Danger of imitating

Danger of imitating
The short stories’ section on the front page on Monday (January 30) had a photograph of children dressed as Gandhiji, arriving with their heads hanging out through the windows of the bus they were travelling in. Although the idea was to present the dressed-up children’s photo, it was a harsh reminder of an incident in Mumbai. A child hanging out his head in a similar manner lost his life after an accident. Today, with social networking and mobile phone uploading being easy, youngsters might try to imitate such acts. Kindly do not print such photographs, which are by themselves harmless, yet they can lead to dangerous situations, if copied.
—Archana N Kini

Sena’s violent ways
This has reference to ‘22 held for vandalising Marathi daily office’ (January 30). The Shiv Sena corporators have shown yet again that violence and creating havoc are their key weapons when it comes to the battle for votes. Newspapers are published for the sole purpose of reporting facts, but to vandalise a newspaper office is shameful. Sena has maintained its reputation of using violence and aggression to attain its means. However, this will not hold good for them in the forthcoming civic elections. The matter could have been settled amicably with the newspaper house rather than resorting to such measures. The government should penalise the accused.
—Sana Topiwala

II
This has reference the city edit ‘Use brain, not muscle’ (January 30). Shiv Sena’s strong-arm tactics against their detractors should be condemned. The party’s failure to highlight any point during the election campaign is the chief cause of their frustration. The civic condition of the city has gone from bad to worse. The party knows well enough that their days are over and hence they are showing signs of frustration by attacking newspaper offices. Sena’s diktat to councillors to shun ‘My Locality My Voice’ sessions, an initiative of DNA, is an admission of the fact that they have nothing to share with the citizens. The party must mend its ways with the changing times and allow more interaction with the masses if they really want to be in the reckoning.
—Ashok Goswami

Right initiative
This has reference to ‘School adding fun to make weak students catch up’ (January 30). Kudos to Dr Ashish Deshpande for his initiative on remedial measures adopted for “weak” students during school hours. The implementation of the “Mauj” remedial programme in schools will have far-reaching consequences on the young minds of such slow learners who have to cope with discrimination of attending remedial courses after school. The programme to overcome their handicap through classes conducted during regular school hours and with participation of all students will go a long way in boosting their morale. The HRD ministry should introduce this programme across the country.
—Esha Valia

II
Those students who have learning disability and are asked to stay back after school for classes are often looked down upon as “weak” students. The initiative by psychiatrist Dr Ashish Deshpande will be beneficial in eradicating this distinction between students. This remedial programme gives boost to the confidence of those “weak” students. The fun activities involved in this programme make the children feel equal as all of them are made to participate in it collectively. This play-way method will not make the parents ashamed. It is beneficial to everyone.
—Drishti Joshi

Longest tennis final
24-year-old Novak Djokovic once again proved his mettle. He won his 3rd Australian Open defeating Rafael Nadal. The longest grand slam final which recorded 5 hours and 53 minutes on the clock was thrilling to watch as none of the two players showed any sign of weakness. It was refreshing to watch the whole arena shouting Novak’s name. Djokovic proved why he is number 1.
—Shalaka Shah

Bizarre and improper
This has reference to ‘From govt trenches, a desperation’ (January 30). The order of the ministry of defence (DoM) asking the adjutant general (AG), the official record-keeper of the Indian Army, and the comptroller general of defence accounts (CGDA) to ‘change’ their records and ensure that General VK Singh’s year of birth is recorded as May 10, 1950, is bizarre and improper. Gen Singh’s birth certificate issued by the Pune military hospital where he was born and his high school certificate reportedly show 1951 as his year of birth and these vital documents must be part of AG’s and CGDA’s record. How could they be changed unless tampered with or fabricated? Copies of these certificates must also be among the supporting evidence of Gen Singh’s petition in the Supreme Court scheduled to be heard on February 3. At this stage, DoM should have desisted from purposely issuing an order for changing the official record.
—MC Joshi, Lucknow

II
In a desperate bid to prove that its stand on Gen Singh’s age issue is correct, the DoM is reported to have asked the AG office to change his birth year to 1950 in its records to conform to the data available with the defence secretary’s office. It is surprising that the government has not considered that this order, when the Supreme Court is seized of this issue, amounts to contempt of court and could even be misconstrued by the court as tampering with the evidence in the case. With this high-handed action, the government faces the prospects of losing its case. It could have saved a lot of embarrassment for itself if it had avoided a collision course with the General reputed for his honesty. The UPA government never seems to learn from its past mistakes.
—Arun Chandra