Swine Flu Affects Numaish Rush

Increasing number of swine flu deaths and positive cases in the state and particularly in the twin cities are deterring people from visiting Numaish, the All India Industrial Exhibition, thus affecting the business. During the last one week, the exhibition has seen a decline in the number of visitors as several deaths were reported in this period. Though the flu death was first reported in early December last, the number of visitors was voluminous as usual.

However, the volume of visitors started declining as the death toll of swine flu positive cases rose. According to sources, there has been a gradual decline in the number of visitors for the last three days. Generally, the peek business days at Exhibition start from January last week and remain till the end. The outbreak of swine flu causing deaths of several people seems to have hit the business at Exhibition. Usually, the number of visitors to the Exhibition ranges from 40 to 50,000 every day. On holidays, the footfall increases five thousands.

But due to the constant advertisement by the state government instructing people to avoid crowded places the number has decreased considerably. R Sukesh Reddy, a volunteer and security in charge at exhibition grounds said that during the last week the number of visitors came down by few thousands. He said, “Awareness campaign by the government over the swine flu resulted in decreasing the number of visitors to the exhibition. We have been observing for few days now that the volume of people coming here decreased.”

He however said that this decline in number would not affect the business in high volumes and expressed the hope that this situation would not remain for long. The stall owners in the exhibition appeared worried over the swine flu and government advisory for the people. The exhibition remains up to February 15.

Sensitizing Aspirants of Executive Posts Is Agenda

Mohammed Younus 
Syllabus Committee, constituted by the Telangana Public Service Commission to suggest changes to the existing syllabus of all competitive examinations, is keen on sensitising candidates appearing for executive and administrative posts on local issues prevailing in the State. The committee which discussed the change in syllabus recently focused on creating awareness and a strong understanding of the local issues among aspirants. 

An overhaul of the syllabus will be done at a later stage. But, some crucial part of the syllabus will be changed 

Professors, educationists and experts of the committee opined that a change in syllabus would not be for name sake. Though there is no official outcome on the meetings, it is learnt that the committee members are unanimous on improving the objectivity of the examination. Syllabus Committee head Prof G Haragopal said that an overhaul of the syllabus would be done at a later stage. He said that for the current year, the Syllabus Committee would not make major changes in the syllabus and pattern. But, some crucial part of the syllabus would be changed. 

He said, “Sensitising the aspirant candidates on the socio-geographic and socio-economic issues of the State is necessary. Several aspects on AP would be replaced with that of Telangana.” “There is a debate going on for changes in the pattern of Group II examinations as recruitments are done of executive posts. Objective type questions alone cannot assess the candidates appropriately. It needs a total relook”, he informed. 

The Syllabus Committee would meet on January 29 to give the final touches to the already prepared framework and would submit the proposed changes to the commission on January 30. The members have said that changes in the curriculum have been proposed by taking a realistic view of the whole situation.

Rejig in School Syllabus with TS Movement

Mohammed Younus 
From the next academic year, TS students would study the role played by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the Telangana movement, going by the recommendations reportedly finalized by the State Council for Educational Research and Training upon completion of its exercise for revamping the syllabus for schools of the State. The recent Telangana movement would be included in the syllabus at the school level, highlighting the role of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its president K Chandrashekhar Rao, Chief Minister of the newly created State. The major changes would be in Telugu and Social Studies subjects at the primary and secondary levels. 

"Role of TS legends to be highlighted"

The SCERT has proposed several changes in the syllabus to be taught from the next academic year. In Telugu, the history of poets, writers and authors from the Telangana region would be included, removing the ones from the Seemandhra region. History of educationists from Telangana who had been ignored in the past would also form part of the new syllabus. The history books would have the Chronicles of Telangana dating back to the merger of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into Indian Union and all the major events up to the formation of Telangana.

According to the School Education Department officials, the history of movements during the Nizam’s regime, Hyderabad’s merger, first democratic government, agitations pertaining to Mulki Rules, role of Osmania University students, the 1969 Telangana movement and the 1972 Jai Andhra movement would be included in the history section. Besides, the renewed movement for statehood, the role of TRS, TNGO’s, KCR’s fast-unto-death and announcement of formation of the separate state would be included. Prominent people from Telangana involved in various movements from 1911 to 1948 would find place in the history books. The role of Hyderabad State Congress, Andhrjana Sabha, Ravi Narayan Reddy, Ramanada Tirtha in the Telangana movement would be discussed elaborately.

Farmers’ agitations, Telangana Armed Struggle, history of Maqdoom Mohiuddin, Shaikh Bandagi, Chakali Ailamma, Doddi Komuraiah and V Ramchandra Reddy are among the other topics that would find place in the revised syllabus. This whole exercise of the SCERT virtually eliminates from the syllabus information pertaining to Seemandhra-related poets, writers, historians, movements and cultural events.

Row Over Sackings in EFLU

Mohammed Younus  
Hyderabad : Students and employees of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) are crying foul over the unlawful sackings of a few Class IV employees in the university. Students alleged that the administration has been using the services of an employee B Jayaram, appointed on an ad hoc basis, to cover their tracks on the campus. According to student unions, the university administration has given several key responsibilities to him, though his appointment was not made as per the norms.

According to students, the CAG report had also held EFLU responsible for illegal appointment of office attendant Jayaram who was later appointed as university caretaker. It is alleged that after attaining the position of caretaker, Jayaram has been harassing the Class IV employees and has sacked nearly 10 employees. It was also alleged that he demanded Rs 50,000 from a sacked employee Mariyamma to take her back on rolls. Telangana Students Association secretary B Sateesh said that university administration is completely against the SC/ST students and employees on the campus and is showing utmost discrimination towards marginalised sections.

He said that the appointment of Jayaram was illegal as the Universities Act permits the vice-chancellor to recruit only teaching staff and not non-teaching staff. He also said that in case of appointing the non-teaching staff, it should not be for a period exceeding six months. It is said that Jayaram and his brother were using political clout for continuing their activities in the varsity and were harassing women employees.

Complaints have also been lodged with the university administration in this regard, he said. Attempts to contact the vice-chancellor and other officials of the varsity were futile. The students demanded an enquiry into this matter and bring all the sacked employees back on rolls.

FreeDom of Speach !

Mohammed Younus 

Freedom of speech has once again got the prominence globally ever since some alleged 'terrorists' have carried out a daring attack on a satirical tabloid of France Charlie Hebdo recently, though many questions have been raising on the authenticity of the claims of French agencies about the identity of attackers.

Let me put the discussion on the identity of attackers off and express few words pertaining to the freedom of expression. Some of the experts dealing with the social rights of people across the globe compare Freedom of speech with right to live.

Snatching away this freedom would be like killing a person or a group of person, according to these experts. I also support this idea to a larger extent. But as we travel from Japan, one tip of the global map, to Europe and then US we can find different standards of freedom. In China the people are allowed to speak what the government wants them to speak. In Russia we have almost the same standards.

Coming to India we have a larger freedom but this is used only to benefit few 'strong' people. It has been observed that freedom of speech in India has got many different faces. In the name of freedom you cannot go to extreme. In India we have certain restrictions. Some lines have been drawn.

In Arabian countries, Gulf and Iran we have more restrictions on free speech. Despite such sanctions the social media has played a vital role in devastating the status quo that has been there for several decades and it brought the people there some respite from the dictatorship.

In Europe and US the freedom of speech is limitless or extreme. Generally the West including the media uses this freedom across the globe. As the west has its own standards for freedom it goes wrong in Asian, Central Asian and Latin American countries if practiced with the same standards. 

Charlie Hebdo episode is the clear example of miscarriage of freedom of speech across the globe. Though it is true that if something is sacred for someone it could not be possible sacred for others but there is a need to have an overlook on the whole concept of freedom. Because we have to reconcile for peaceful co existence rather to fend conflict in the name of Freedom.

A Unique Oral Course

Mohammed Younus 
Hyderabad: A Professor from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) has designed a unique course to teach the basics of Urdu language without requiring the learners to use a pen or paper. The course is completely based on oral teaching and examination for the six months certificate course is also conducted orally. This course has come into existence following the immense demand from Urdu lovers from different walks of life who wanted to enjoy the beauty of the language.


Centre for Urdu Language Literature and Culture (CULLC) Dean and Professor Khaled Sayeed has designed the course and introduced it in the year 2009-10 for the first time. The name of the course is ‘Tahseen-e-Ghazal’ which means appreciating the Ghazal. He said that several language enthusiasts in programmes like Mushairas and other literary events felt uncomfortable as it was Greek and Latin for them. They lament that they were not enjoying the events as those who knew the language. 

Hence they have requested him to design a course that non-Urdu people could pursue and understand the language without the pain of writing and reading. Sayeed said that each language has its own community. Ghazals can be understood better by those who knew Urdu and those who don’t will have to look sideways clueless. He said, “Ghazals have some particular vocabulary and usage that need to be deciphered properly if a person wants to understand the correct meaning.” 

He said that during the six months course, the students are taught to learn the simple phrases, words and basic structure of the language. He explains, “The syllabus of this course is based on three components that are Pronunciation, Communication Skills and Vocabulary of Ghazals. We have conventional things in Ghazals that need to be deciphered.”

Boon For Coaching Academies

Mohammed Younus 
Hyderabad : Jumping at the opportunity being offered in the form of change of syllabus for Group-I and Group-II exams, coaching centers are minting money from job aspirants by offering their ‘own syllabus’ for the prestigious exams, though the government is yet to take a call on the issue. Taking advantage of vague announcements by the government and TSPSC members, the coaching centre have started preparing material for the ‘changed’ syllabus and are selling them at exorbitant prices.

Soon after the government announced that the syllabus would be changed, some of the academies imparting training for competitive examinations started promising that they would circulate study material on Telangana History, culture, art, architecture and literature, gleaned from local history books and as suggested by experts. Actually the changes announced by the government in syllabus are not big as only the Cultural History of the State would be incorporated in it. However, coaching academies are promising students material with substantial changes in syllabus. 

A student, K Venkat Yadav, who has been preparing for the Groups examination, said that he had paid Rs 5,000 for the material promised to be provided by the academy where he is being tutored. He said that at least hundred students had paid money for the material. TSPSC has constituted a committee, headed by Prof G Haragopal, to design the basic structure of the new syllabus. However, the commission has clearly stated that there would be not much change in the syllabus.

When TSPSC chairman Ghanta Chakrapani announced the decision relating to change in syllabus, he had specifically advised the students not to fall prey to the tactics of coaching academies. He said that the changes would be only in respect of material carrying only a few marks and would be announced by the commission itself soon. He said, “We would not allow any coaching academy to exploit the situation by predicting syllabus.”

Despite this warning, many academies have already started luring students and aspirants with their own syllabus. Students who have been waiting for the notifications have become scapegoats for the coaching centers. A major worry for the students now is the time that would be taken by the commission to release the notification.