Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I wish to awaken our complacent society to some realities. Was it Pandit Nehru or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who said, “If you wish to see democracy, go to the Khasi Jaintia Hills.” How true this is today, when we have the Khasi Students Union raiding the restaurants selling liquor illegally, the SCAMOD taking the onus of bringing the guilty to book, the students of local colleges lending a hand to man traffic and address the commuters’ frustrations. Incidentally the taxi permit clearly mentions that a taxi driver cannot refuse to take a passenger to his/her destination since the permit was granted for public convenience. Recently another group of students had to create awareness on the menace of improper waste management practices. Then we have the FKJGP apprehending stocks meant for the poor en-route to the black market and many more. And yes, there’s the minister who is manning one public dustbin! Then we have the scion of a renowned politician who thought it wise to generously donate Rs 25,000 towards the football ground. This was followed by a donation from the party he represents to mitigate the Sports Department’s financial requirements. Or was this the chance to insult his beta noire in the government? Is this the democracy that our ancestors had envisaged for our today?
The recent taxi strike and the Transport minister’s response- ability was commendable. The JNNURM buses were like manna from heaven. Traffic congestion was reduced. But the strike ended and the plight of commuter’s returned. Now the JNNRUM buses are conveniently parked, waiting for another strike? I could go on and on but who is to be blamed for this fiasco. Money is the root of all evils but we have inherited free will and in a Democracy we are defined by what we choose. Today I choose to send this letter with the hope, that all concerned will wake up before we all drown in our own follies.
Yours etc.,
Atiar F Dykes,
Via email
Pathetic roads!
Editor,
The road condition to Tura via the Chokpot- Baghmara road is rapidly deteriorating because most of the bridges are constructed of wood. But hundreds of trucks carrying coal and limestone ply over these bridges everyday hence our road condition is worsening. It is now almost ten years since any minister visited our constituency. We feel very orphaned. Many of us don’t even know who our representatives are because they never raise questions relating to our areas in the Assembly. During the rainy season the road condition degenerates further so I request our elected representatives to please look into our problems.
Yours etc.
Leoberth S Rongmuthu
Shillong Law College.
Unfair criticism
Editor,
Apropos the write up “Shillong- everyone’s living space, no one’s home” (ST June 24) by Patricia Mukhim the writer has pointed fingers at students from some districts of Manipur. I wonder whether the writer has visited the places mentioned. Also, it makes me wonder whether all the non-locals residing in Dum-Dum are from Manipur state alone? How about the students of other states? Aren’t they also living there? It’s good that the writer has concerns for a cleaner society, free of trash and nuisance but the writings should not be biased. We are living in a multi cultural society and it is our duty to respect each other regardless of our cultural and ethnic diversity. Shillong is now turning to be an educational hub and people from different places come here for their education.
It is possible that some students misbehave but not all should be blamed. Name dropping can create adverse reaction on readers. Now suppose Patricia Mukhim were settling temporarily in Manipur and someone wrote a similar article would she accept it? Perhaps she has the answer to this question. It is my humble request to all contributors to the newspaper to present their views in a more sensitive manner without causing hurt to anyone. Let’s all collectively make this world a better place for the generations to come.
Yours etc.,
Peter John Chongom,
Via email
Author replies : This writer is a resident of Dum Dum and writes from experiences collated over several years. Dum Dum is under demographic assault and its social character has changed. It is one of the dirtiest localities of Shillong and we are not proud of that. But we also need to find the reasons underlying this rapid undesirable change. And my findings are clearly brought out in the article. It’s a different matter that truth always hurts.