Editor,
At the risk of being branded silly and impractical, we must take up the podium and express our views on what has been portrayed as the enlightened views of the Aam Aadmi. We dare say that lately the Aam Aadmi has been sidelined (maybe unintentionally) by some who are concerned but who are also bent on doing the thinking for the Aam Aadmi. The games of betrayal, the games of forging new alliances, the games that the power mongers play in Delhi, or in our own state, are nothing but a scene of rich kids at play. The common person has absolutely no part to play whatsoever and the only attention that can be spared is to be disgusted. In this scheme of things, we find that the views expressed, views supposedly of the Aam Aadmi, have little to do with what is really needed. Views and concerns that talk of the greater good, views that call for the shaking up of the system, views founded on the common things are all swept aside, ignored or maybe misplaced.
Economic pressures and uncertainties dictate, and as of now no one has stepped up to really challenge the prevailing system of production and redistribution. For, it is not the political alone that shapes the agenda of the Aam Aadmi, it is the belly that does most of the talking and sadly most of the thinking too. Those who have taken up the task of being ‘of’ the people have failed to be ‘for’ the people, for if they were ‘for’ the people they would care to consider the people’s disillusionment and frustration with the manner in which things are done. There is nothing expressed that is close to the themes of the common people, the theme of suffering, disillusionment and frustration and also the themes of hope and united action. In the process we end up with nothing but a search for band-aid solutions, the squander of dreams and we end up with a people interpreted not inspired.
We have to snatch our senses from the vortex of pessimistic indulgence and start off together towards the trend of reconstruction, revitalisation and retrieval of democracy, even if those first steps constitute dreams and hopes. Some books on the shelves have suggested ways for arriving at what the common person requires, directions and destinations that human society aspires, but most often than not such suggestions have been regarded as too radical or too impractical and too silly and even too pompous. However, the truth remains that the new, the coming will always seem silly, and this is something Louis XVI will readily testify.
Yours etc.,
Obadiah Lamshwa Lamare
Himalayan Tsunami
Editor,
The events that have befallen Northern India are tragic indeed. Our hearts go out to all the families who lost their loved ones and to all who are suffering painfully. It shows the fragility of our infrastructure and more importantly our lives especially when nature unleashes its fury. It also brings to light the stark reality that no matter how advanced mankind is in the meteorological forecast with satellite aids, we humans are nothing if we underestimate nature and ignore the basic engineering laws – be they roads, bridges or buildings. Unlike developed countries, we undertake construction without preparing for the worst case scenarios and when disaster strikes, we collapse like a house of cards. The incident that occurred in Umling last year, where precious lives were buried in a huge landslide due to overuse of JCB on fragile land is still fresh in our memories. Thanks to the media coverage, one could see the importance of the army and the NDRF during rescue operations. Speed is vital and in this regard I am afraid to say our state is far off the mark except in Barik junction– where a destination signage has been installed. The junction between Laitumkhrah to Nongthymmai does not have one. As a result, I have found on two occasions a Silchar bound army convoy taking two rounds of Laitumkhrah Don Bosco and back to Fire Brigade before pedestrians came to their help to direct them to Jowai. This is simply one of many do’s that the disaster management department has not done yet. Let what has happened in Uttarakhand be a wake up call for us from this deep slumber.
Yours etc.,
Wandell Passah,
Retd HOD (SEC)