Editor,
Without condoning the unfortunate incident on the April 4, 2013, may I share my personal observations.
If successive state governments had performed their duty to the best of their abilities ever since we achieved statehood, in tackling major issues like the inter-state boundary problem, influx, unemployment and other problems that are now plaguing the state, I am sure there would be no NGOs/ Pressure groups (PG) or very few of them in our state, because every problem would have been taken care of by our elected representatives.
It is the failure of successive governments to deliver on many fronts which has resulted in the emergence of NGOs taking up varied issues in different areas of jurisdiction. They try to put pressure on the govt/administration to address the problems faced by the public. Even some of the crucial law making subjects which are our law makers’ responsibility, have been initiated by the NGOs, which reflects badly on the capability of our legislators. On the other hand, forming an NGO/PG or being involved in one that does not collect donations from the public, is a thankless job. Besides taking up issues of public interest, which involves sacrificing personal time, money from members’ contribution and sometimes the threat of being arrested, in the end, you end up pleasing a few and displeasing many more. If one takes up certain issues they’re being questioned what’s in it for them; if they don’t take up issues they’re being questioned if they have been bought off. Therefore for some of the NGOs, if the issue/subject has been taken up with genuine interest and concern, it is all about job satisfaction with no other benefits to look out for.
Secondly, the word communal used to describe the KSU and some NGOs by some writers could be described and applied in a more positive approach. If I am being called communal, I would like to be known as someone who loved his own community without harbouring any hatred for others. This love compels me to strive so that the Khasi community grows and develops into a strong, progressive and self reliant community that will also contribute towards the development of India as a whole and which has a sense of pride in doing so. As of today we depend solely on the handouts from Delhi collected from the hard work of other communities, for our very survival.
Love for one’s own community is universal. Love to see one’s own community strong, vibrant and contributing towards other’s development and progress is something we all take pride in. And if that is being communal, there is nothing wrong or illegal about it.
Thirdly, as a founding member of the KSU, we founded the Union with the objective that it would function as a pressure group when the situation requires, but, more importantly, that it would be a leadership training organization for student leaders, that would eventually produce, successive future leaders of the community and the State who will lead with dedication and well grounded in organization and leadership.
So when they are found wanting along the way towards this goal, we would appreciate constructive criticism and offering solutions to perform better, rather than outright condemnation.
Lastly, the threat of becoming a minority community in our own land is very much a reality, taking into account our small population surrounded as we are by far bigger populated communities and compounded by the loopholes in our system which allows others to exploit us. Tripura is one example where the indigenous people have become a minority in their own land. Assam is most likely heading towards that situation and there are similar examples across the world. Some have even ended up in reservations in their own lands. We definitely do not want this to happen, now or ever. The government and people should not take this threat lightly. Hence besides other measures to be adopted, the policy to economically empower us, the indigenous people of the state so that we can control our own economy is one way to check influx. This will surely happen when all the children of a family are economically empowered through the Meghalaya Equitable Distribution of Ancestral and Self Acquired Property Act.
Whether we are Khasi by blood and Indian by accident is not the issue because as someone rightly said, even our very birth into a particular community and our sex (male or female) is never planned and can be described as accidental. Therefore, as we are destined to be who we are, let us live our lives to the fullest, with all the talents God has given us and make sure that we live in this world contributing positively for the next generation’s welfare and security.
As a Khasi community, with all the richly blessed resources in our command, let us have the pride to belong to a community that is strong and progressive and that contributes towards the development of other communities without causing harm to those who mean us no harm.
In conclusion, the musical play by Maitshaphrang titled, “Juliet and Romeo” which is now on Youtube, attempts in a small way to take us towards this objective.
Yours etc.,
Michael N Syiem,
Via email