Dear Miguel, As a lecturer I communicate with students and encourage debate on various issues. Many a time what a student says does not match my point of view - I do not stop him/her from talking. Instead I encourage others to debate on the issues raised, and in turn raise questions that force students to think. I feel this facilitates the sharpening of the students' ability to think.
Sometimes I myself am forced to counter arguments raised by students. I find this challenging. Ultimately it helps me to sharpen my arguments and helps students to develop their ideas. Banning of ideas is something that one associates with religious fundamentalism. We need to focus our energies on demolishing the arguments of the Subhash Velingkars of the world. This will help to mobilise opinion in a positive way. Sitting and pointing fingers at others is counter-productive. Unfortunately I read konkani very slowly, but I regularly go through it. I can say with certainity that if a list was made of articles, editorials and reports that are progressive and that counter communal/parochial/sectarian ideas that list would run into many pages. I think a person and his/her work needs to be looked at in their entirety before attempting to demolish the credibility of the person and his/her work. I think we need to be responsible in our criticism of others. I get the feeling that you have not read Sunaparant yourself. I suggest that you meet with some of the youngsters who read Sunaparant and find out what it is that they like in this paper. Regards, Nishtha. -- ~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~ Ashwin Tombat Media Consultant, Journalist and Researcher D-12/C Government Quarters, Altinho Panaji, Goa - 403001 Tel: (+91-832) 2433806 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~~~__/)__~~
