Editor,
The article by Collin Wanniang, a scholar at Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands, ” When we were Khassyahs”, published in the Shillong Times’ Canvas dated 15th July 2012 was very interesting and informative, historically and I fully agree with him that, “the term Khasi-Jaintia handed down to our present day generation more than a century ago, seems not to unite but to further sub divide,” our people. Collin rightly concludes, “Thus as it is now, Khasi, seems to include all ‘Ki khun u Hynniewtrep'(children of u Hynniewtrep). Can this be paragonised to the present day term ‘Israel’ denoting all the 12 tribes”. Like the Nagas, the Hynniewtrep people include several tribes/sub tribes, but not as many as the Nagas. But unlike the Nagas who do not have a common language of their own, they had to borrow the Assamese language to form the Nagamese dialect so as to communicate among the different Naga tribes. We are fortunate to have the Khasi language, taken from the Sohra dialect and gradually enriched from the various dialects of the different tribes/sub tribes of the Hynniewtrep people and that is why we are called Khasis as identified by the language that we communicate among ourselves in our day to day transactions. If we did not have the Khasi language as a common medium of communicating, it would be difficult for the Pnar to understand or communicate with the War if each were to speak in their own dialect, or the Lyngngam to communicate with the Bhoi or the Maram with the Khynriam and so on.
Therefore, the need of the hour is for less of politicians who divide and sub divide our people for their own selfish interest, but for more of leaders who are Statesmen who will unite all the sub tribes of the Hynniewtrep people and lead a strong and a progressive Khasi nation that will contribute to make our state prosperous and self reliant to a great extent , unlike the past and present scenario in our state where in spite of our huge natural resources we still have to go with a begging bowl every time to Delhi to save us, feed us and as our Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has rightly commented last year about the status of our state, “In comparison with developed states in India we are years behind and in comparison with developed countries of the world, we are centuries behind”.
In conclusion, I would like to appeal to all, to keep the unity of the Hynniewtrep people intact, because, besides other factors, being a small populated community we cannot hope to survive if we become fragmented in this world where it’s survival of the fittest and the united if I may add.
Yours etc.,
Michael N Syiem
Response to student in distress
Editor
Apropos the letter, “Students in distress” (ST, 23. July. 2012) by an anonymous person claiming to be a student of the department of Biochemistry (NEHU), we the Research Scholars of this department would like to clarify that the claims made by the person are baseless. The teachers in our department have always devoted their time primarily to teaching and guiding our research work, despite performing other necessary duties in the university. The said letter is an attempt to malign the image of the department and disturb the dynamic and tranquil of teacher-student relationship. The “senior-most” teachers are the ones who have established and developed the department to its present form. The contribution of these teachers to the department and university as a whole is immense and still continue to do so. As such, we do not stand by the content of the said letter.
Yours etc.,
B. Kharwanlang
Representative Research Scholar,
Dept. of Biochemistry, NEHU
Teacher or tormentor?
Editor,
I wish to bring out the fact of the mental and physical torture, that children like my son who studies in class 2 in St. Edmunds’ School face daily from a particular senior teacher of the school. A number of other parents too who will readily agree that the said teacher is a terror for all those small children who have to attend her class and face the torture dished out by this teacher regularly. It’s a surprise that when children try their best not to miss school even a single day, these very children want to hide in the toilet during her classes! It is learned that various sorts of methods like degrading remarks, physical and verbal abuses are thrown at these innocent kids by this very senior teacher with utter disregard to the various government instructions of avoiding any sorts of verbal or physical punishment towards students of any age. May I also through your esteemed daily, ask the able school administration, to look into the matter and take appropriate action at the earliest. Let this be not overlooked because a school is where the future generation is being grown and readied and I hope some new tyrannies are not being built for the future, thanks to this very senior and so called experienced teacher!
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Not all is lost
Editor,
PA Sangma may have lost the battle but he has won the war. While it was expected that Mr Pranab Mukherjee would win the 13th Presidential Election since he is the ruling party’s nominee as always happened in India (with the exception of Mr. VV Giri), we the people of Meghalaya cannot but feel proud that Mr Purno A Sangma was the contesting candidate supported by others from this tiny and one of the neglected states of the North East. We appreciate the courage and determination of Mr. Sangma to contest for this highest office of the country, which gave the younger generation hope and encouragement to be at par with people from other states in the country. We request Mr Sangma to gracefully accept the verdict. Though his strategies and methods did not find favour with many, yet his spirit and determination have won us the war for the survival of the people of the state. We wish that he continues to be the source of strength and hope for the youth of Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Bankiew B Kharsyntiew
Via email