Editor,
It’s a given that the Director of Education, J D Sangma, will be punished, as after all, he has himself admitted his wrongdoing. But, it’s unfortunate, and a given, that no action can be taken against Ampareen, in spite of almost everyone believing that her hand prints were everywhere in the scam; after all, there is no tangible evidence against her, except a sinking man’s desperate claim. The true lesson for someone as naive as Mr Sangma that should be learned is this – Obey God in righteousness and be rewarded. Obey Govt.(read lawmakers) to the point of doing wrong, only to be abandoned, betrayed and crucified when the boat starts rocking.
Let all the ministers and powers-that-be, who resort to unrighteous acts, however, beware that judgment awaits them, finally, at the end for only thinking about saving their own skin. How can someone hope to do good for someone by resorting to unfairness and evil? Will a rotten seed ever hope to bear good fruit? Can righteous God’s blessings ever be on people who circumvent His will for ill gotten gain? And finally, which officer can honestly claim that a minister’s ‘candidate’ has been known for sincerity, obedience and discipline?
Yours etc.,
Chandra Ch Marak,
Via email
II
Editor,
Reading yesterday’s newspaper, I was filled with disgust at what the Chief Minister has to say, regarding the consultation meet between the Ministerial Committee and the students’ body. How can Dr Mukul take away the right to freedom of speech and expression from the people? How can he invite the students’ body to discuss the Bill and when they express their disagreement to the proposed Bill, he wants the Police to investigate the opposing students? The Chief Minister speaks a lot about Democracy, but is this how democracy should function? Article 14-32 of the Indian Constitution has given us our rights (because the framers knew that public servants would abuse their powers) The founding fathers of the Indian Constitution gave us these rights for the smooth functioning of Democracy. Who is Dr Mukul Sangma to take this away from us? So if the students found so many loop holes in this Bill, and if they expressed their disappointment, how can they be investigated? If so, then even a member of the Ministerial Committee who agrees that the Bill has drawbacks should also be investigated as well. If we believe in a uniform civil code, and if India is really the largest democracy in the world, then irresponsible representatives cannot cause fear in the minds of the young students. Due to such intimidation students will refrain from taking part in any political activities of the state. So much for the triumph of social and political justice and so much for the triumph of the so called, “Indian Democracy”
Yours etc.,
Rangdajied Marwein
Shillong-2
On Thanksgiving!
Editor,
Apropos the letter by Chandrashekhar (ST Nov 28, 2013), his message on unity in diversity is very apt and serves as a wonderful Thanksgiving message to all the citizens of this lovely town of Shillong. Though Thanksgiving is mostly a US holiday and festival, but the applicability of diversity and being united by accepting the diversity just few weeks before Christmas is a refreshing note to move forward on. With all due respects to Chandrashekhar, I would just like to clarify that not just in US, UK and Australia but in India as well Christian pluralism is slowly being encouraged by many churches. Being a Catholic myself, I would gladly like to draw the attention of every keen intellectual to the Vatican II declaration on its position regarding other religions. The declaration is on the internet and dates back to October 28, 1965. The gist of this proclamation is “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. It regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones it holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men”
I am not an authority on history or Islam, but having read few books on Sufi saints, it does not surprise me that Sufism was inspired by Islam. There is a reflection of that universal creator everywhere, it just depends on us whether we are ready to open our hearts to accept people ( his creation) as they are with their diversities and abide by that famous gospel from Bible – “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 )
Yours etc., !
Rebecca S Fernandes,
Via email