Apropos of the news story “Dharahara reconstruction issue remains inconclusive in Cabinet” (THT, November 2, Page 11, Nov 2), before they set out on erecting Dharahara again, the current cabinet should think of ways to lessen deadly pressure on the ground in the area from massive footfalls and two-way heavy traffic that could have contributed to the swift toppling of the iconic tower.

Anybody read that visitors to the leaning Pisa was banned for sometime because the footfalls contributed to the dangerous tilting of the slanted tower. It won’t be surprising if similar fate awaits the Patan Durbar Square that is invaded by hundreds of dating couples and hawkers, bike parking and huge traffic.

Anybody thinks that footfalls and traffic can weaken the foundation of the buildings? And does anybody think that the dead can earn money? Beyond death, or from his grave, Michael Jackson has been lapping Forbes list as the top-earning dead man for fifth year.

This year his earning is pegged at US$ 750 million dollars or Rs. 8 billion. Just think. If we had 100 dead like him! This is another fact that Nepalese do not believe in. We think we need to be alive to make money. Of course, Changi’s new airport terminal will be like the stuff of legend for us: a Pandav Durbar.

As we talk about Nijgarh and Gautam Buddha and Pokhara regional international airports, we should now think of less airport staff at check in, immigrations and customs. It is time to do away with staff at the airport for a non-personalised, hassle-free and corruption less experience.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu

Social sciences

This is with reference to your editorial, “Change policy” (THT, November 2, Page 1), is right in pointing out that the country would need services of the social science graduates.

As a matter of fact, if all good students focus just on sciences and technology ignoring subjects of social sciences such as Economics, Sociology, Political Science etc. then there will be a situation like having a beautiful car but no one to drive it! Social scientists are very much in demand all over the world to make policy framework and to use sciences and technology for the welfare of the people.

Both sciences and social sciences are necessary to have a holistic approach to achieve a healthy inclusive economic growth and to develop humanism. To achieve it, research and study of social sciences are as essential as that of the subjects in the field science, technology and medicine.

Students must not buy such ludicrous notion that to prove one’s masculinity and intelligence, one has to study science! At the same time the government should also frame policies that will help create job opportunities even for the graduates in liberal arts and social sciences. Nobody will get attracted towards studying social sciences unless they get opportunities in state organs.

Sujit De, Kolkata