By F Meshuwa Diengdoh
Hello everyone! You know it’s good to be back in the sunshine after a gap of 3 months in hiding(and running).Not that we were running away from our demands of Inner Line Permit but you know very well our system of functioning -‘go for a meeting unprepared and with a blank mind, have tea (the organizers should at least change the present caterer in the Secretariat), come out in protest, march through the centre of Shillong with our heads high and chest out(mind you, I was an NCC cadet when I was a real student)have a quick meeting, announce our agitations, hug each other goodbye and depart to hibernate in our own caves till the Government bows down’ . The truth is that Government cannot register cases against us for arson, killing people, etc when we, the NGOs, were in hiding in our own undisclosed locations! Let the Government prove to the Hon’ble court how we have committed the crime when we were hiding inside our respective caves! Doesn’t it realize that we don’t want to be like our other brothers to be arrested while we were tilling our fields or feeding our pigs? Our strategy (unlike our past leaders) is not to get arrested. Not that we are scared but we have been told by our sister who was recently on holiday in the “Fullmoon Hotel” that the cooks inside the ‘Hotel’ never had a bath and the supplier is supplying rotten rice, spoilt vegetables, smashed fruits and even rotten eggs! No wonder even the staff of the hotel organized a ‘Strike’ a few months back!
What about those who died during the period since September till date is the next question that you want me to answer, right? Honestly, I am very sorry and wanted to extend my sympathy by organizing a condolence meeting amongst the leaders but the caves where we were hiding had very poor mobile network connectivity. So blame the mobile phones, not us for not expressing our sympathy through our media friends. However, I did not want to miss the opportunity to show the people that we are here for you all and before the start of the meeting at Jaiaw, I said a prayer that put those folks in white and collared robes to shame. I know you’ll be saying that I was a hypocrite on that day but I did silently pray for the departed souls-Honestly, I did!
Seeing such a big crowd inspired and motivated me so much that I confessed before all the ILP fans that I was very happy when I met my comrades on that bright sunny morning. Oh, how we hugged, laughed and cried in each other’s arms on that eventful morn! Well, the Government now should realize that the people are there in front, on the sides and definitely behind us. Remember, you saw many politicians (both those on the rise and fall and wannabes too) besides a pastor turned politician, prominent leaders sitting behind us while we made speeches after speeches which means that they are really and truly behind us! Definitely that was the sign for us to announce another round of agitation. Surely, you will agree that the night blockades are very helpful for the public and the ‘Green Campaign Movement of the Government’ which also shows that we are not anti-government! Even Mr. President was so touched when he saw the entire city painted with ‘We Want ILP’. Mr. P was made to believe that ILP means ‘I Love Pranabda’ that he advised the doctor on the floor of the Assembly (we will never let the government build a new Assembly since January 2001 when the old one was burnt down by some reckless staff)to diagnose the illness of NGOs and treat them properly in the way a doctor should treat his patients. So many wives are behind us as it helps them rebuild their lives with their husbands and kids. Less drinks too for the fathers- ILP really means I Love Papa; he’s home early, helps in cooking and in the kid’s homework and finally helps in bonding.
We, NGOs are doing social service! After all, bear with us till the Government delivers us our Christmas 2013 presents and New Y – !? What is this? An RTI application filed by Anger-lot Drai and Bhag Tarun Bhag? Daniel, my brother, how can we tell her who sponsored this entire show? Oh my God! When will we ever learn?
Yours’ in hiding,
Mr. Chairman
Students’ Field, Jaiaw