"Reading serves as more than a skill; it becomes an aspect of culture. It must enable citizens to reflect on what is going on, not merely a skill to decipher printed texts. From this larger perspective, the teaching of reading during early childhood — when attitudes, habits and skills acquire life-long foundations — acquires crucial significance for the efficient functioning of democracy."
Krishna Kumar, former director of NCERT and well-known educationist (The Hindu, January 19)
"Just like the right to education and right to health, there’s need to have a right to justice."
Veerappa Moily, law minister, announcing that a Bill ensuring justice to all is on the anvil (January 15)
Nations like China and India realised that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. So yes, the world has changed. But this shouldn’t discourage us. It should challenge us.
US President Barack Obama delivering state of Union address in Washington (January 25)
"The superpower aspiration is as much a male, macho thing as Naxalism or Hindutva. It is likewise a fantasy, and an equally dangerous one. It has already spawned much conflict in its wake…"
Historian and author Ramachandra Guha in an essay titled The Enemies of the Idea of India (Outlook, January 31)
"The only big political office that really interests me is unreachable for me, because I was born in Austria and therefore can’t become US president."
Arnold Schwarzenegger, California governor, on his future political plans
"Mr. Mubarak should retire now if he wants to leave with dignity."
Mohamed ElBaradei opposition leader, demanding the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak
"Even Hitler would have not done like this; you are incorrigible."
Justice D.V. Shylendra Kumar of the Karnataka high court criticising the KIADB for reckless acquisition of land for industrial purposes (January 28)