A memorable event
Deputy Chief Minister, BM Lanong’s love for culture has taken him to many places since he fits the bill more than anybody else. His presence in the recently concluded 150th year-long Birth Anniversary celebration of Rabindranath Tagore at Brookside Mansion was also memorable although the day was dedicated to the Bard. Lanong was the chief guest in the morning session and guest of honor in the evening session. He had a hectic day and had to rush to the venue half an hour late in the evening since he was busy in a meeting with the chief minister. After taking the stage he apologized for being late and said, “Though the other dignitaries who were present in the morning session have changed their clothes and are looking fresh, I did not get the time to do so because of my busy schedule. The only two persons who are in the same dress are perhaps Tagore and I.” This drew spontaneous laughter from the audience in the open arena as he pointed towards the life size statue of the Bard standing in front of the Brookside Mansion. Then one of the office bearers of the Tagore Sesqui-centenary Birth Celebration Committee, who was to give a speech in the evening session turned up just in time when the anchor invited him to the stage. In the process, he lost his seat among the dignitaries and had to sit with the aam admi right at the back. It was learnt later that the cause of his delay was due to a “vernacular hiccup”. And finally a recitation presented by a city based artist accompanied by a violinist was supposed to rent the air with magic. But it so happened that the microphone went mute and the sound of the violin was inaudible. This made the artist glare at the violinist every now and then since her rendition was based on the music. Later after much difficulty she completed her piece much to her chagrin. It’s like one of those wardrobe malfunctions that occur in fashion shows!
Is Meghalaya in India?
This was a question asked by a visitor from Germany recently. He was intrigued by the demand of the pressure groups that enrolment of voters should be discontinued. “If Meghalaya is part of India then how can the State violate the provisions of a constitutional authority – the Election Commission of India? Why do those in the Government not communicate this reality to the pressure groups and take them head on? Why this game of hide and seek? Does the Government not realize that the present uncertainties are driving away tourists and hurting the economy?” The gentleman in question is a tourist but a scholarly type. He wondered why the Government was not engaging the pressure groups in a realistic debate. “How does the all-party Committee formed recently get out of not enrolling voters which is a constitutional mandate? The onus to prove credibility of identity lies on the one who claims to be a citizen. The Election Commission’s duty is to check those documents thoroughly. But the process cannot be stopped on account of irrational fears,” the visitor pointed out. He is yet to understand the politics of Meghalaya, especially the pre-poll variety!
Bandh or no bandh?
Each time a bandh is declared by non-descript groups, The Shillong Times phones keep ringing asking if the bandh is still on or called off. Perhaps they expect a slip between the cup and the lip. These days with the Facebook page so active there are many Facebookers from all over the country and the world who ask us the same questions. In this State we have to go by phone calls from pressure groups who flex their muscles from safe hideouts. They can call up media houses. We cannot call them. It’s a one way traffic! Sometimes even senior government officials want to know if the groups will call off their imposed diktat at the last moment. But we are as much in the dark as everyone else because we have to depend on that call from the trenches! Monday seems like a paid holiday for government employees and a temporary suspension of livelihoods for the daily wage earner.