"Please point out (to the council) that we will not react positively to the retaining of only the so-called 'educational services'.
Personally I feel like asking them to send their master trainers in English to Iraq or Afghanistan. We have been managing and can continue to manage without them.
It is devastating that at a time when so much new knowledge is emerging in the world our one tiny window to it is being closed. After all , the Alliance Francais is just a peephole.
More importantly, I'm thinking of all the kids who will have to grow up in Trivandrum without this or a similar facility.
I wish we could drive home to the ones who take the decision that it is more important to win hearts and minds in places like Trivandrum or Kerala; that though intangible the benefits to Britain are huge, in terms both of goodwill for Britain and the professionals who enrich British institutions later. And remind them that once the library is closed, people here will seriously explore the possibilities of universities in Europe which are now offering courses in English to attract people from places like India.
More importantly, I'm thinking of all the kids who will have to grow up in Trivandrum without this or a similar facility.
I wish we could drive home to the ones who take the decision that it is more important to win hearts and minds in places like Trivandrum or Kerala; that though intangible the benefits to Britain are huge, in terms both of goodwill for Britain and the professionals who enrich British institutions later. And remind them that once the library is closed, people here will seriously explore the possibilities of universities in Europe which are now offering courses in English to attract people from places like India.
Because the truth is, in the long run it will hurt the British more than it will hurt us in the short."
- P Vijaya Kumar
(Dec 18)
(Dec 18)
3 comments:
The key is "convince the British Council"
How are we to do that ?The ones in Delhi who took this decision are simply not budging from their point of view.
The press reported that after the CM's meeting that a delegation from the council is visiting the state in early Jan. Is this report true. Will this be people from Chennai, Delhi or London?
We need to make sure that we:
* brief the CM before that
* they are brought to meet us the members and concerned citizens in a town meeting.
So who will confirm this report and also the dates when this delegation is coming so that we can prepare ?
In such situations of distorted/ partial communication the needy should be prepared to prevent the worst.
1. drainage of all memberships due to the announcement of refund
2. transfer of staff
3. transfer / sale of books
4. transfer / sale of assets
5. Handing over of building to YMCA
Whatis required is "the new entity should start functioning from Ist Feb 2008". An understanding with British Council to be made through
Government by the end of December 2007 itself.
Need not wait for British Council's officials to visit, which is not certain.
I agree. Some really quick steps need to be taken to prevent the worst from happening.
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