Tuesday, July 15, 2025
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‘Price of freedom is constant engagement with democracy’

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By Our Special Correspondent

 Shillong: “The educated in our state must do more than just sit within closed confines and criticise the government. But are intellectuals willing to proactively engage with democracy?” This question was posed by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma while speaking as chief guest at the National Seminar on ‘Emergence of U Kiang Nangbah in the context of NE Resistance to British Imperialism,’ organised by Sein Jaintia and St Edmund’s College on Saturday.

Addressing an audience of scholars, students, teachers and activists, Dr Sangma said pro-active participation by citizens is a pre-requisite of democracy. “Only those who actively participate in democracy, no matter how untidy it is, have the right to criticise. The educated must come up with new ideas and engage with governance instead of constantly spreading negative ideas,” Dr Sangma said adding that the Indian constitution is designed to bring socio-economic transformation by participation.

“We need to have seminars where the enlightened can help throw light on issues and educate others. “When I speak, I speak what I know; when I listen I hear something new that I didn’t know of. We have an audience that is willing to listen but are the intellectuals willing to speak?” the Chief Minister queried.

Dr Sangma said it is with the purpose of organising such seminars that the Government has set aside Rs 5 crore annually which can be accessed through the respective deputy commissioners.

“I have seen a distressing trend especially in urban areas where people spend their productive time criticising the whole system but don’t participate in seminars and workshops which are intended to throw more light on real issues. I have made it a point to invite the thinkers and activists to all seminars organised in recent times by the government and will continue to do so,” the chief minister said, adding that unless the enlightened partner with government not much can be achieved.

Lauding the sacrifice made by Kiang Nangbah who he said was a visionary, Dr Sangma said this whole year should be utilised to reach out to the younger generation and to wean then away from frustration, discontent and anger because these negative elements are what threaten democracy. Hope erodes when there is no new policy for the younger generation. It is the responsibility of policy makers to be creative, innovative and address issues of the day and to generate hope to for the youth so that democracy is sustained, the chief minister said.

Earlier, guest of honour, Prof AN Rai, Vice Chancellor NEHU said people like Kiang Nangbah though little known outside the region were visionaries who could foresee the threat posed by British imperialism. “While there is a lot of material on Kiang Nangbah in the local language there is very little in English. It must be the endeavour of scholars from here to tell the world about the martyrdom of this freedom fighter,” Prof Rai remarked.

Prof Rai also reminded the gathering that political freedom alone does not mean much if there is large scale, mindless exploitation of resources leaving behind a trail of environmental destruction which is equivalent to collateral damage. Toki Blah, President Sein Jaintia while welcoming the guests also handed over the detailed project report (DPR) for a multi-facility hall in the old Sein Jaintia building near Iewduh, to the chief minister. Dr Sangma assured the organisation of all help to set up this facility.

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