— Vinod C. Dixit

Ahmedabad

Not the real problem

• Kapil Sibal seems to be under the impression that it is simply the Class 10 board examination that’s traumatic. It is equally, if not more, traumatic to get a child admitted to kindergarten in a reasonably good public school. It is not the actual Class 10 examination that’s a source of concern, but the opportunities forfeited should the student fail to achieve a certain percentage of marks. It stands to reason however that if an institution has the facility for higher secondary education it should admit the student clearing the Class 10 boards irrespective of his or her percentage of marks.

— H.C. Johari

Kolkata

Letting go

• This refers to the editorial ‘The maharaja’s airs’. A government enterprise in India can never operate as profitably as a commercial one. Many PSUs, despite huge assets, have poor balance sheets. These companies have grown in size but not profitability. The problem is that these state enterprises work in a non-profit manner and politicians don’t care. However, this can’t go on for ever; a sense of profitability must condition the functioning of government enterprises. Perhaps it is time to handover Air India to private hands.

— Raghu Seshadri

Chennai

Best man

• Nandan Nilekani deserves to be congratulated for being named chairman of the UIAI. His job is unenviable but important; if implemented properly it will do an immense good to every Indian citizen. It is a big developmental step and Nilekani is the best man for the job. However, though he’s resigned from Infosys, there may still be conflict of interest as he continues to be one of the largest investors in the company.

— S.N. Kabra

Mumbai

Jeans politics

• Those who put forth a “no jeans” view in the interest of women’s safety indulge in crude hypocrisy. All men susceptible to such easy provocation should be made to wear chastity belts whose keys would be in the hands of

the self-appointed guardians of morality and women’s honour.

— G.A. D’Costa

Goa