I write because I feel!!

By Ravia Gupta Many voices, one world; many debates with no result----“We are the hollow men, We are the stuffed men, Leaning together, Headpiece filled with straw. Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass, Or rats' feet over broken glass, In our dry cellar, Shape without form, shade without colour, Paralysed force, gesture without motion…” (T.S. Eliot) WHERE’S THE PARTY TONIGHT? Party, certainly not for me, as I prefer to stay home before its dark. Don’t be such a bore, after all you don’t stay in Kashmir? Yes, you are right, but I genuinely don’t feel safe, be it Kashmir or Delhi. But what is the reason? Simply, because I am a woman. Time and again I have been told that I have a ‘Lakshman rekha’ and I must not cross it to avoid unwanted consequences! Society reminds us that we are females and that we need to put efforts to ensure that we don’t present ourselves as targets to be raped. Though, my parents, over the ...

The quantitative expansion of higher education has contracted the quality of education (Ravia Gupta’s article ‘ Higher education needs to meet higher expectations ’, February 12). Teachers are the growth engine of quality education. A complete generation is affected by their conduct. Though stringent measures are taken in the selection of a good teacher but monitoring at different intervals is important for quality teaching. Unethical practices in education and professional dishonesty should be strictly dealt with. Prevailing good practices should be encouraged. Students at graduate and intermediate levels should do innovative project works so as to acquire interest in research work. These days a major chunk of research degree holders end up in colleges to take up teaching as a career. Only few are able to carry out research work. Research work needs a lot of hard work, focused attention and good remunerations by government of private industries. Various funding agencie...

Contributed for The Tribune SOME learn to earn, while there are others who earn to learn, and are ready to take risks at any cost. Does India have an excellent higher education system or is it struggling in a sea of mediocrity? After having worked with a reputed TV channel for almost three years, one day Rahul decided to quit and joined a media course. Having got a seat in one of the premier institutes of the country, he still isn’t sure if he has been provided with the best of education. Is it something to do with an international university tag or lack of opportunities here in India that are putting pressure on today’s youth? But the real issue is, why should our students seek to go to foreign universities? So, what are the real issues that are hindering the growth of higher education sector in our country? Is it infrastructure or a lesser number of institutions? Certainly not! At least by looking at the increasing number of Central universities, deemed universitie...