I would like to thank Mohammed Abdullatif Al Asheikh for his article “Passport officers at our airports” (June 3).
This article was really a treat to read and that is really a common scene at the airports here, especially when one arrives and stands in the queue. The treatment we get is not so pleasing, especially for the newcomers who arrive in the Kingdom for the first time and most of them cannot speak or understand Arabic language. They just don›t know where to go, what to do and what to say. They simply follow what the officer instructs them, sometimes these newcomers have to spend hours in the queue. I hope the appeal Al Asheikh made in his article about giving more attention to the training of these officers at the airports will be given due consideration so that they are able to deal with the visitors in a more hospitable way. (Khaled Ahmed, Riyadh)
Indian Muslims must move on
This refers to the letter "Indian Muslims and Partition" (June 2). Maulana Azad's alcoholism is an astonishing news for me. That is yet another feather in his cap. As the writer said, the Indian Muslims are lower in status that that of the Dalits or even the 'untouchables.' That is quite a pathetic situation.
A few years back, I was listening to Yusuf Islahi in an Islamic convention in the US. He originally belongs to Attock and is a Pashto but moved to Rampur on the instructions of Abul Ala Maududi before partition and is now settled there. He gave us quite an optimistic picture of the Indian Muslims and their achievements, in which he also counted the achievements of the Indian Muslim actors and the top Muslim players in Mumbai's underworld.
I know from my friends and relatives that the Indian Muslims generally live in poor and unprivileged conditions, such as, in slums or ghettos. Muslims in South India are in a better situation in terms of education and job opportunities. Pakistan is a blessing, at least for those of us who are in the majority. I shudder to think about living under a Hindu government. It is time to move on and the Indian Muslims should come forward with a positive and practical approach to enhance their presence in Indian society.
Pakistan has survived with Allah's help and it will continue to do so InshaAllah. (Abida Rahmani , By e-mail)
Issues at IISJ
This is apropos of Safi H. Jannaty's letter "Class XII results" (June 2). Should we give all credit to the Indian Embassy or the principal for the good results of the students of a school run by the embassy? I have had a negative experience involving my son at the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) because of the arrogant and rigid attitude of the school.
My son is an above-average student, but because of exam phobia he scored poorly in the maths preliminary exam held over two months prior to when the CBSE Class X results were declared. That was enough for the school authorities to deprive my child from opting for the science stream. Even my written guarantee that I would withdraw my ward if he fails to score below the required marks in the final Class X board exams of science and maths went in vain. The science stream requires serious students to recover the backlog of portions unread.
The pass percentage of Class XII is an important factor for obtaining admission in premier Indian institutes. Unfortunately, in schools here, none of the principals or the headmasters are available in the scheduled meeting hours for parents. Many mothers like me have stood for hours in the school corridor in the scorching heat hoping to meet the concerned staff.
I do not agree that private schools are charging thrice as much as the Indian schools. The Indian schools, as in other countries, are patronized by the embassy and are run on a 100 percent community-funded, no-profit no-loss basis. The IISJ has drastically increased its fees and the concession on the fee for the second and third child of the same parents has been withdrawn. (Naaz, Jeddah)
Letters to the Editor: Passport officers at our airports
