Editor,
I take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation and admiration to Bari Juban Kharwanlang for his write-up on behalf of the Meghalaya Architects Forum (MAF) (ST Aug 11, 2011) regarding the Tara Ghar controversy. It was a balanced and well argued write-up backed most convincingly by technical facts and figures. Tara Ghar was fast developing into an apple of discord and therefore what really impressed me was the call of this young man, in the name of the Shillong he loves so passionately, for everyone “to rise beyond differences and arrive at a solution that will pave our future development and leave behind a positive legacy”. This ladies and gentlemen is called Vision and its so satisfying when it comes from our younger generation!
ICARE takes this opportunity and in response to Bari’s call, to state that its stand on Tara Ghar has never been and never was a confrontational stand against the Government and its policies. ICARE and all those who have rallied round the call to ‘Save Tara Ghar’, have done so in the sincere belief that as citizens of a free Democracy, civil society has the right to flag issues that perchance may have escaped the attention of the elected Government. It is also expected that in the spirit of an elected Democracy, Government will also respond empathically to such public concerns. This so far has been missing in the Tara Ghar imbroglio.
In conclusion and with reference to the MAF letter mentioned above, it’s most enlightening and satisfying when our educated youngsters care to express their views and opinions, especially on contentious matters of state. My request to them is that they do it more often.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah
President ICARE
Swanky Ride
Editor,
Swanky is fashionable, expensive thing that is intended to impress people. When the other day a minister of the government boasted about the usual swanky ride he /she undertook, I thought, it was very honest of the ministers to own up to their exalted state of living. But with the arrival of the Shillong Public Transport Service buses, I too can have a swanky ride now. I too can have a share in that exalted state of living till the crooked drivers, conductors at the lower level and the big bosses at the higher level manage to run it down to seed. Or Shillong taxi lobby sticks a veritable spoke in its wheels.
Yours etc.,
John D Jayakumar