One reads stories of students belonging to poor families doing exceedingly well in the exams. Some also achieve laudable ranking at the state and national level examinations.
Almost all these students like to pursue their studies either in Medicine or Engineering or some other important streams and some may even dream of becoming IAS officers. But what prevents them from pursuing further studies is the poor financial status of their parents.
These could be students whose father is either a rickshaw driver or a taxi driver or engaged in some menial job. These parents can ill afford to make their bright children realize their dream due to financial constraints. As a result of this the students may be forced to take up studies for some lesser important degrees and some may even take up menial part-time jobs to help their parents financially. In the process we could be losing some very bright brains.
It would be in the fitness of things for the Government to identify such bright students who have done exceptionally well in the XII class, both at the state and national exams so as to financially help them pursue the career of their choice. Alternatively some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) could take up the cause of these bright students and help them financially to pursue their dreams.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
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It just ain’t Cricket!
The long standing feud between various fractions of the Goa Cricket Association stinks and there seems to be no end to the greed which started with Ticketgate by the infamous but long forgotten former GCA President Dayanand Narvekar. We hope that GCA would be streamlined in line with BCCI and the present office holders will be back in the pavilion soon with Srinivasan and Narvekar.
Matias Lobo, Oman
Comprehensive win
India’s comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in the final one-dayer should put to rest all speculation that some of the players are not firmly behind skipper M S Dhoni.
The captain’s magnificent obsession to excel was once again on view as he made a fine half century. Shikhar Dhawan’s stroke filled 75 and Suresh Raina’s brilliant all-round show also ensured that India would pull the rug from under the feet of the Bangladeshis. The consolation win not only prevented a “Banglawash” but also helped restore a modicum of pride.
The Indian quicks, however, cut a sorry figure once again as they were repeatedly taken to the cleaners. Making no bones about this Dhoni has done well to point out that “we need to take a decision on whether we want really quick bowlers or good bowlers even if they are not quick”. The selectors would do well to heed to these pearls of wisdom.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Memorial for JP
The Centre’s decision to establish a memorial for late Jayaprakash Narayan at his birthplace in Bihar smells of political opportunism. JP was a Socialist giant who gave the clarion call for “Sampoorna Kranti” (Total Revolution) against Indira Gandhi and opposed emergency. While it is a fact that many of the RSS and Jan Sangh leaders (BJP was not born then) like Atal Bihari Vajpayee languished in jails, the BJP should not attempt to hijack JP’s legacy.
JP was against the very economic model which BJP today proposes. Even the so called socialist parties of the Hindi heartland have failed to uphold JP’s legacy. The memorial being announced is only an attempt to garner votes in the upcoming Bihar elections.
Brinda Singh, New Delhi
Joyous leap
This is with reference to the letter published on the English Daily Herald dated 24/06/2015 written by Dr. Suvarna Fonseca titled ‘Goan “Sao Joao” celebration – A mockery’ concerning revelry in observance of feast of St John the Baptist. What the writer fails to appreciate is that, St John the Baptist is only one among the very few saints in the Catholic Church whose feast is celebrated on his birthday. The revelry accompanied with jumping in the well epitomizes and symbolizes the joyous leap that St John the Baptist took in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when Mary herself being in gravid state with Jesus in the womb greeted her during the latter’s visit to the former.
This shows that St. John the Baptist yet unborn recognized the Saviour that was to come who would save the entire mankind from the decay, misery and death that was inflicted by the Sin of disobeying God committed by our first parents, Adam and Eve.
If sin by Adam and Eve brought us the reward of death, in the same way the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross brought us resurrection and eternal life. We know that, death does not put an end to life but all the more gives an assurance of eternal life to all those who repose faith in Him. The prophetical forefathers and forerunners like St John the Baptist had very well realized the idea between what is meant to be damned for eternity and eternal life. It is in this entire context therefore, the revelry, joy and celebration.
Haloise Fernandes, Ribandar
