Editor,
It is indeed amusing to observe a church elder threatening to starve himself if the Government does not reconsider its decision to construct the much-awaited four-lane through the Umsning by-pass. The duty of such a man is to initiate reconciliation and not aggravate matters. If the four-lane is to be constructed from the Umsning main road, then road safety is a concern. Small children and the elderly will find it difficult to negotiate their way across the road because speeding trucks and vehicles will not oblige. Dismantling of the buildings along the existing road will result in loss of resources, the most valuable of which is time. We need to open our eyes wide because ‘moolah’ in the form of compensation by the Government may well be the cause for all this ruckus. The government must deal with an iron fist, the clowns who come in the garb of social service, but instead disrupt and impede development
Yours etc.,
V Khonglah,
Via email
Unpriestly behaviour
Editor,
Apropos the letter, “Degraded Profession” (ST Jan 16, 2012) I too support the concern of the guardians as I noticed the same anxiety of a parent in our locality some months ago. It’s a shame that people who are into such a noble vocation can do something so scandalous and still be standing proudly. This priest who had been referred by Mr P Bhattacherjee does not have a very flattering track record. He was suspended twice for such activities from a mandir. It’s indeed very shocking that such people are still hired to offer Puja thereby giving them a chance to repeat their misdemeanours.
In today’s era very few opt for this line of work and as a result the profession is losing its charm. And when god men with no integrity get into this profession it loses its dignity as well. Priests are supposed to practice sobriety, righteousness, purity, and should have high moral standards. This person a regular Durga Puja priest in Rilbong, wears a mask of goodness but has sullied his reputation in almost all localities. Of course this person is not to be blamed as a section of people support and hire him to perform Puja – perhaps due to the scarcity of priests in Shillong. But they bear in mind the ideals of priesthood. Priesthood is for the betterment of the social order hence priests too should adhere to social norms. They should not forget that it’s because people still have faith in them that they are earning their livelihood hence they should be wise men not masked men.
It’s my humble request to all who hire such people to think twice. And if the dignity of women stands threatened from these very people then the right thing to do is to deal with the issue rather than making it a hush-hush affair.
Yours etc.,
SK Chakraborty,
Shillong-2
Congrats Meghalaya!
Editor,
Yes Meghalaya is 40 years old today and as usual the State Government will be distributing Meghalaya Day Excellence Awards 2012. Other highlights of the program would be launching of an informative booklet-a compendium of government schemes, a literature on tourism schemes etc. Perhaps many have forgotten that on January 21, forty years ago Meghalaya got its statehood without bloodshed.
Looking back over the years it pains us to see that infrastructure development remains dismal. Only the capital city of Shillong and parts of East Khasi Hills are developed whereas Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills remain untouched by development. The present generation does not even know the name of the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya and the architect of Meghalaya, Capt. Williamson A Sangma. It is ironic that his birth place South Garo Hills continues to be backward in every sense of the term. His name is never mentioned in these celebrations. Even the Capt Sangma Museum in State Central Library has seen no improvement at all. All the other architects of Meghalaya State are forgotten. Isn’t this the day to remember the great makers of this State?
Yours etc.,
Leoberth Rongmuthu Sangma,
South Garo Hills