Editor,
Apropos the letter by Nesfield B Sangma titled “Drop the archaic officialese,” (ST March 14, 2013) , I have the honour to put in place some of my opinion of the official language used every day by officers in government service. The writer is of the opinion that the word “have the honour” was widely used during British Raj to undermine the Indians while we were still under their rule sounds somewhat strange and ridiculous. That a white man would teach all Indians to write these words before the body of the letter every time is unlikely as even the white man would use these words to address another senior if the situation arises. As an avid learner of English I have come across many ways of addressing people in a letter. The writer must understand that “Connotations” are often used in letter writing. There is nothing degrading or disgraceful in using these words as they connotes something else. “Honour” could mean “Privileged” or something else as the subject demands. As far as officers coming from other states of NE is concerned I find their letters are purely copied versions from old files or notes and their spoken form of English is amusing. Officers from states other than NE are often familiar with other major Indian languages and not English as they study and compete in examinations like UPSC and SSC in their own languages and perhaps this is how they have greater advantage than us. I leave it to the readers to judge and grade who is inferior or a second class citizen.
Yours etc.,
S.Nongkynrih
Superintending Officer,
NSSO(FOD),
Shillong.
A ridicule that hurts
Editor
In our recent Young Authors’ Association of India (YAAI) meeting held in Kolkata, a friend of mine ridiculed me saying, ‘In Shillong, the people are so simple – they believe in the words of their ministers as gospel. They don’t have good roads because they are told that if good roads are built foreigners would come and take away their good looking girls. Drinking water coming from the pipe will be bad as it carries plenty of iron in it. Hospitals and schools will destroy our culture as children learn to forget how to plough the fields etc…Their ministers even told them that most of the planes carry bombs so even the smallest airport that they have is closed now.
Hearing such remarks was painful. I asked myself if they are true but looking at where we are today it seems really true. We are forgotten by those who promise us the moon during elections. ‘The abode of clouds’ remains overshadowed by dark clouds with no silver lining appearing. I am not sure if our ministers have travelled to other states and countries! If they did, I don’t know why they can’t open their eyes and bring back some of that learning and transform Meghalaya instead of buying votes in the next election.
Yours etc.,
Fr. Michael Makri sdb
Via email
Loss for Meghalaya
Editor,
The 2013, Meghalaya State Assembly results announced on the 28th February last has shocked many a political pundit and the common people too. I had to eat my words when a relatively green-horn at the hustings, M Rapsang contesting from West Shillong constituency lost by a mere 481 votes to Paul Lyngdoh, a well educated and widely known figure in our State. I had anticipated that Lyngdoh would win hands down and this time around created a record of sorts by garnering the largest chunk of votes in Meghalaya but this speculation turned out otherwise. Hence, there is need for soul searching to find out what went wrong.
What, however distressed me the most is the defeat of Conrad Sangma from Selsella Constituency by a substantial margin of more than 2,000 votes by a Congress candidate who is not more academically qualified than his vanquished rival. Wonder what went horribly wrong in this particular constituency for the National People’s Party (NPP). In the past four/ five years, when I was deputed to attend the Assembly proceedings to record Assembly debates, discussions and questions relating to my Department, I was literally swayed by the impassioned speeches delivered by Conrad Sangma. His flawless argument, questioning and suggestion for the holistic development of the State were arguably incisive and convincingly sound. I took great delight to be assigned the responsibility to attend the Assembly proceedings and am privileged to have listened to speeches of such an outstanding representative. Hence, the loss of Conrad Sangma is not only his misfortune of but that of the entire State of Meghalaya, especially the youthful masses. A parallel can be drawn between another brilliant political leader, the late M. N. Majaw who represented Mawhati Constituency in the 1970. We the people of Hynniewtrep must be grateful for his pivotal role in bringing about the historic Meghalaya Land Transfer Act. It is said that when late M N Majaw was participated in the Assembly discussions as an opposition member, every Minister and bureaucrat was on tenterhooks fearing a slew of questions from him.
Alas, such consummate leaders do not last very long in our State. They just fade into oblivion.
Yours etc.
Jerome Diengdoh
Shillong -1