March 03, 2007

Language issue

It is in response to Umair Shaikh’s letter (YW, February 17) where he wrote that students in the Intermediate system shouldn’t be taught Sindhi at all and all students of Sindh should learn Urdu. He has a right to say whatever he thinks; however, some of the things he has said about the Sindhi language are insulting, disrespectful and totally unwarranted in the context of his letter.

He says that all students of Pakistan should learn Urdu as it is our national language. Perhaps he is unaware that people from different ethnic groups live in Pakistan, each with a separate culture and most importantly, separate language. So to people from Sindh, Sindhi would be both mother tongue and national language. They will readily associate with their mother tongue than with a foreign one, with all due respect. Same is the case with all other nations residing in Pakistan.

He goes on to imperiously question how Sindhi “would be useful to us in the future.” A logical response would be as English is the only language that would really be relevant to your academic and professional future, so why not ditch all of these useless languages for this lingua franca? And if you want Sindhi removed just because you find it “confusing”, I would really disagree as this is the last thing we need to further aggravate the linguistic/ethnic divide which is at its greatest in Sindh.

Ravez Ahmed Junejo,
19 years, Karachi


The correct use of things

In today’s modern world one finds numerous technologies that have both advantages and disadvantages. The sad bit is that the disadvantages seem to outweigh the advantages because of our attitude.

We begin to abuse technology rather than make use of its positive aspects. For instance, many teenagers misuse camera cell phones, they take pictures of other people and send it to their friends with sick jokes.

Some boys also tease girls by giving them missed calls and sending weird messages.

Although mobiles have many uses, I think that school students should not be allowed to carry these gadgets because it is just a waste of time and money for them.

Maryam Fatima,
14 years, Karachi


Coaching centres

I do believe that coaching centres today provide respite for students who do not attend lectures in college, but some students go to the tuition centres to attend extra lectures.

Some college teachers do not teach with dedication in college. They take more interest in teaching at the coaching centres. Students too believe at times that by attending coaching centres their grades would be enhanced miraculously. Little do they realise that they can get good grades if they study dedicatedly in college. Both students and teachers are to blame because if they simply fulfil their duty, the need for these centres would not arise.

Kiran Imtiaz Malik
17 years, Karachi