Editor,
The recent indictment of Ampareen Lyngdoh in the CBI report for having been the kingpin (or qweenpin ?) in the anomalies in recruitment of Assistant Teachers in Lower Primary Schools does not surprise me at all. This is something which job seekers have known all along. It is something that has been going on in different recruiting/appointing bodies be it state, district or local appointing authorities. Wherever one goes, nepotism is the name of the game. This is true even in recruitment of teachers in colleges. NGO leaders are baying for Ampareen’s blood but the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has maintained that, “She is innocent until proven guilty”. Mr Chief Minister what about the other way round, that Ampareen is “Guilty until proven innocent?” Therefore she should resign owning moral responsibility because her place in the cabinet has become untenable. One needs to thank Mr JD Sangma for revealing the name of Ampareen as the main culprit in the scam. So thanks Mr. J.D. Sangma, but no thanks. I would call upon the aggrieved candidates to follow on this case to its logical conclusion so that the culprits are booked and punished in accordance with the law of the land. Whether the guilty are punished or not, only time will tell, but we all know that this will be swept under the carpet and erased from public memory sooner than later just like the CGI sheet scam.
Yours etc.,
A.Rani
Shillong-13
Jowai Constituency: Dr RC Laloo’s failure
Editor,
In his article “Battle ground for prestigious Jowai Constituency”(ST 26th Nov 2012) H.H Mohrmen squarely blamed the political leadership for the many shortcomings in the constituency. But the educated people of the Constituency are equally to be blamed for their indifference and their failure to assert their rights. We have been overly dependent on our elected representatives without making them accountable. To still consider Jowai as a prestigious constituency is not appropriate anymore if the people themselves do not desire to maintain their own prestige. While the performance of the elected representatives for the last three decades may be mediocre this cannot be the expected of Dr R C Laloo who is comparatively much more qualified and experienced than the rest. The people of the Constituency had high hopes on him, particularly as he had sufficient innings but he has proven to be a big disappointment . He has much to answer for not only for the lack of development in the Constituency but also for the degradations which are so obvious. Bringing in few projects from a Department in which he is in charge of is no big deal as any other ordinary Minister can also do that. While all these disappointments cannot be overlooked, I am however deeply concerned with Dr Laloo’s total lack of interest in building up the youth of the Constituency who are desperately needed for the Constituency to move forward . The absence of good Institutions in Jowai for which Dr Laloo is squarely to be blamed for his poor initiatives, has already led to an exodus of youth outside to pursue their education. Only those who cannot afford remain in Jowai . Moreover, there is no effort on his part to take up youth development initiatives which can guide youth on the right path.. This is a vital social obligation for which he as a responsible leader and a highly qualified one at that has failed to build up. But then unlike many other political leaders, social commitment is one thing which Dr Laloo greatly lacks. Wonder what the people of Jowai constituency really expect from him. As Mohrmen wrote they hardly have any choice. But then they can always take a gamble with an untried alternative. After all, it is preferable to expect hope from something new than to continue with the tried and tested who are found wanting.
Yours etc.,
Shkembor Laloo
Mission Compound, Jowai
Kiang Nangbah’s 150th Anniversary
Editor,
H H Mohrmen deserves to be congratulated for his article on ‘U Kiang Nangbah’s Death Anniversary’ published in your esteemed daily (ST Oct 15, 2012), but there are some flaws that need to be pointed out. First, Jowai was not the headquarters of a district but of the Jowai Subdivision in 1862 till it became a district only when Meghalaya was created in 1972. It was believed to be the oldest subdivision in the then Assam state. Secondly, Mohrmen mentioned the Pnars as the sub-tribe of Khasi-Pnar. This is very confusing to us the War Jaintia people who assume that the name Pnar is just a sobriquet or nickname. In the War Jaintia we call them Pnar, Pna, Pnu, Pne, Pno etc., which are mere nicknames. We are called War because we live in the War area while others who live in the Bhoi area are called Bhoi. But we are all known by the generic name of Jaintia. Thirdly, the Jaintia Kingdom did not extend up to Jaintiapur only but to the far south and even eastwards up to the borders of Tripura as well as to the north up to a place known now as Raha near Nagoan.
About the question whether Kiang Nangbah had any notion of nation, the answer is ‘Yes’. He loved his people and country then the Jaintia Kingdom from the core of his heart. Standing before the gallows he said, “My people will regain independence.” The message from London came late, otherwise his life would have been saved. Today there is no more Kiang Nangbah who loves his/her Jaintia with his/her heart. The glory of the Jaintia Kingdom is gone! Who will retrieve it? The Jaintias of Jaintia Hills or the Jaintias in Khasi Hills? That’s a million dollar question. Then Mohrmen referred to the Legend of ‘Ki Khat-ar Daloi (the 12 Dalloi).’ This is not a legend but a fact that the twelve Daloi were all behind Kiang. Also he referred to the Pnar uprising. But it was the Anglo-Jaintia wars (1st, 2nd and 3rd) according to history. Mohrmen’s impression that land belongs to the people is unhistorical. To explain the Jaintia land system since the days of the kings is not permissible in this small letter. Mohrmen could find out for himself from history including the British administration of the land in Jaintia Hills. That the Autonomous District Council has diluted it since 1964-65 is a different matter altogether. There was no such Dalloi called Dalloi Tyngker. This name was manufactured by late RT Rymbai who later clarified that he coined the name as he did not like to give the real name of the Daloi involved. Finally, it must always be remembered that it was not only a Pnar uprising but a Jaintia Resistance which in its final stages involved the War Jaintia where the rebels put up a stiff resistance at Nongtalang, Padu, Nongbareh and Amkoi. James Howard Thorton gave a fine account of this campaign. Kiang Nangbah was wounded and had to flee to the north for hiding at Mynser with the help of the Bhoi Daloi where he was arrested and brought over to Jowai. The Kangaroo court sentenced him to death on the gallows. In fine, we fully agree with Mohrmen that it appears neither the government nor the JHADC is concerned about celebrating or otherwise commemorating the 150th Death Anniversary of Kiang Nangbah.
Yours etc.,
J Lamin,
Amlarem, Jaintia Hills.