Editor,
Having read your paper (ST 23rd Nov 2011), it is indeed shocking to learn of the double standards adopted by none other than a high profile politician (Dr.Donkupar Roy) a man of stature who himself along with his party is part and parcel of the Congress-led MUA government. Shying away from taking responsibilities of the MUA Govt blunders to score political points on the eve of the elections is quite disgusting. Before making such immature statements Dr Roy should at least take time out to think about his party being a part of the coalition and that also with two legislators holding the cabinet rank. If he and his party only wants to enjoy the spoils of office without shouldering responsibilities, I suggest its better to directly withdraw support from the Congress led government than to cling on like a hungry leech sucking whatever benefits are provided by the government (power,status etc..).This is also to remind all high profile politicians that they cannot take us citizens for a ride by making such childish statements. I’m sure every concerned and responsible citizen of the state, has already read between the lines regarding the ongoing political affairs. To project itself before the upcoming Assembly elections with such cheap strategies will never be acceptable by all right thinking citizens of the state. Dr Roy and his party should have done some soul-searching before heading for any pre-poll strategies because we are not fools and are tired of being constantly fooled to believe in whatever you and your party functionaries said and have to say.
Yours etc.,
H Dohling,
Shillong-5
The tail wagging the Dog
Editor,
Irony is best expressed by the saying “water , water everywhere but not a drop to drink”. Whoever said it has never visited Meghalaya. We have highways, streets and roads which we, common people, simply cannot use. The Guwahati to Shillong Road ( GS Road) has become the ‘Gone to Sleep Road.’ It has stopped catering to everything else but VIP cars with red lights and cement and coal laden trucks. Actually National Highway 40 should be the real VIP road, as only the above mentioned VIP vehicles move on this road. Cement/Coal trucks are VIP vehicles because they are owned by the people who actually call the shots in Meghalaya. So if they are not VIPs then who else? Having said that, the common man is still left without a road to travel on!
Why does the common man need to travel? Perhaps for trivial, nonsensical purposes like taking the children to school; going to work; taking a patient to hospital; travelling on business or simply to catch a plane (that’s what Govt thinks). No earth shaking events but somehow activities that make or break life as we know it. Of course they are nothing compared to siren blaring dashes which have produced nothing for the last 40 years but poverty, corruption, traffic jams and a total collapse in our communication system. The needs of the common man are nothing compared to the economic affluence that coal and cement industry brings in. It, after all, is the money that liberally contributes to our elections and to the horse trading drama that commences after that. What arguments can one offer against such statesmanship?
Unmanageable traffic is literally choking the life of Shillong and its people. The Chief Secretary attributed the Monday jam to the overturning of a trailer. Why should such trailers be allowed on our narrow zig-zag roads in the middle of the city? Last time we were told such trailers will be stopped at Nongpoh but apparently the truck owners dictate terms here. Time for a paradigm change on how our roads are used. Cement and coal trucks from Jaintia hills are the main causes for this traffic chaos. These are commercial vehicles choking away the life blood of the common man. Under the present circumstances they should be allocated different routes than the present Jowai-Shillong-Jorabad direction. Let them use another route. Let them travel via Ratachera, Badarpur to reach their destinations. Why should the profits of the coal and cement merchants adversely affect our lives? Government should first address the interests of the common man. The interest of the coal or cement lobby should be secondary. The present state of affairs where the tail wags the dog is not acceptable. Time to change it!
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Women at the workplace
Editor,
I loved Patricia Mukhim’s article, ‘Women at the Workplace’ (ST Nov 25, 2011). I always thought I might be odd for feeling so impatient with the way men have “taken advantage” of the women’s movement. Instead of the woman’s world being shared by both, only the men’s has been. And nowadays, young men do not even have the family values to provide for their families. Young women are “grateful” when their spouses/partners support them financially … whereas, they should be able to expect this. Inasmuch as women undergo labor, risk their lives to give birth, and then raise their young children, no man should expect his wife to work.
But then, once the kids are grown up, sometimes it is good for women to work … otherwise they tend to become unaware of the demands of the work-life, less mature, perhaps somewhat self-centered.
My two cents worth but thank you for the article. It echoed all my own pent up feelings all these years. I am not anti-men. I am anti-sexism.
Here in the west, women feel fortunate if they are pregnant with a baby they want, instead of with one they do not want … disgusting, isn’t it? Can you imagine how disturbed these poor children are going to grow up to be? Why should a mother have to choose like this? Often (not always) this happens because the male partner has absconded. A society that is child centered, must in the first place be mother-centered. This is the true meaning of chastity. No sin is greater than the physical and mental neglect of young mothers.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email