Dear Stan, IN GulfWeekly every week Shilpa's shopping experience comes under the spotlight - highlighting the kingdom's eight major supermarkets. As a result we can note the differences in prices of popular items of the same size and label.
According to a recent Shilpa's Shopping List in one supermarket her items cost BD26.685 whereas in another it was only BD23.140. This is very useful information. Good work, Shilpa. By bringing to the public this type of information supermarkets may be forced to bring down their prices to remain competitive.
Thomas Varghese, by email
Dear Stan,
With reference to talented writer, Sangeetha's Youth Talk column.
Frankly speaking, I do not belong to her generation but I always read the column.
I like to know how the new generation thinks. Ismael Na'ar, the previous writer, was doing a great job and when he left to pursue his higher studies I felt that it would be very difficult to replace such a young talented writer. But, Sangeetha really proved me wrong.
Honestly, I feel proud as an old Bahraini to see the younger generation write with such calibre, wisdom and wit.
In regards to her recent article 'Every little gesture', firstly, I would like to congratulate her on such humane kind-hearted feelings.
Secondly, at the end of the last paragraph of the article she mentioned that 'every last FIL rattling in your pocket will help'. I would like to make her aware about the name of our smallest currency.
The Government of Bahrain coined (pun intended) the name FILS with an S which is equivalent to the CENT. It is NOT a plural for FIL. The S is essential in the name - it is like the letter S in the word NEWS.
By the way, it hurts me very much, as a Bahraini and as an Arab, to see that thousands of native Bahrainis are not able to speak their language, their mother tongue, but they are masters in English.
As for Sangeetha, you are excused but don't you think it is time for you to learn some Arabic as a tribute to a country where you blossomed on the 'pebble- strewn beaches' of Juffair?
I hope she will not take my note as an insult and please, keep up that marvelous and formidable way of writing. She will be a great writer, believe you me. Keep up the good work and God almighty bless you.
DrTarik Ahmed Al Shaibani, by email
Editor's note: The grammatical mistake was made by the Editor whilst editing Sangeetha's column. Whoops, sign me up for the nearest course in Arabic please!
