Editor,
The Meghalaya Body Builders Association (MBBA) was set up to promote awareness about physical health among the public at large and to foster and promote the sport of body building among the youngsters. It is sad to state that over the years the number of participants in the state body building championship has been reducing drastically. In 1994, I took on the responsibility of assistant organizing secretary and was involved in the day to day affairs of MBBA. From then on along with friends I have been striving to the best of my ability to groom young sportsmen in body building and in participating in various championships, securing funds from the government and organizing competitions. As a result of these efforts the number of participants in various body building events began to increase gradually.
It is pertinent to mention here that from 1993 there were no participants for the state body building championships, as in the previous year (1992) there was wrong judgment by the panel of judges during the state body building championship. In 2014, I was elected as general secretary of the MBBA along with my friends. We worked hard to promote awareness on physical health and the sport of body building in the state, so much so that from 2016 to 2019 we organized competitions at our own expenses, as the MBBA did not receive any funds from the government for these competitions. Till date, the MBBA owes us Rs 75,520.
Sometime in September this year, the President, MBBA Lohit Ranjan Das and the Vice President Subash Paul summoned me at the MBBA office at Jail Road, Shillong a day before the selection of executive members. At that meeting I was asked to step down from the post of General Secretary, MBBA. On asking for reasons I was told by the president, Lohit Ranjan Das that he intended to appoint Jessica Bamon as the General Secretary of MBBA because he felt that “she would be able to secure more funds and sponsorship” which I do not object to. But I wonder why she could not have done this earlier. I wish to point out that along with my friends, including Swapan Das the then assistant general secretary MBBA we have been working hard to uplift the sport of body building in the state. It is sad to observe that the President and his minions in the MBBA are intent on pushing the Association to its grave. I write these lines to bring before the concerned authorities the sad state of affairs in the MBBA and in the hope that a diligent probe conducted into its affairs with a view to take corrective measures for the sake of the sport of body building in our state, because MBBA is no one’s personal property as it gets grants from the State Government.
Yours etc.,
Arnold M Lanong,
Shillong-2
India-Sri Lanka ties
Editor,
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President held talks in New Delhi on ways to deepen the historically close relations between the two countries and reviewed the progress of India-assisted development projects in the island nation. As part of the multi-faceted partnership programs, a wide range of developmental activities including infrastructure, connectivity and capacity building and broadening people to people contacts is also included in the implementation packages. Considering the importance and historical closeness between the two countries, a more concrete mega project can be considered. A channel tunnel between the two countries to be constructed capitalizing upon the technical expertise India acquired and with the fund pumped in by the two countries.
It may be recalled that channel tunnel between England and France was successfully completed and dedicated to the world years back thanks to the passion of the rulers of both these countries, who had given unstinted support to such technological marvel. There were a number of tunnels dug to establish new road and rail routes to facilitate human journeys in Europe and elsewhere.
Hopefully, India and Sri Lanka can conceptualize and construct a tunnel underneath the sea bed from Rameswaram to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. It would be a scientific marvel of both these nations especially India, as India is capable of materializing this dream. Once this project is commissioned, it will attract millions of tourists and will definitely pave the way for a great change and development in these parts of India and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is our neighbor with a lot of similarities in culture and religious practices and we should always be in good terms with them. Construction of underground passage with that country would be like having an umbilical cord, a relationship others cannot cut off. China is another big nation looking for an opportunity to establish a strong tie with this island nation and we should not let China access to Sri Lanka too much. If they are given an inch, they will take away a mile. So India must think of this mega project and start holding talks with the President of Sri Lanka towards its realization.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email