Quality-based charity gives students a new life
Children are deprived of basic necessities in life and require support and care (‘Mensa India makes it possible to dream again’, Gulf News, January 22). To enhance more, to build and provide support and opportunities for them, organisations like Mensa come in the light and show the best ways to achieve these goals.
They support the poor and needy students with educational materials and fees to continue formal education. They integrate counselling, motivation and career guidance activities throughout the training cycles. They help them find gainful employment or to become self-employed to lead an independent and dignified life.
Support can be given to them by receiving contributions from caring corporates offices, also.
Through these organisations, you can bring extraordinary and lasting positive changes to the lives of these downtrodden children. Quality-based services should be the core value of such organisations and Mensa is a good example for this direction. Thanks to all the best efforts of the president of Mensa Kishore Asthana and the team.
From Mr M. K. Gunaseelan
Abu Dhabi
Dream to properly live life
Without dreaming, one can only exist. But when one dreams, he/she lives (‘Poor boy in a rich man’s sport’, Gulf News, January 21). Life is not merely to exist, but to live. Shubham Jaglan, the poor Indian boy, has dared to dream despite his humble background. Golf has often not been a sport for children with less means. It is associated with the rich, the elite and the chosen few. But for Jaglan, it doesn’t matter. He didn’t get deterred by his surroundings. He simply dreamed and when one dreams, the forces of Nature get together to remove the obstacles. This is exactly what happened. The Golf Foundation, the Delhi Golf Club, his parents and golf celebrities have all done their bit in clearing the path for him towards realising his dream.
Dreaming big is the highway to a bigger life. Jaglan has embarked on an exciting journey.
From Mr Nasser Zaidi
Dubai
Children driving needs to stop!
It is shocking that such videos of children driving in Saudi Arabia have become common on social media (‘Child filmed driving on busy Saudi highway’, Gulf News, January 22). Every other day, a child is filmed doing something dangerous and, astonishingly, instead of taking measures to stop this from happening, some people encourage and support them.
In my opinion, there is clearly a need for the authorities to enforce the law. There should be increased police patrolling on the roads and heftier fines imposed on the violators. I believe the Saudi authorities should punish the parents and guardians of these children the same way it punishes the father/husband of women who are caught driving. These careless parents must be jailed or banned from driving for an indefinite period of time. The harsher the punishment, the lesser the violations and the safer the roads.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
UAE
Facebook comment
Irresponsible parenting
I agree with you, Ms Fatima Suhail. It comes down to irresponsible parents. Here’s a thought: why not let women drive?
From Mr Robert Long
UAE
Facebook comment
Stress takes its toll
Stress has already caused me to have several diseases, from joint pain to inflammatory bowls (‘Survey: Expats think stress causes cancer’, Gulf News, January 21). I think cancer is not the only thing you should fear.
From Mr Samer Karazi
UAE
Facebook comment
What about diabetes?
I’m not sure whether stress causes cancer, but I think it does contribute to diabetes! I think this was the reason I became diabetic eight years ago.
From Mr Mohammad Iqbal
Dubai
Facebook comment
Physical and mental health
I agree. If it doesn’t cause cancer, at least we are sure that you would be a patient of blood pressure or depression.
From Mr Han Na
Dubai
Facebook comment
Need medical proof
Why does it matter what 52 per cent of expatriates believe? Why is their opinion of any value unless the people being asked are experts in the field? 99 per cent of residents could believe it, but it would mean nothing unless doctors and actual medical research proved it.
From Mr Zain Ali
Dubai
Facebook comment
India needs useful players
The continued pitiful performance in Australia by India’s cricket team has opened up some opportunity for our young and consistently performing players in domestic matches (‘Hussey: Dhoni still the most suitable to lead India’, Gulf News, January 22). Now that the forthcoming World Cup T-20 tournament is nearing, it would be wise enough for the selectors to consider some of the players who excelled during the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The first names that crop up is the attacking batsmen like Shreyas Iyer and Robin Uthappa or Sanju Samson, who could be a backup keeper, too. Most importantly, Irfan Pathan is the best as an all-rounder. So could be the case of Piyush Chawla. Of course, for variety and as a surprise bowler, Kuldeep Yadav could be considered. It is time the selectors scratch their heads and think about the future of Indian cricket and come out with utility players!
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
I hated it, then I loved it!
It is definitely possible to retune your taste buds and I have done it (‘Is it possible to retune your taste buds?’, Gulf News, January 22). In 2013 before I became a vegetarian – now I am a vegan – I recall trying juicing kale. I had never had it before, but I absolutely hated it when one of my juice recipes called for it. On my 53rd day of being a vegetarian who was doing a lot of juicing, I tried kale again… Well, now it is a big part of my life and I love it! Most foods are not disliked or liked from taste, but by smell.
From Ms Em Dodds
UAE
Facebook comment
A good choice for getting around
I have visited Dubai at various intervals over the years, but on my most recent visit I stayed for almost one month and I used both the Dubai Metro and the bus for the first time. I can recommend to both visitors and residents alike that the use of these methods of public transportation are completely user friendly, comfortable, efficient, reasonably priced and, in the case of the Metro, a speedy mode of travel.
I write because I have often noticed a reluctance, of residents in any city, to use public transportation, but it’s unfounded. I have also been impressed on the occasion when a young traveller gives up their seat to allow the more elderly or less-abled passenger to sit down.
From Mr John Nicholas
Worcestershire, UK
A leading example
It’s the cleanest village in India - well done, Mawlynnong (‘Tourism soils Asia’s ‘cleanest’ village’, Gulf News, January 22). Congratulations to its residents for making it possible. The other cities need to learn from this. Thankfully, we have over a billion reasons to be proud of India.
From Ms Christina Scurville
UAE
Facebook comment
Benefits of being green
This is a beautiful village. They learnt about the advantages of diligence in cleanliness and they stuck with it! Now, if only the tourists would leave them alone a bit more. At least they should respect the privacy of the residents.
From Ms Virginia Khouri
UAE
Facebook comment
He’ll go free later
Punishment should be harsh because this billionaire needs to pay for not only murder, but for the way he killed that innocent man (‘‘SUV murderer’ gets 39 years jail’, Gulf News, January 22). Now the fear is that he will use his money and power in jail and live a comfortable life anyway - we all know how honest our jail system is in India.
I assure you, he will be out soon once his combatants of top lawyers go into appeal and some corruption in the judicial system suspends his sentence. Then, the case will go on for ages and by the time the case comes on board, the witnesses would have changed their minds or disappeared. A classic example is the Salman Khan case.
From Mr Shahid Qureshi
Dubai
Facebook comment
Corruption sometimes wins
Those billions are useless if he really stays for life in jail, but in India it doesn’t happen to rich people.
From Mr Adil H. M.
UAE
Facebook comment
Not optimistic
We know he is getting out soon. I we believe anything else, then we are kidding ourselves.
From Ms Audrey Fonseca
Dubai
Facebook comment
Defaming Islam, too
These monasteries proudly framed the letters from the Holy Prophet [PBUH], giving them protection under ancient Islamic rule (‘Daesh reduces 1,400-year-old Christian monastery to rubble’, Gulf News, January 21). Daesh is a disease created to destroy and defame Islam.
From Mr Mughis Naqvi
UAE
Facebook comment
This is against Islam
Shame on Daesh, it’s very sad. Even Jesus is an Islam’s prophet. They don’t have respect for God’s prophets, whether it be Moses, Jesus or Mohammad [PBUH].
The Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] in his lifetime, didn’t hurt anyone or anything. These Daesh terrorists who claim to be Muslim are not following the peaceful teachings of Mohammad [PBUH], not at all.
They are fake, they are criminals and murderers.
From Mr Jameel Baig
UAE
Facebook comment
Killing humanity
Killing one innocent person is equal to killing the whole of humanity. Saving one person’s life is equal to saving all of humanity. Don’t think about the one person only – think about humanity.
From Mr Salim Haider
Lucknow, India
Facebook comment
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