations on children — a few thousand of them being newborn — suffering from complex heart problems.

We have special interest in children suffering from complex heart problems. It is primarily because of our philosophy of life. We at Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore, get children from all over the world for major reconstructive heart operations in which we have considerable experiences.

We attended to several children, some of them were barely one-week-old, who came from Pakistan for major reconstructive operations, and, by the grace of God, they all had their operations and went back home happily. We have noticed that almost all of them came from well-to-do families.

All our institutions in India are built for the poor and patients coming from working-class families. Of course, we do get large numbers of patients coming from rich families but the philosophy of our founders and management is to treat patients from lower socio-economic strata. I am sure there are thousands of children born with complex heart problems from poor families of Pakistan.

Those families which have children suffering from heart problems but cannot afford expensive heart operations can contact us for help. Heart operations on children are not as expensive as people think they are, and there are good numbers of institutions like ours in this world where operations on children are done at concessional charges, specially for children from poor families.

Once we get the medical details of children, we will plan the future course of action. The children who are selected by us for free operations do not have to spend any money at all, and we will accommodate the child and one parent at our hospital at our cost. They only have to buy the air ticket to and from Pakistan.

If anybody needs any other information about our hospital, they can access our website www.hrudayalaya.com.

DR DEVI SHETTY

Chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya,

Bangalore, India

Terror begets terror

I WISH to be trenchant in agreeing with the view that “more than ever before President Bush proves himself to be blinded by his messianic fundamentalism”. By deliberately violating international law, Mr Bush is encouraging all those who — in a world of fanatics — do not fear to use blind terror and violence.

This is the same opinion one can hear being voiced pretty much all over the world today. The verdict is undoubtedly almost universal; by unilaterally declaring war on Iraq, Mr Bush and his “poodle” Tony Blair have shown their contempt for the United Nations.

Might and greed have triumphed over the international order, hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis will lose their lives, terrorism will be back with a vengeance and the Middle East turned upside down.

SEHAR RIZVI

Via email

Fight over LFO

THIS refers to the letter of Col Syed G. B. Shah Bokhari (March 21) in which he has pleaded in favour of a ‘fragile democracy’ and asked politicians not to fight over the LFO, a one-man law superimposed on the Constitution.

If after 56 years we are to be doled out a lollipop, then we better be without it. It is for the first time in the pox-marked (with martial laws) history of the country that a consensus seems to be emerging among the politicians against the arbitrary laws, ordinances and illegal framework orders. This awakening in itself will go a long way in levelling the field for democracy. It will also discourage the future ‘boot-rule’.

As for the cost-effectiveness of the electoral exercises, let us consider for a moment the defence expenditure (with what results?), the billions upon billions wasted in gaining ‘strategic depth’ and ‘strategic alliance’ in Afghanistan, and a sense of proportion just might return.

ASLAM MINHAS

Karachi

Changes in cricket team

THE recently-announced changes in the Pakistan cricket team are completely in character with the poor management of the Pakistan cricket in recent years. While many cricket fans will surely be pleased to see some players deservedly sacked, it is not clear what the criteria for selection in the new team are.

Why were Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq retained in the team if a fresh start was the plan? Their performance in the world Cup was utterly mediocre. Does anyone think they will improve with time? Or, are these the only people in the good books of Amir Sohail and Rashid Latif?

It seems that the primary (exclusion) criteria is age/experience. Let us get rid of everyone who has experience. Perhaps someone should remind the new masterminds of the Pakistan cricket that the primary criterion for selection should be merit/performance only.

It is true that some players deserve to be replaced even though they are performing at a tolerable level because they are constantly engaged in power politics. But why drop Saqlain Mushtaq? Saeed Anwar had the best Pakistani batting performance in the World Cup. So why drop him?

Surely, these selectors know that it takes years of experience and a high level of talent to perform at an international level. Transitions have to be planned strategically and executed at the right time, and not a policy of “lets get rid of everybody over 28” immediately.

Eight players sacked! The new (mis)management team of the Pakistani cricket has made a chilling start. Are they going to be accountable for their performance? The Pakistan cricket fan’ nightmare continues.

AMYN HABIB

Boston, USA

A tribute to Maisoon

IT was heart breaking when I came to know that Ms Maisoon Hussein would die because of her diseases. Despite all the knowledge of her illness, she was braver than people like us who only knew that she was ill.

She was honest, deeply concerned about human rights violation, and was always ready to come in any processions, protests and meetings on the issue of women’s rights.

I came to know her when she was Nishat Apa in ‘Children’s World’, and during all those years she was simple like truth and energetic like a child.

DR SHERSHAH SYED

Karachi

US consulate in Karachi

IT is amusing to read the call by US consulate officers to have Karachi police provide extraordinary measures for their security, specially the idea of cordoning off requested for Abdullah Haroon Road and Fatima Jinnah Road.

Apparently the officers are concerned about their security while their government tramples the rights and security of all Iraqi people and the Iraqi government.

It will behove the Karachi police to refuse blocking to the people of Karachi the use of the two main roads. Instead they should ask the consulate officers to pack up and leave, and to not come back until the desert dust over Iraq has settled.

SHAMS NAQVI

Richmond, CA, USA

Improving traffic in Karachi

THIS refers to the letter titled ‘Improving traffic in Karachi’ by Mr Salman A. Bugvi (March 10). It is a matter which requires the most urgent attention of the authorities concerned. As it is, the situation would appear to be out of control as there is complete chaos and lawlessness on the roads in Karachi.

First and foremost, what is needed is a highly competent and efficient police force with dedication and determination, and with a will to do its duty without fear or favour. And this must begin with the appointment, as police chief, of an officer of highest integrity and honesty. He should be prepared to get out of his airconditioned office and visit various parts of the city, as and when possible, to see for himself that everything is in order. He should ensure that other police officers do the same, much more often, to keep the police on their toes.

The next important step is for the government to organize a massive advertisement campaign, particularly on television, to educate the public about the rules of the road, as it is quite obvious that the vast majority of those who drive various types of vehicles do not have the least idea about traffic rules. This must also be due to the fact that the procedure of issuing driving licences leaves much to be desired, and there must be cases where driving licences are issued without giving the applicant a proper written and practical test.

The result is that the vast majority of drivers do not know the basic rule regarding the “right of way”. They do not know that, while coming out of a side-road, they must stop and give way to the traffic flowing on the main road. Or, while approaching a round-about, they should stop and give way to the traffic coming from the right; that one should not overtake a vehicle at turnings, round-abouts or when approaching the intersection of a main road.

The conception of driving within a lane is just not there, as every motorist feels that he or she must overtake the car ahead, and in the process, they are prepared to push the vehicle in front of its own lane. Driving on the fast lane, even if a vehicle is driving at the maximum speed limit allowed, it is common for motorists to flash lights or blow their horn to tell the car in front to get out of their way. Quite often no indication is given by a car to indicate that it intends to turn to the left or to the right.

The buses are a law unto themselves. Traffic police are incapable of controlling their movement. They do what they like, stop where they want, and create impediment in the flow of traffic. The same may be said of motorcyclists, who keep zig-zagging between cars. Then there are unauthorized speed-breakers without markings or warnings. And, zebra crossings mean nothing to anyone and are probably the most dangerous points for pedestrians to cross.

In Karachi motorists blow the car horn for no rhyme or reason. This reminds me that in the ‘50s Karachi was declared a “silent zone”. I wonder if that law has since been changed.

KHWAJA SAYEED SHAHABUDDIN

Karachi