Editor
Two interesting letters relating to the choice of representatives in the coming election were published by your paper (ST 19th Jan 2013). The one written by RG Lyngdoh, stressed on the need to choose people with integrity and commitment and perhaps RG in his wisdom did not dwell much on educational qualifications. The letter written by Jenniefer Dkhar suggested amongst others the need to have people with adequate educational qualifications . Certainly, it would be ideal if we have the choice of representatives who possess all the attributes mentioned by both the writers and with this we can surely expect a change for the better . But then it appears that we cannot expect everything. Given a choice and by what is observed lately with the irrational way some of our highly educational qualified representatives conducted themselves, I would rather agree with RG Lyngdoh that in the end it is integrity and commitment that matters most. Educational qualifications are attainable but integrity is inbuilt and soundly established and it cannot be expected that one can possess it overnight and sustain it, particularly if one still needs to swim with the overwhelmingly strong tides that sway even the strongest every now and again.
We need representatives with integrity who can withstand influences which are against the overall interest of the people . We also need representatives whose commitments are beyond the self and the Constituency they represent and who understand that the responsibilities they have to shoulder are sans borders.
Both the writers have written well and surely the majority of those who read these letters as well as the articles of some of our polished writers on the subject need not be further analysed. The question is how to reach and influence those in the majority who down the years have learned to believe that their representative is the one who can meet their day to day needs and that the jurisdiction that the representative is to serve is limited to the boundary of their individual household or at the most only to their respective localities. .Taking up collective responsibility to change this mindset is the biggest challenge before us and seems to be beyond reach. At this juncture, I feel that the only hope is for leaders of all religions to take up the challenge to not only educate their followers but at the same time exhort them of the need to exercise the right to vote as a divine duty to be performed with honesty. This may perhaps make a difference.
Yours etc.,
K.L.Tariang
Via email
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