Letters to the Editor: Prayer not to postpone Prelims of CCE 2020

After a gap of more than two-and-a-half years, APSC is going to hold CCE 2020 prelims on 12th September. But due to the recent occurrence of floods in two districts, there are social media campaigns by a few regarding postponement of the examination.

While some of the voices are of genuine concern many want to postpone it for selfish reasons like not adequate preparation being the main reason.

Thus postponement will harm more to those who are simultaneously preparing for both APSC and UPSC CSE examination sincerely without wasting time in social media and following these campaigns.

So I request the APSC authorities to have the facility of centre change for affected areas' candidates online and information regarding their decision ASAP to avoid confusion among the thousands of serious candidates.

Robin Bora,

Guwahati.

A clarion call

In Talibanized Afghanistan, the beginning has been marked with brutality, barbarity and bloodbath which meant a clear red alert for the international community to act in unison to resist the alarming growth of the terror net. It is time to recall that in 2014 the Indian diplomats dubbed Pakistan as

'Terrorists in the annual meeting at the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) which was then speculation or a conjecture but has become a reality in neighbouring Afghanistan with the usurpation of power by the Pak-supported Taliban. It is, therefore, the pressing moment in the annals of human history for all nations to put behind their ideological obsession and show unity and cooperation to stoutly counter the Taliban menace.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati

Reopening educational institutions

The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the studies and mental health of students. Being stuck up at home for months, doing nothing except working on mobiles, laptops and viewing TV for hours together daily, they have become couch potatoes. Taking all precautions, including imbibing of Covid appreciate behaviour among pupils, the authorities should reopen all schools, except play way and nursery. Teachers should be fully vaccinated and should be called daily on a rotation basis.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog

Recitation as an art

Recitation as an art receives very little attention. While poetry and painting occupy the first bench, recitation is a backbencher. But we all know what backbenchers are capable of. Recitation gives new and fragrant meaning to a poem. Reciters for me are no less than the poets. The right intonation opens up a poem to new possibilities and meanings. Poems like "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The River Merchant's Wife" written by Li Bai and translated into English by Ezra Pound and "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda are snuggly reads for the reciter. Some wannabe reciters exert the same voice mechanics for every poem and end up killing the poem. Every poem has a character and once we get it, we can mould the character with our clay of imagination. And a good reciter always knows his poem by heart. In a world where meaning resides in an unknown destination, poems can be our charioteer.

Noopur Baruah,

Tezpur

Coloured history

Greece was under Ottoman occupation for four centuries but Greek historians do not glorify Ottomans. In India, it is completely a different story. We glorified the invader Mughals to that extent where generation after generation started idolizing their bravery, administration, art, culture, scriptures and whatnot. The history textbooks had major chapters about Mughals' kings. In that process, we forgot our history pages. Everything was so coloured by the Communist historians that many generations thanked Mughals for attacking us. The history writers made us believe that before the invasion Bharat was lacking in every aspect from science, culture, literature, architecture, etc. All this was done under the order of Congress government under the charge of Pt. Nehru by the likes of Romilla Thapar (Pt. Nehru's Cousin), Ramchandra Guha.

Even the independence history was painted according to Congress choice. There is always a notion that Congress was instrumental in securing India's freedom but the truth lies much beyond that. How can we ignore the plight of Britishers after World War 2 who declared that it would be impossible for them to carry on with their imperialist aggression, which resulted in many countries attaining freedom from the clutches? Britishers feared Subhash Bose, Veer Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and many other revolutionaries but these souls were ignored by the then Congress of Nehru.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.

Is it politics?

After the 2021 Assembly election, many interesting events in Assam politics have taken place. Many big guns have started changing their loyalty overnight, leaving the general public high and dry. Congress in particular is the worst sufferer. In upper Assam, Congress was virtually wiped out except a handful of candidates from constituencies like Naoboisa, Thaora, Mariani and Titabor. In central Assam, it could make gains in Batadrava and Mangaldoi because of AIUDF's support. But with the re-emergence of TMC in West Bengal who won the Assembly election with the help of a linguistic minority community, the APCC has decided to opt between AIUDF and TMC in Assam. We all know that the alliance between Congress and AIUDF was cemented by no other than a person Lt. Torun Gogoi, the 3-time CM of ASSAM who once thundered, "WHO IS BADARUDDIN" which all Axomiyas still remember. As politics is a game of opportunity without any morality his son Gaurav Gogoi, MP from Kaliabor, again courtesy AIUDF supports is so far hellbent on breaking ties with AIUDF due to reasons best known to all sensible and bonafide Axomiyas. This is the politics of APCC-type that believes today's friend may be tomorrow's foe.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

As the US is finally preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan with lock stock and barrel on or before 31st August as demanded by the Taliban, there will be the total capitulation of Afghanistan to the Taliban. The whole civilized world except Pakistan is alarmed at this development as the Taliban terror group may spread to its neighbouring nations, including India. Naturally, all bona fide Indians are alarmed except those who have branded the Taliban as liberators. The Central Government is in the meantime has started taking action against these traitors in a very casual way. We the bonafide Indians strongly urge the government to deal with these traitors very ruthlessly without caring for any criticisms from the so-called secular opposition at any cost. All the sleeper cells spread across the nation in the meantime must have become very active to oust the present government.

In Assam, we have noticed some Taliban supporters numbering around 14 have been arrested so far which we believe is just the tip of the iceberg as the entire western Assam, mainly Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara and even Marigaon and Nagaon may be the strongholds of Taliban supporters which are well supported by their brothers from West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. An iron hand measure to crush these traitors once and for all should be the call of the hour. India as a nation is capable of crushing terror groups like the Taliban instead of relying on the USA or any western powers as they are not reliable at all as seen in the record.

Lanu Dutta Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Two-child policy

"Hum do, humare do" is a famous tagline used to promote the 'two-child policy' across our nation. Though the reports released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) on unemployment in Assam is showing a fluctuating trend, it is beyond doubt that overpopulation is one of the prime factors for unemployment. Unemployment is one of the prime reasons many indulging in heinous crimes, robbery, demanding dowry and even disturbing a state's population because of large-scale immigration. Ironically, the taxpayers are paying a huge chunk of money for enhancing family planning, which remains a distant dream for us! Keeping the points in view, implementing the 'two-child policy in our state is the need of the hour; as it will pace up our economic and social standard. Hand in hand, proper education and employment must be imparted amongst the masses to reduce poverty, the biggest reason for unemployment… India-Bangladesh border sealing will prevent immigration; thereby helping in stabilizing our population.

We must make the masses understand that the 'two-child policy will lead to a proper financial future. Equally important is the government's role to find measures to absorb the present unemployed youths in various jobs. Overall, to solve the problem, we must eradicate its root so that its branches don't destabilize our economy and affect our society in the state.

Partha Pratim Duarah,

Nazira

Crimes against women

Through the 'Letters to the Editor' column of your esteemed daily, I would like to express my views on the rising rates of crime against women.

The latest incident in Mysore is another stark reminder of how we as a nation have failed to respect our women. In a country revered as a Mother and addressed by feminine pronouns, the hostility and violence our women face are shocking and ironic. While we worship pantheons of Goddesses with utmost devotion, the sheer cruelty meted out to our women is evident from the rising crime rates against them. The distasteful comments made by many expose their insensitive attitude towards women. We must tackle this issue through stringent laws, swift justice, and gender sensitization campaigns that would promote a greater understanding of gender-based violence. Unless appropriate measures are taken, crimes against women will continue to ravage our society.

Alka Mariya Antony,

Ernakulam, Kerala

Revival of

2 paper mills

The news item 'Delhi High Court orders Centre to clear intent on the revival of HPCL' appeared in this paper (The Sentinel August 30) clarified that the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had recommended revival of the two paper mills at Jagiroad and Panchgram. It's a mystery then why these two mills are not being rejuvenated despite repeated commitments of two Governments in the centre and the state? Is it then the interested corporate lobby pulling the string from behind the scene? It may be recalled that the BJP in its campaigns for the general polls 2014 and the State Assembly poll 2016 made major promises of reviving two paper mills should they formed Governments. The party formed Government at the Centre in 2014 and two years thereafter formed Government in the state, yet no efforts were made either from the Centre or the State to revive the two mills even when the NCLAT had passed orders to continue them as 'going concerned'. The people of Assam were eagerly looking for as the state's due enthused by the ruling party's firm stand to revive these two paper mills. The major stake lies with the BJP as the party is running Government in the state for the second successive term and it must honour its promises. Besides, the inhuman condition of the employees and their families is despicable as 92 workers died in penury in the last 5/6 years, including three suicide cases; while the education of their children has been irreparably hampered. There is now no logic for the Government to backtrack as the ruling party made the issue a major poll plank.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati

Court-appointed arbitrators

It is quite usual that retired judges of higher courts are appointed arbitrators by courts, giving them much more income than they earn while they're being judges in higher courts. There are reports that these arbitrators charge exorbitantly for each hearing. Even if all the parties concerned mutually agree for adjournment much before the date of hearing, arbitrators insist on sending representation for adjournment on the fixed date of hearing so that they may forcibly charge for a hearing held just for seeking an adjournment. An RTI response dated 24.12.2019 from the Department of Legal Affairs has revealed that the Central government is not considering any reforms to prevent such anti-public practice of arbitrators.

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 should be amended to prevent such money-minting tactics of arbitrators. Complete details of arbitration fees earned by an arbitrator case wise in a year mentioning also several hearings conducted in each case should be made public by putting all details on websites of courts having appointed them arbitrators. There must be some maximum reasonable amount fixed for an arbitrator for a particular case. Money earned by way of arbitration must not exceed what arbitrators earned before retirement.

However, the maximum time limit for withholding arbitration-award after completion of the hearing has recently been fixed as one year (except for international awards) by amending the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 where earlier there was no such limit. But even a one-year period for arbitration-award is too much which should be a maximum of three months.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi-110006