Students need space to thrive in our education system

Refer to ‘Toppers & losers: What our education system has got wrong’; Noam Chomsky once said, “Education should empower us to question, not just conform”. Let us nurture thinkers, not just scorers. Only an inclusive, meaningful education system can unlock India’s true human potential. Equal access to quality education can bridge the social divide and unleash talent beyond textbooks. In the race for marks, we suppress creativity, curiosity and individuality. True education should inspire critical thinking, imagination and a love for learning. We need a system that values the arts, hands-on exploration and diverse ambitions, giving all students, not just toppers, a chance to thrive.

K Kumar, Panchkula

Topper-generating factories

Apropos of ‘Toppers & losers: What our education system has got wrong’; we inherited a simple and practicable system of school education from the British. We kept experimenting with it and the result is that school education is being supplemented by factories of education called coaching centres, producing robots to secure high marks. Sometimes, the losers are unable to make it because of the poor financial condition of their parents, who cannot afford to send them to these topper-generating factories. Let our educationists and policymakers critically examine the education system and recommend need-based reforms accordingly.

VK Anand, Chandigarh

Abusers must be punished

With reference to ‘Domestic violence’; many women in India still face cruelty and abuse in their own homes, even though strong laws are in place. Most of the abused women don’t talk about it, and some who do, have nowhere to go as the support system is weak. At the same time, it is also true that a few women misuse this law to trap their husbands and in-laws for money or revenge. Such acts weaken the real cause and harms innocent families. The law should not only protect the real victims, but also ensure that false cases are struck down. We need a fair system that gives justice to those who suffer and punishes those who abuse others.

Suber Singh Parihar, Nadaun

A collective fight against abuse

The fight against domestic violence is a collective responsibility that requires the resolve of the state, society and individuals to bring about meaningful change. Domestic violence is not a personal issue; it is a societal failure that demands urgent redressal. While the Supreme Court’s recent directive of appointing protection officers is a step in the right direction, its effectiveness will depend on the commitment of states/UTs to implement the law rigorously. Ensuring the safety of women at home is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Expanding the moral compass

Refer to ‘Feminine flame’, Banu Mushtaq’s International Booker Prize proves that talent outshines everything. Literature recognises no boundaries of class, caste, religion and gender. Mushtaq said in her acceptance speech that her book was born out of the belief that no story is small in human experience. Her (and Deepa Bhasthi’s) win is deeply personal. Her stories are infused with the spirit of dissent, but carve their own space within the tradition. Mushtaq has given an insight into the lives of marginalised women who face patriarchal and religious constraints. By doing so, she has expanded the moral and emotional compass by insisting that rebellion makes room for quiet, and often invisible, battles.

Mona Singh, by mail

A fillip for regional languages

The International Booker Prize for writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi is not only a literary honour, but also a victory for the Kannada language, one of the oldest languages in the world. We hope that more such literature from various Indian languages reaches the global platform. Bhasthi emphasised in her acceptance speech that the international award for her and Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp should inspire greater engagement with South Asian literature and languages. She hopes the recognition will encourage more people to read and write about the region. Hopefully, many Indian writers will take inspiration from their success.

Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur

Letters to the Editor