Editor,
I sincerely thank E. Dhar for responding to my article, “The Essence of Gender Justice”(not ‘injustice’) because the stimulus was sent out for a response. If no one responds then the article serves no purpose. I am one who fervently honours womanhood even to the point of believing that my identity as a man is meaningful only in relation to a woman. Let not our natural being be deceived by excessive modern elitism. A man has male-centric views of manhood and womanhood, and a woman has female-centric views the same. Even a dog perceives human beings not as human beings but as bigger dogs. Only when our souls leave our bodies, we shall be free from this perceptual framework. Difference in many physical and physiological nature makes us men and women. Only a woman can measure women’s feelings, attitudes or opinions, and only a man can measure men’s feelings, attitudes and opinions. A man cannot fathom the deep recesses of a woman’s heart and soul. At the most, he can understand something of a woman’s mind by using the common tools of reason and intellect. But to fathom into the sacred feelings of her heart and soul, he has to combine intellect with intuition. Only intense love between a man and a woman can provide some degree of intuition to each other’s hearts.
The consideration of women as precious, lovely and weak, who need protection and caring is a male concept. Every sane man would think like that towards his mother, sister, wife and daughters. He would always think that his wife, daughters or sisters are weaker and more prone to danger than he and his sons or brothers. This typical male construct of women is not for asserting masculinity but for alerting himself to the responsibility of care and protection if the need arises. Few women who are in higher academic and professional ladder would think that male care and protection are unnecessary. The majority of women still opt for security and protection provided by responsible men rather than gamble on an independent life of their own. That is why the purpose of “woman-only-taxi” conceived by some naive brains failed. I reiterate that the corporate world exposes the male body to display strength and control, while female body is exposed as sexual; this itself is discriminatory. Men in general would agree with the views in the article, but I know that men in academic circles would inwardly agree but outwardly disagree because they have to be in line with current popular issues or academic fashion.
The era of patriarchy was more an oppression of men than women. Millions and millions of men were enslaved and massacred as gladiators in the amphi-theatres for the pleasure of noble men and women. Many crimes were committed by men and women together. So marriage or no marriage, men and women are inseparably linked in joy and sorrow, health and sickness, for good or for crimes, for better or for worse, and until death do they part.
Today, all constitutional and legal rights are equally given to men and women, but women could not achieve equality with men in governance and other spheres of authority, not because of the hindrances put forth by men. Indeed behind every successful woman there is a support of a circle of men. Women may wax eloquent about woman’s success in general, but when it comes to the success of a particular woman, it is usually the men who prepare the ground. In every constituency there are equal number of male and female voters, but rarely would women candidates win because women do not vote for them. Is it due to women’s ignorance or jealousy or selfishness? Men cannot give an account for that; let women explain.
Yours etc.,
Fabian Lyngdoh,
Via email
No manipulation please!
Editor,
There has a considerable amount of noise made related to the appointment of Loma Jyrwa as the head of the SRWC considering her as an individual with experience. However, it is ironic that despite
the presence of other able officers still in service or qualified, experienced people to take up the job, the state authorities seem to look the other way. The matter becomes more complicated when
senior level officers like NS Samant, HM Shangpliang and the other selection committee members become instrumental in manipulating the entire process denying others their due. Perhaps we need to know the reason and ask for answers.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S.Wankhar,
Shillong-3
Much hyped IBDLP!
Editor,
Having been involved and worked for a considerable period with the rural community under the IFAD-MRDS project in Jaintia Hills, I believe that developmental goals take time to achieve and that there is no magic wand to instantly change the status of rural communities. Coming to the much hyped IBDLP program it seems to have been trumpeted too loud even before its ultimate outcome is understood and internalised by the stakeholders. It seems to be more of a money spinning program for a few and if I am not wrong there is not much awareness about this scheme in most of the interior places of the state. Just like the IFAD-MRDS project having failed to create that much needed change, the IBDLP too may meet its own fate of high ideas and failed hopes if critical needs of the community are not assesses and addressed by building vocational skills to bring sustainable growth in the long run.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S Wankhar
Shillong