Mailbox

In these depressing times when there is no shortage of bad news, your cover story featuring winners of the Infosys-EducationWorld Young Achievers Awards 2006 (EW July) was truly welcome. It is inspiring to learn that far away from the headlines and regressive politics of the country’s elected leaders, India has enough rising stars who exhibit all the signs of being serious learners and doers.

I am particularly pleased that both the winners of this year’s awards were scientists. Almost everyday one reads about the dismal condition of Indian science and of how the number of students entering the science stream is declining. However the profiles of the award winners — Vignan Pattamata and Abhiram Chakraborty — indicate that they are confident youth determined to improve society through scientific inventions and breakthroughs.

Apart from the winning scientists, the shortlisted finalists were an excellent mix of young achievers in all walks of life. Thanks to Infosys and EducationWorld for demonstrating that there’s more to youth achievement than excellence in the classroom and examinations. Keep up the good work!

The cover story titled ‘Scientists Bag Infosys-EW Young Achievers Awards 2006’ (EW July) was an inspirational feature. Such awards are highly necessary to motivate the youth of our country to strive for excellence in a scenario where the country is being divided by politicians with feudal mindsets. All the eight finalists should be feted at the national level as role models for the country’s younger generation.

At the same time I feel that you can’t compare sports success with scientific or social service achievements because each field is different. A star sportsman is no less than an acclaimed scientist. I suggest you categorise these awards into science, sports, art and culture and social service and celebrate two outstanding achievers (senior and junior) in each, so that achievers in all fields are duly represented.

If I recall correctly last year also the awards were given to a inventor and an environmentalist.

Jagadish C. M.
Haveri (Karnataka)

The Infosys-Education World Young Achievers Awards are made on the basis of applications received — Editor

Politician-youth disconnect

You’ve hit bang on target in your special report titled ‘Brewing Tsunami over OBC reservations’ (EW July). The political class and particularly the 79-year-old Union HRD minister Arjun Singh is completely out of sync with the mood of young India. Old in age and outlook they don’t understand that India’s youth don’t want the virus of casteism to enter their campuses. Recently more than 20 students of IIT-Kanpur discarded their caste-indicative surnames to adopt the generic surname Bharat. Obviously genex prefer their academic and work achievements to be highlighted, rather than their caste identities.

But the rising student indignation and protest over OBC reservation doesn’t mean that they are against affirmative action for genuinely deserving students. We say affirmative action should be on the basis of economic well-being rather than caste. Economic freedom has erased caste and community barriers and given young people irrespective of caste and religion, never before opportunities. In this new inclusive society, OBC reservation reeks of vote bank politics. A young nation needs new solutions and youth need to be involved in the decision-making process.

I was surprised to notice an error in your June 2006 issue. In your education news from Kolkata titled ‘Education politics’ (p. 11) a sentence reads "... St. Xavier’s College and Presidency College, both of whom have been graded A+". This is incorrect. It should have been "... both of which have been graded A+".

Perhaps you could tell your editorial team to be more careful in future, since your magazine is mainly read by those interested in good education.

Arun Dube
Director, Springfield School
Jaipur

Thank you for featuring our dean and director Dr. Mrs. Y.G. Parthasarathy in your cover story ‘50 Leaders re-shaping Indian education’ (EW June). It contained a feast of valuable information about leaders in education institutions and their constructive roles in reshaping Indian education.

Mrs. Valli Arunachalam
Principal, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School
Chennai

Your sarcastic criticism of Hindustan Lever’s best-selling brand Fair & Lovely in postscript (EW July) is overdue. More than 50 years after independence, Indians haven’t got over their colour complex. They should face the fact that they are brown and be proud of it.

As you have correctly stated, the blatant colour prejudice inherent in the Fair & Lovely television ads would be illegal in the US and Europe. It’s truly sad that a "model MNC" like Hindustan Lever should stoop so low for a few extra bucks. And by doing so, they have encouraged the promotion of a plethora of other skin lightening brands which is spreading colour prejudice in Indian society.

Meanwhile even as people in India are rushing to whiten their skins, in several western countries, people embarrassed by their frighteningly white complexion are resorting to sun tan creams.

Suresh Raina
Delhi