Taxi fare that is so unfair!

Dear Sir,

I have been regularly travelling by taxi from the City Center for the past one month. I have found that one of the new taxi operators is taking passengers for a ride.

Irrespective of the time of day, the fare code on the taxi meter shows 3. This is either a night rate or an out-of-city rate. Very interestingly, the driver ‘notices’ it only when it is pointed out. If the passenger keeps quiet it’s 3 on the meter all the way and he ends up paying more than the actual fare.

Is the meter rigged? I hope not.

Ravi Menon, Doha, (Address supplied)

Mumbai girl sets an example

Dear Sir,

It is a matter of pride and inspiration to all Indians in general and the Tamil-speaking  community in particular to read that Mumbai girl Prema Jayakumar, despite several odds, has topped the Chartered Accountancy final examination recently. Prema, whose father drives an autorickshaw for a living in Mumbai, is now determined to use the milestone as a stepping-stone towards providing her parents with a life of comfort.

Her achievement is an amazing story of success in challenging circumstances and befittingly, she has been inundated with gestures from all around. Eminent personnel, including but not limited to the Maharashtra governor, the Tamil Nadu chief minister and various central government ministers, vie with each other to felicitate her on her enviable achievement. Many nationalised banks and corporations like Unilever have already offered employment to her.

As a Doha student, I am greatly inspired by Prema’s achievement. Her parents do not have the wherewithal to support her financially. Despite innumerable stumbling blocks, she proved her mettle to the world.

I expect all students and others to get motivated and inspired by her notable achievement and emulate her as a role model. I call upon Indian associations functioning in Qatar  (including Qatar Tamil Sangham) to extend an invitation to her to this wonderful country and felicitate her.

Rajeshwari Kalyanaraman, gurukrupakalyan7@yahoo.com

We should all help each other

Dear Sir,

Protesters in Dhaka have been demanding death penalty for war crimes after a tribunal this month sentenced Abdul Quader Mullah to life in prison in connection with Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence. Thousands have been demonstrating in Dhaka’s Shahbag Square for days.

The murder of a Bangladeshi blogger, Rajib Haidar, a Shahbagh protest activist, has worsened the atmosphere. The Shahbagh protest is for the sake of humanity and justice for those who suffered and gave up their lives for others. If we do not help each other, what is the meaning of our existence?

If wrongdoers are given support and innocent people are murdered, how can we make this world safe at all?

As a Bangladeshi student studying in a Doha school, I would like to say that we should look beyond our narrow self-interests and work for the public benefit. Let us take a pledge to help all people for a good cause.

Sonali R Roy, P O Box 14463, Doha

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