Intelligent begging
In Shillong city beggars operate intelligently. They frequent places from where people come out emotionally vulnerable.
These are churches, mandirs, mosques etc. This time beggars by the hordes were seen after the Eid-ul-fitr celebration on August 9. People usually emerge out of these sanctified spaces feeling generous.
It is also one way of assuaging their conscience. On Eid-ul-fitr every practicing Muslim offers Zakat (alms to the poor). This compulsory act of distributing alms prior to Namaz (prayer) being performed has made many beggars (ignoring the crippled and the needy) to make the most out of the occasion.
There is a sudden explosion on the number of needy people on the day of Eid with hundreds of beggars, comprising both professional and needy thronging the entrance of Mosques to make a quick buck.
The desperation is so acute that women are seen smearing their kids with mud and pinching them to make them more ‘sympathetically attractive’ but a second act which was evident on Friday beggared all description.
Since the morning prayer timing was different in different mosques beggars ran helter and skelter to catch the prayerful as they come out of the mosques. Some beggars actually ‘reserved’ taxis to rush from one mosque to another!
The scenario in Shillong is changing. A deeper introspection may well unearth begging scams as evident in metropolitan cities.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Two extremely talented daughters of their proud mothers stole the show at the pre-independence day celebration and also the birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo which was celebrated last weekend at the auditorium of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture (SAIIC).
Nayanika Dey, daughter of city based singer Paromita Nag Dey and teacher at the Mother’s School, presented a dance on the traditional Ganesh Vandana. Similarly Tania Barua, daughter of city based dancer Lily Baruah, also a teacher of Mother’s School, presented “Rangeela Bharat” from a Bollywood movie much to the delight of one and all.
The toddlers of this school made their presence felt in this celebration with their recitation called “Mummy Darling” followed by a group dance “Bom Bom Bole.”
A unique aspect of the celebration was the showcasing of freedom fighters in their inimitable attire followed by the national anthem sung by the participants.
Of foreign jaunts
What is it with Meghalaya that politicians and bureaucrats have to travel abroad for their training? And if all those who are trained at plush foreign locales come back and practise even a bit of what they have learnt, Meghalaya would have become “a patch of beauty and grace.”
Alas! Such is not the case. This is perhaps just an excuse for a summer break. Some years ago when the MPF Government was in power a big group of politicians visited the United States to learn how mining is conducted in that country.
But did they try and implement even an iota of what they saw and observed?
One politician made a calendar of the events and distributed them to his constituents. At least the MLA was simple enough to let the public know that training also included visits to the pubs and a go at the casino.
When officers or politicians travel abroad at public expense they are expected to give a report to the public, not just to the Government (which is not the owner of the public treasury) what they have gained from the expedition.
Recently a second group of mid career officers travelled to the USA, ostensibly on “training.” Can we expect a briefing from them as to what they have learnt and how much is implementable?
Perhaps the Chief Minister himself who has just returned from South Africa for a training on finances should lead the way.