Editor,
News is circulating in Jowai these days informing us that the KJP Synod Mihngi has scrapped the original motto of the Thomas Jones College, Jowai just because of its Jaintia language origin. Such a thing is unheard of except from the floor of the said Synod. It must be stated here that many institutions like colleges and universities in many countries of the world including India have their mottos inscribed in their logos in Latin language, but there has been no opposition to that in any country at any time. We wish to cite one instance nearer home, i.e. the Union Christian College, at Umiam Khwan which has its motto in Latin: Venite Ad Vivam Aquam. It could be in any other language too. The KJP Synod Mihngi Higher Secondary School, Jowai, has its motto in English: To God Be the Glory. It must also be said that any language which is unwilling or incapable of absorbing words of its own sister dialects or even of other languages, is not qualified to be recognised as an important language.
The deletion of the original motto which has been in existence for many years since the inception of the College and which was duly registered along with its Constitution for the purpose of affiliation to the University, is a great disrespect to the then church leaders who were instrumental in its creation and in the establishment of the College. These leaders include, among others, Tbn Edwingson Bareh, Tbn Darlington Blah and the great scholar Prof B Pakem, who are no more with us today. It is also disrespectful to Prof Tbn BN Lamare, the first Principal of the College. All these facts and implications are not known perhaps to those who proposed as well as to those who agreed to the proposal by raising their hands both physically and spiritually perhaps, for scrapping the said motto. We, however, believe that they did not intend to despise or to make a fool of everyone of those most respected Christian leaders of the Synod who had passed away, as none has any right now to do so. Those who proposed and those who agreed to the proposal must have thought by now that they have outsmarted the real founders and patrons of the college.“ Little Knowledge is (indeed ) a Dangerous Thing”.
Yours etc.,
P M Passah,
Moosalyngkat, Jowai
Meghalaya Day
Editor,
Meghalaya celebrated 47 years of statehood on January 21 but do we the people of the state really have anything worthy to celebrate? More than four decades have passed and sadly we are yet to boast of development, progress and change for the better. We are far away from the rest of our fellow citizens in other parts of the country. There is no Medical College, Engineering College, up to date health centers and hospitals. Roads in the rural areas are in a pathetic condition. The list is never-ending.
This time, the 15 miners trapped in the coal mine at Ksan, Jaintia Hills since December 13, 2018, has definitely exposed the lack of conscience of mine owners and the State Govt. Be it the present government or the other governments in the past, coal mining has always been left unchecked for reasons known to one and all. This time around too, the incident will die a natural death after a few more days and weeks. Mining, illegal or otherwise will continue as before.
Therefore the celebration of our Statehood will be limited only to the numerous programmes chalked out this year from friendly matches, drawing competitions, etc. As a citizen of the State of Meghalaya, I am filled with shame, embarrassment, disappointment and fear that a more meaningful progress of our state and its people will never ever see the light of day.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Abandon mine rescue mission
Editor,
The ongoing rescue mission at the Ksan mine should be called off in order to avoid logistical challenges including the huge expenditure. Now, after more than one month the expenses must have run into several crores of rupees. Already so far, all possible technologies available here in India have been deployed but none of them have managed to retrieve the bodies of the trapped miners. According to media reports even the RoV technology has failed to discover the miners’ bodies except one and that too it could not be retrieved due to logistical problems. In fact the SDRF, NDRF, the Indian Navy divers, the Fire Service from Odisha, the Kirloskar heavy duty pumps, scientists from Indian Institute of Hydrology and from National Geophysical Research Institute were already employed, but to no avail. So what else is to be done? From daily bulletins it is learnt that all technology is helpless to track down the miners and retrieve their bodies. The Supreme Court ought to be properly briefed about various facts and logistical problems facing the rescue mission so that it will not push for illogical orders. Also the Apex court should properly educate itself on the issue at hand on the rescue mission and on the various issues related to rat-hole mining itself being undertaken in Meghalaya so that it will issue correct and far reaching orders in future. However, banning of unscientific mining and transportation of coal must stay before other things can be decided upon by the apex court.
The NGT is solely responsible for the illegal coal transactions in Meghalaya, including illegal mining because it did not put in place full-proof mechanism on how to implement the ban and moreover, after the ban on mining, it still allowed the ban to be lifted and several transportation permissions which indirectly encouraged illegal mining to continue. Again, the NGT was wrong in imposing the fine on Meghalaya Government. In fact the fine should be imposed on the coal barons who solely benefited from the illegal coal mining and transportation (coal trade). Even on the payment of compensation for the death of the miners, the entire financial burden should fall on the coal barons who engaged them and not the state government. Mining is a very serious subject and it cannot be allowed to be run by private operators.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email