Grand Dame of Shillong turns 95
Mrs EN Shullai, one of our leading educationists and social worker turned 95 on Saturday, September 29. Mrs Shullai affectionately called Kong Rani and Nanu to many, makes ita a point to welcome every guest with genuine warmth, no matter what their social status. Every year this extraordinary lady’s birthday is a great social buzz. Friends and well-wishers cutting across all spectrum of society and age groups arrive at her doorstep to wish her a long life and partake of her diligently brewed wine and home cooked food that’s served with generous helpings of love. She does not need to send out invitations. People just come and want to be with her on this day. Kong Rani’s house became the rendezvous for many old friends who have lost touch with each other to catch up and renew their friendships. This is such a rarity in Shillong. Kong Rani’s birthday is like something that everyone marks on their calendars. The family run a school called Shullai Progressive School and Kong Rani though suffering from arthritis still loves to teach and is often seen correcting the answer scripts of students. We can all learn from her what life and living is all about and also to enjoy every moment of life as a gift from the heavens. Long live Kong Rani
KSU sponsored ILP debate
The Khasi Students’ Union, NEHU Unit organized a discussion on the theme, “Do we or do we not need the ILP?” at NEHU campus. This is perhaps the first time that the students’ body has organised a free-flowing discussion on an issue that is engaging the attention of large sections of the community and one that is linked to influx and how to check it. Normally such discussions tend to become a quest for the ideal. There is no place for realism. Unfortunately the idealists who still believe in a pristine society; in keeping their land safely locked up and in keeping out development still form the majority are in the majority. Is this why we are stuck in a rut? Is the younger generation happy about being caught in a time warp? Development has its flip side, always; especially since it has never been participatory. Central schemes have been implemented in a top-down approach. We have all been unquestioning onlookers. More and more it is the Planning Commission – a body accountable to none – not even to Parliament which is dictating the development models for us. Against this backdrop, idealism will not take us too far. The Inner Line Permit flowing from the Eastern Bengal Regulation Act 1873 is being touted by many as the instrument to control influx. There can be no greater fallacy for at the end of the day it’s just another law and has to be implemented by some human being somewhere. If we were vigilant and made use of existing protective mechanisms, Meghalaya would not be what it is today. However, it is also a fact that influx is a universal problem that all countries are grappling with, with nary a solution.
Swanky little getaway
Some 15 kilometres away from Shillong city, at Laitkor (on the Shillong-Jowai highway) is a neat little getaway serving delectable coffee with a wide choice of snacks and melt in the mouth Black Forest cake. The snack bar – a Café Coffee Day franchisee is, for the moment, still a hideaway, in that many city folks are perhaps yet to know of its existence. The interiors are tastefully done up. Wall paper gives the image of varnished bamboo walls. In the dry season the frontage could be an ideal outdoor restaurant. Alongside the café are three garment stores but they are closed on Sundays. There is enough space to park at least five vehicles. Difficult to imagine such a lovely, homely little café outside Shillong! We are going places, aren’t we? And guess what the name of the café and the garment stores is. They share one common name – Spread Eagle!