Editor,
This has reference to the letter written by Parimal Bhattacharjee and some concerned guardians (ST Jan 16, 2012). I agree with him that someone who occupies the position of a priest should have high moral values, but I however would like to argue on a point where he mentioned “Vedic India” and emphasised on the “Brahman”. My question is, are we still living in the Vedic age where the right to become a priest is reserved for the Brahmin caste only? We all know that the caste system was formed based on the knowledge and profession of a section of society who were then found eligible for a particular kind of task. What we amongst the Hindus today know as caste, is considered class in western civilizations. Ironically in a class system an individual has the opportunity to have vertical mobility and go to a higher class based on the efforts he or she makes with regards to attaining knowledge and achieving what is relevant to do so. But the Hindu caste system does provides one with similar mobility and options. If you are born a Sudra your entire generation will remain a Sudra no matter what qualities you achieve.
I strongly oppose such distinction and I suppose if we give opportunities to other castes to become priests we will not run short of purohits and need not bank on other states for someone to conduct the Puja. I would like to request our social thinkers to change with time and do away with such rigidity. We cannot call ourselves civilized by adhering to such norms where only Brahmins are given this privilege.
To end up let me narrate an incident where back in 1999 a community in Salt Lake area, Kolkata had a Durga Puja conducted by involving a priest who was a non-Brahmin to oppose the caste system and till date they practice it.
I will be proud to be called a Hindu only when the day comes where caste system is done away with.
Yours etc.,
Partha Protim Roy
Kolkata-700084
Choice between speed and greed
Editor,
Meghalaya has to decide on ‘monetary greed’ or ‘traffic speed’ for the next 4 years till the Shillong – Guwahati highway is completed.
As mentioned earlier, we have only one option and that is to regulate the trucks from their starting point. What is required is for the Transport Department, and the Police Department both Meghalaya and Assam, to coordinate their efforts so that trucks plying from the coal belt areas / cement plants, and similarly trucks entering Meghalaya from Guwahati especially along the Beltola Area are stopped as soon as there is information of a traffic jam on the highway.
Presently if a truck breaks down on the GS Road, the backlog instantly builds up into a 3 Km long line within just 3 to 5 mins. Added to the problem are the rogue trucks that do not follow the line and overtake at random. It may be reminded that we had written to the Commissioner Transport and the DGP to make their presence felt by impounding all commercial vehicles that are not road-worthy. As can be seen on a daily basis, there are so many rickety commercial vehicles on the road. Another issue is the plying of 12 to 15 wheel vehicles loaded to the brim and struggling to maneuver uphill towards Shillong-Jowai from Guwahati. This poses a question as to whether the 9 tonne restriction by the Supreme Court is being monitored effectively at all ?
Yours etc.,
John F Kharshiing
Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board,
Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya