Safeguarding riders
A helmet is a safety gear designed to shield the head (brain) of a rider while he/she is on the move. It’s truly admirable that the government has been initiating strict action against those retailers who are selling substandard helmets. Moreover, it’s a known fact that helmets ought to be ISI-marked, certified under BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), and mandatory for every two-wheeler rider. However, the safety of riders should be the topmost priority. Helmets are necessary to reduce the force or impact caused by accidents and cushion the blow to the head (brain). It’s a great investment in saving one’s life. Some individuals resort to going without wearing headgear as they feel suffocated or for other reasons; that’s a concerning indicator. Obey traffic rules, maintain a safe distance, ride safely, and also allow others to ride safely on the roads that lead to one’s destination.
Joseph S Desouza, Rajasthan
Respect religious sites
Churches and other religious places form an essential part of Goa’s identity. But some visitors act inappropriately at such sites, especially in relation to their attire. It is equally important that visitors extend the same respect to our local traditions and religious sentiments, particularly when visiting our places of worship. It has become increasingly noticeable that some women tourists from other states in India enter our churches and the Basilica dressed in a manner that is not suitable for a religious setting. The attire worn when entering these sites should reflect the sanctity of the space, irrespective of personal faith or cultural background. Just as you would expect others to show respect in your religious places, we Goans too expect that our churches be treated with dignity and reverence. This is not about moral policing or cultural imposition — it is simply about mutual respect. Goa may be a tourist destination for many, but for us Goans, it is home — a home rooted in tradition, spirituality, and communal harmony. The casual or immodest attire worn by some tourists inside churches is not just disrespectful to our faith but also to the values of basic decency and sensitivity. The tourism department needs to consider placing polite, informative signage at major churches and religious landmarks requesting appropriate attire. Many countries and states around the world do the same. Visitors — particularly Indian women from other parts of the country — should be mindful of local customs and dress modestly when entering places of worship in Goa.
Melanie J Mascarenhas, Margao
Bane of corporal punishment
A teacher at a government-aided high school has reportedly been booked by Old Goa police for allegedly assaulting and verbally abusing several students over a petty issue. While most of the students reportedly sustained minor injuries, four were referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. It is learnt that the teacher has applied for anticipatory bail. Be that as it may, this is not the first time that a teacher from a school in Goa has been booked for assaulting students. More recently, in August 2024, the Goa Police arrested two teachers for allegedly beating a 9-year-old child from a government-aided primary school, who suffered injuries as a result of the thrashing he received. The two teachers have been booked under Section 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act and relevant sections of BNS, which aim to protect students from corporal punishment. Teachers may be under tension on the home front, which could make them take violent action against students on flimsy grounds. Hence, psychological evaluation may be necessary for teachers who have a violent disposition and may not be fit for the profession. Some teachers believe corporal punishment is a necessary tool for maintaining classroom order and instilling discipline, while others may struggle with managing large classes or lack the skills to address student behaviour constructively.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Power of forgiveness
Global Forgiveness Day’ is observed on July 6. It is proved that the act of forgiving somebody adds to the happiness and longevity of the giver. Excusing others has the ability to induce in the giver a feeling of forgetting the past and pondering about the future. But the sceptics of forgiveness see the gesture as an act of the will, though the heart is somewhere else. They quote former US President John F Kennedy who famously said that though one should be quick to pardon someone, the latter’s name shouldn’t be easily forgotten. The world is filled with hate and jealousy, scuffles and clashes, and the best panacea for all, under the circumstances, would be to forget and forgive. A smile on the lips and a gush on the face, with a song to boot, may melt the most stubborn of wrongdoers’ hearts. The present day is akin to a gift wrapped in paper. Unless one opens the wrapping paper, anxiety and curiosity over the content are bound to loom large. In embracing the ‘gift’ of life, shedding past animosities, and becoming friends with bitter enemies lies the ‘present’.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
