Editor,
It was a pleasant surprise when I saw what looked like “pukhlein” (rice fritters) at a tea stall near our office the other day. When I enquired from the shop owner he told me that it was a locally prepared snack. It just raised my curiosity so I ordered it and lo and behold it is indeed pukhlein. This incident reminded me of a conversation I had a few weeks earlier with an Assamese colleague about the ethnic foods of the Assamese and Khasi people. It is just baffling that we’re so ignorant of each other’s cuisines when we’ve been living so close to each other for centuries. More food festivals like Mei Ram-ew which promote ethnic food should be organised more frequently within the North-Eastern region so that we have the opportunity to taste each other’s favourite foods. This is a perfect way to integrate us through our taste-buds because food and language are the two things that have created a barrier between us. We have somehow failed to appreciate each other’s food habits and language.
Yours etc.,
Gary MA Marbaniang,
Guwahati
Not all Khasis are communal
Editor,
Apropos the write up “What a Shame” by Phrangsngi Mawthoh (ST may 12, 2015) I pity him for the intensity of his desire to flaunt his liberal mindedness. On this pretext, he has painted the entire Khasi community as communal and violent. His provocative statement, “Why on earth are the Khasis people so communal?” is absolutely misleading and condemnable as all Khasis are not as he had maliciously projected. His opinion about the Khasi community exposes his own shallowness and his inability to observe and judge the reality. How on earth can he attribute the crimes committed by few individuals to the whole community? How can he belie the fact that lakhs of non tribals are peacefully living here in Meghalaya? What will happen if our fellow Indians (non tribals) believe his projection literally? But I don’t think, the non tribals are so foolish and irrational to believe Mawthoh literally. I don’t deny cases where non tribals are being harassed in our State, but these incidents of intolerance of outsiders by insiders happens everywhere in India and not all Khasis hate and harass outsiders. Besides, the majority of us condemn these xenophobic actions, especially those inflicted on genuine Indian citizens. We are generally peace loving people and this is the truth about the Khasis community. This truth is visible to many, except for some emotionally intoxicated people. In spite of facing many serious problems (mainly the influx of Bangladeshis coming through Assam) we do try to solve them by whatever means available within the provisions of law. This proves that we are in general civilized and ethically conscious people, except for few black sheep, who exist in every society of the world. Therefore it is absolutely bad judgment to conclude that the Khasis are communal and violent. Finally, basic logic says that the whole is not equal to the parts. Similarly the whole Khasi society is not equal to some xenophobic rogues who happen to be Khasis. I am proud to be a part of this culture not just because I happen to be born here, but because Khasi society is basically founded on the holistically noble principle of “Kamai ia ka Hok” (earn righteousness).
Yours etc.,
Kitbok Wahlang
Tyrna Village East Khasi Hills
Misguided retorts
Editor,
The letters by Nathaniel Dkhar and Robert Nongkynrih (ST May 1, 2015) who appear to be blind worshippers of the tainted SDO of Sohra, Ghanshyam Das, formerly of Amlarem Sub-Division are misguided. The said SDO was removed for his anti-people attitude, by abusing his office and authority, to whimsically accommodate illegal immigrants from the border areas of Bangladesh in the electoral rolls of the State and other acts of mischief committed by him by taking advantage of the suspension of powers of the local headmen by the High Court.
A melodramatic Robert Nongkynrih while lambasting some politicians, wildly roped in the Chief Secretary of the State Mr PBO Warjri for being a coward of no significance and blamed him for transferring the Sohra SDO, who actually deserved such transfer. In fact he should be charge-sheeted for his acts of commission while in Amlarem and Sohra Sub-Divisions. In Amlarem, it was the Association of Headmen of the whole Sub-Division which took up the matter to demand his removal from the area. It happened again in Sohra from the local people and the NGOs. Does Robert Nongkynrih understand what he is writing about? No writer in his normal state of mind, would send such a shoddy, melodramatic and detestable letter against an elected representative of the State and especially against a government official of the stature of the Chief Secretary, who had served in many States and in different capacities without any adverse record against him. Any government official, irrespective of his rank and position cannot take any important decision on his own without a green signal from the political bosses.
Yours etc.,
George Arthur Warjri
Shillong-4