Editor,
I fully endorse the views of the writers Kermon Passah, Daisy Kharkongor and others who have highlighted corruption in PWD through your paper. It is the most corrupt Department headed by the most corrupt man as minister. I went to Guwahati two times in November from the new road. It can’t be called a newly repaired road. It has potholes and bumpy surface. There is no PWD engineer supervising works so who is to blame? The contractor will do whatever he feels like if there is no supervision. It’s time to expose this corruption by inviting CBI enquiry. I congratulate your paper for highlighting this corruption and request you to continue till it is stopped and the minister removed.
Yours etc.,
James Pariat,
Via email
II
Editor,
I am a regular reader of your esteemed daily and I have been following the write ups about the repair works of the GS Road, being conducted by the PWD. I live in Shillong but work at Umroi, and I commute everyday on a two-wheeler. I was very happy to see that the repairing work of the road stretch from Mawiong and beyond had started, as it had become too dangerous to ride on it. I was also happy at the pace at which they were doing the work. I thought our PWD has finally woken up from a deep slumber and have realized that the repairing work needs to be done in full swing. Alas! As the days passed I see that the quality of work they are doing is not up to the mark. The condition of the just repaired road has turned pathetic. The gravel is coming off and pot holes are back again (especially at the stretch of road just a few hundred meters beyond the new Toyota showroom.) Many people ask, “Will this repaired road last until the next monsoon?” I say, “Next monsoon? I will be surprised if this road lasts until Christmas!”
Yours etc.,
Gyanendrakar Chettri
Shillong- 19
III
Editor,
Firstly I want to congratulate your paper for putting this issue in the limelight. PWD work on GS Road and all other places in Meghalaya has been third class. The roads don’t last for more than 2 to 3 months. Its time to halt this corruption by exposing the unscrupulous people involved. A thorough investigation by a central agency like CBI is needed. The PWD minister should be asked to step down immediately by CM Mukul Sangma.
Best Regards,
Mylene R
Shillong
Tribute to a music legend
Editor,
The passing away of the Music Doyen Bhupen Hazarika ia another end of a remarkable musical era as in recent past we have lost many musical legends, such as Jagjit Singh, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal, C Ashwat. The legendary bard will always be remembered as the ” Voice of India ” who not only composed but sang the songs that opened wounds and compelled listeners to feel the pain of human neglect. It was this relentless search that connected him with the masses which looked upon him more as some sort of a spiritual guide than a mere singer and composer. In Bhupen we saw a singer, composer, lyricist, film director, academic, actor, writer and the Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1998-2003) who played many roles to enrich not only the cultural stream of Assam but also of the rest of the country. He was a great cultural icon of the country in the true sense and was equally cherished in the Indian sub Continent entertaining music lovers with his powerful soulful renditions for several decades. He was very popular not only in India but in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan too. Although it was Assam from where he started his journey to Bollywood yet the regional boundary lines could not stop his art for the benefit of music lovers of the entire sub continent.
His death is not only an irreparable loss to the cultural and music arena but also to the entire nation. His music will remain in the hearts and minds of people as in the present socio economic and political plight of the country his song “ Dil Hum Hum Kare Ghabraye , Ghan Gham Gham Kare Dar Jaye ” represents the pain of the common man. He will be missed by music lovers as it was he who had reached out to people across the country through his songs and made them feel part of what he sang and composed. May his soul rest in peace and his life’s achievements act as a light house for budding musicians and singers.
Yours etc.,
Dilbag Rai.
Via email