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| Wednesday, 4 December 2002 |
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Letters | |
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The word ragging, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means fund raising programme of stunts, parades, entertainment organized by students. That is how it is done in most of the western universities from which we have borrowed and adopted the word ragging, but, evidently the word ragging is misconstrued by translating it into Sinhala "navaka vadaya", severe punishment meted out to the freshers. "Vada" or severe punishments, even upto killing was prevalent in the days gone by in our country. Thirty two severe punishments, "detis vada" were decreed by law on criminals who committed serious offences, crimes. The students study hard and clear all hurdles and join the universities to graduate, their final aspiration. Is it an offence to be confronted with "vada", draconian punishments? It is almost akin to killing of the innocent. (Herod). In translating the word ragging into Sinhala the translators should have been much more thoughtful and tactful in the use of the word "vada" without leaving room for abuse of the word. After misconceiving the word "vada" in the phase "navaka vadaya" some inconsiderate youthful senior undergraduates inflict rough treatment spanking, physically injuring even death on the innocent freshers. To stamp out ragging in our universities once and for all some have put forward bona fide suggestions. Setting up of police posts in campuses, laying down of guide lines on campus life and discipline, banning of any baneful political party activities on campuses, to have cordial relationship between the authorities, lecturers and the undergraduates. (traditionally our students think highly of their gurus). Obviously they are commendable suggestions. Totting up, I would like to add my humble suggestion. Translate the word ragging into "navaka piliganima", welcome to the freshers, avoiding the swear word "vada" completely. Precisely, how it had been done in Indian universities like Nalanda, Wickramasila and Odantapuri. L.V. CABRAL, The Talauyanwatte Road in the Kandy Municipal area which branches off from the main Kandy-Peradeniya Road close to Kingswood College is a busy public road used both during the day and the night. In addition there are many houses situated along this road above which uncovered high tension wires (3 phase) are drawn. Specially during the rainy season (which is now on) there are frequent power failures due to the contact of branches of trees with these live wires. From about January this year the consumers here and on Primrose Hill have brought this danger of over-hanging branches to the notice of the Kandy CEB authorities on Tel. Nos. 222285 and 225038, from time to time, but to date no action whatsoever has been taken to cut down these branches and dangerous trees (including coconut and mango trees whose roots are also exposed due to soil erosion). Some responsible authorities should take early action to cut down these dangerous branches and trees before a tragic disaster happens. A. B. FERNANDO, History in our school curriculum I happened to read the contributions by C. Jayasinghe of Kandy (17/6) and A. Ratnasinghe of Mattegoda (11/7) on the above theme. The former has drawn attention also to the comments made on the same by persons of eminence such as Andrew Scott and Dr. Lorna Dewaraja. That history as a subject does not find a place in our school curriculum is indeed a serious neglect for which the framers of our educational policy in the past could directly be held responsible. In this connection I recall the comments made by Dr. Dewaraja, sometime back, in a review of a publication titled 'Reliving the Enchantment of Anuradhapura' authored by a young student of St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. A significant observation she had made there is the fact of the 'relegation' of history into a place of subordinate importance in our school curriculum 'submerged' as it is found, she had pointed out in the subject designated 'Social Studies'. I may add that it is not only history that has been subjected to this process of 'relegation' and 'submergence' but also subjects like geography and civics which under an earlier dispensation, were taught as separate subjects. This process of 'relegation' of history has indeed a history of its own as well. It originated in the 70s when 'Social Studies' was introduced to replace the study of subjects like history, geography and civics which up to this particular period were taught as separate subjects in the school curriculum. Even science subjects taught separately until then underwent a similar process being replaced by 'General Science', if I remember right. This change was brought about by the educationists of the era on the hypothesis, I believe, that study of these subjects in separate compartments encouraged specialisation far too early in the child's school career. Hence the introduction of 'Social Studies' in the form of a synthesised subject. Social Studies in our school curriculum draws its sustenance from various elements, drawn mainly from geography, civics and economics. For instance, the 1985 year 9 text book on social studies has its contents material touching on social, economic and political areas. The history content has been removed with a view to replacing it with separate books on the subject. There is no mention of history in the year 10 and 11 texts on the subject. As such 'Social Studies' would appear to be a synthetic product of dubious educational value. The final outcome of its course, at the secondary level is a student who passes out of school not knowing either history, geography, civics or economics at any acceptable level of competence. He would only have nibbled at knowledge in these areas. So in the context of the neglect of these subjects in their educational background the contemporary generation of youth and students have been left a disadvantaged lot. To most of them history speaks from its 'tongues' - may I say muted ' tongues' - left behind by our forefathers in the form of those unique archaeological remains and innumerable artifacts located mainly in the sites of our 'ruined cities'. Tragically even they are now being subjected to frequent acts of vandalism and even desecration. Consequentially also they have been left an immature lot, narrow in outlook, superficial in their ways and even indisciplined in their conduct. They also reveal a low level of general knowledge, having not had the benefit of reading widely, which study of such subjects would certainly have encouraged. However re-introduction of subjects like history as separate subjects in our school curriculum might lead to problems of a practical nature. The contents of a history course suitable for our needs - preferably may I suggest inclusive of both Ceylon and World History - have to be decided upon as a matter of priority. This might not be such a daunting task, considering the wealth of resources we possess in our country in the form of scholars and academics who have gained even international recognition in this particular field. Further resources, both human and material, may have to be found. School timetables may have to be readjusted. A way out may be to make it an optional subject along with say geography, civics and economics. This provision will carry the additional advantage of offering our students a wider choice of subjects as optionals. It is hoped that serious thought will be directed by the authorities responsible, for the revival of interest in subjects like history, not only in our school curriculum but also, if possible, even on a national scale, so that the contemporary as well as the future generations will appreciate the fact that "a thorough familiarity with our ancient heritage", as has been pointed out by that renowned Indian statesman C. Rajagopalachari, "is necessary if we desire to preserve our individuality as a nation." H. S. RAJAPAKSE, I happened to serve in Parliament at a time when I had the privilege of the late Hon'ble Lalith Athulathmudali serving as Hon'ble Minister. I recall the occasion when some Sri Lanka MPs were to be selected to attend a conference in Tokyo, Japan and though my name was in the list, a certain politician was wangling to substitute my name with a certain MP of his choice, and I felt that I would not be on this delegation, when the telephone rang at the MP's hostel at 'Sravasti'. I was not present at that time, and my wife answered the phone and at the other end was no less a person than the late Hon'ble Minister. He informed my wife, please tell your husband to be packed and ready for its certain he is on this delegation to Tokyo. There was another occasion when at this conference there he noted my absence at the dining table and inquired from Dharmasiri Senanayake what happened to me and he told him that I was indisposed. Later that night, I heard a tap at my door of the hotel and there was no less a personage than this Hon'ble Minister having personally come with medicaments. At the time he was Minister of Trade, at a conference summoned of consumer societies, as the conference started I put up hand and noticing this, he asked me to speak, and I happened to tell him, that it was my misfortune not to be fluent in Sinhala and I was not able to understand what was being stated to convey to our consumers society in Batticaloa, and he promptly responded - not trying to get someone to be with him and translate his speech into Tamil or English, as it would be time-consuming but appointed an official to come and sit beside me to whisper the proceedings. The other occasion was when I asked for an urgent appointment to meet him and looking up his diary, he told me he was pressed for time, and whether I could meet on the morrow at early dawn at his residence and when I went, he was attired in his shorts to take his early morning constitutional walk, but even found time to introduce me to his little daughter. Such was this great man whom this country was fated to miss so tragically in his prime. PRINCE CASINADER, In the past few weeks news items appeared in the print media that the Railway authorities have got up from their slumber to give a face lift to the Railway Stations, and also warning that the train services could no longer be continued if sufficient funds are not immediately allocated for its maintenance. With the bus fare going up from time to time, commuters are now forced to travel by train to their places of work. It is very dishearting to see when travelling between Kelaniya and Colombo Fort Stations the waste of Steel Railway Lines, waggons, passenger coaches, perished galvanised roofing sheets etc. between Dematagoda and Colombo Fort Stations, it may not only between these stations, tons and tons of steel may be corroding and overgrown with grass and creepers along the railway network in the country. It appears no one is interested in converting these scrap/iron/steel into cash, that may be lying for several decades and develop the railway service. What is the commercial manager, S. L. Railway doing to improve the revenue of the Railway Department. These scrap/iron/steel can be collected and sold to countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other markets. There is a ready market and big demand today for scrap/iron/steel in South Asian countries. The local current price for scrap iron steel is in the region of Rs. 6000 per metric ton. Perhaps there would be more than 100,000 metric tons of scrap/iron/steel lying along side the Railway network in the country, which will bring millions in foreign exchange to our country. Without adding burden to the Treasury for more funds, money can be found from the Railway Department itself, if meaningful action is taken in disposing immediately the scrap/iron/steel lying in the Railway network in the country, exposed to all elements all these years and convert into ready cash, and grow food on available Railway Lands in the country, as was done during the Second World War. Action could be taken to give casual employment for about 1,000 workers to dismantle parts of rail waggons, passenger compartments, discarded glavansied roofing sheets, clear all grass and creepers that are overgrown and sell by open tender. The Prime Land re-claimed which could be put to better use particularly in the Pettah area, which is now too congested and needs expansion for the floating population that is increasing daily. When dismantling of waggons, compartments etc. there may be some useful parts that can be reused once again at the Railway Workshop. There is another matter, millions of rupees are spent annually on the supply of uniforms to all S.L. Railway employees. But you do not see any employee wear their uniforms whilst on duty or may be selling these materials. Who is responsible for the enforcement of wearing their uniforms whilst on duty, as usual the higher up in the railway administration are not bothered at all. Why waste money on uniforms, it would be better to supply Plastic Identity Cards with Photograph, with the name and designation of the employee to be worn whilst on duty, so that the travelling public could easily identify him as a Railway employee. F. A. Rodrigo-Sathianathen The ATS, an animal welfare organization from Switzerland, has taken over (as a pilot project) of the Kandy Municipal Council, the Gohagoda dog pound, where dogs of irresponsible dog owners straying on the roads were caught and killed by the cruel method of fumigation, if not claimed within three days. Thus the most faithful friend of man is killed. Now these dogs are given a second chance to live, provided they find a loving and caring person who is willing to take one of these forsaken fellows home. These dogs will be fed, cared for and looked after when sick. Sterilized, vaccinated (ARV) by the ATS Organization. They appeal to animal lovers to provide a home for them. Please come to the Gohagoda dog pound - a village near Katugastota - may be you will find your lost pet, or you can provide a home for an unfortunate one. The credit for this merciful act goes to the Kandy Mayor, Deputy Mayor, the Kandy Municipal Veterinary Surgeon, the ATS Organization the local volunteers who are helping its movement. Call 0777-7840294 for further information. DR. C. GODAMUNNE, The roads have become unsafe today. We often hear about fatal accidents. There is no relief from the traffic blocks too. No benefits can be seen even if the roads are being modernized spending millions of rupees. The best example is the New Galle Road. When it was under construction from Moratuwa to Panadura people expected many benefits. But today we can see this road blocked by the vehicles parked on both the sides of the road. Light vehicles, heavy vehicles, three wheelers can be seen using this road. Pedestrians and passengers follow no rules. What is the use of spending lots of money for constructing roads if we cannot save time spent on the road. Recently Baseline Road was also reconstructed. Now it has become a speed way. The media revealed Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda had a special discussion recently regarding this road. The road from D. S. Senanayake Junction to Highlevel Road should be made model area according to his view. It is a very timely idea. Bus drivers and three wheel drivers obey no rules. Passengers are unimportant to them. Most of them have no care about the people on the road and their humanities have faded in coining the leasing. We would like to see at least one place, one road, where rules are followed, humanities are respected. We have great confidence in Minister Milinda Moragoda. Our expectation is to see the Baseline Road, devoid of accidents and well-disciplined, according to Mr. Moragoda's ideas. SURESH DE SILVA, Population grows, new diseases appear, new hospitals come up, but do we have sufficient number of doctors? Have our health authorities ever thought of providing proper health-care to our people who throng at state and private hospitals to get the services of a few doctors especially Consultant Specialists. Have they done anything to cut down the waiting period to get a surgical operation done even for simple ailments like cataract or hernia? Suffering people have to wait sometimes 7-8 months to undergo an operation. Why do not we produce more doctors in our universities by cutting down the number of engineering, arts and commerce graduates? I can foresee the protests coming from some of these university faculties specially from engineering faculties. But they themselves know that we do not need so many engineers to perform the level of engineering we are involved at present and even in the future. Our planners and educationists should think about this matter and put the meagre resources we have in our university system, into the best use by producing more doctors and related professions cutting down the numbers in unwanted categories. More students should be encouraged to go into the medical stream at their O/L and A/L stages. DESHAPRIYA RAJAPAKSE, There are 3 most vital basic needs for man to survive - food, water and air. We can survive without food for a few days. Water for few days only, but air (breathing) without even for a few moments or seconds. From one's birth to death, breathing continues without his knowledge. It is an involuntary action even during our sleep. We could avoid spoilt or contaminated food items. Some with drinking water. Hygienically prepared food and purified water could be taken. But we could not possibly avoid breathing highly polluted air. Compelled to inhale. Nowadays, the air is highly polluted. It happens every day and poisonous/gases are belated out from vehicles, machines, factories and it is one of the major health hazards in our cities and suburbs. The air pollutions cause acid rains in some major cities in the world. The air pollutions have no exceptions, they affect animals and birds and other living creatures. Sparrows are commonly sighted in our gardens and houses. But they are no more or rarely seen in our areas. All officials, authorities, ministries, the police and other relevant departments view this health hazard seriously and arrest this dangerous trend which happens daily at a frightening rate 'Health for All'. J. E. VETHANAYAGAM, |
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