Editor,
I feel I must express my profound shock, disgust and anger with a caption accompanying a photo in page 4 of your newspaper dated Jan 3, 2014 under the North East Briefcase section. There is a photo of a person who is described in the disgraceful phrase of “mad man”. It seems that The Shillong Times has taken a giant step backwards when it comes to the mentally ill. It is especially disappointing given how, on several occasions, your paper has highlighted the problems of mental illness through interesting reports and articles.
Calling someone who suffers from mental illness “mad” can do tremendous harm to the cause of people who need help. Can we please have some sort of correction or something that will attempt to undo some of the damage done by this horrible caption?
Yours etc.,
Jonathan Pariat
Jowai
The editor replies:
The photo was contributed by an agency along with the caption. However, this is not to absolve ourselves of blame. We sincerely regret the use of the word “mad man” to describe the mentally ill person in the photo-news. Other readers have also brought this matter to our notice and we assure all our readers that such gaffes will not be repeated.
Soso Tham deserves the nation’s respect!
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Centre turns down request for Soso Tham commemorative stamp” as appeared in your newspaper dated 27th December 2013, at the outset, my salutations to Mr Vincent H Pala ( MP ) for pursuing this matter with the Union Government. Alienation is a strong word to use but perhaps this is the very word to define the Centre’s attitude towards the North Eastern states when it comes to recognition of our past heroes and icons. As reported the Central Government received 82 names this year of prominent personalities from different walks of life but only 21 names were considered which include those of Swami Vivekananda, Sai Baba and Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha before his retirement from cricket. Astonishingly, what’s the rush about a postage stamp being issued to his credit while ignoring the deserving names! To add insult to injury the Centre has not given any reasons for denying a commemorative stamp in honour of our renowned poet Soso Tham. Unlike our past MP’s who were mostly bothered about their salary, perks and position while they disregarded the people’s plight during their tenure, here again, hats off to Bah Pala for urging the Philatelic Advisory Committee to reconsider its decision of bringing out the stamp on the Hynniewtrep people’s greatest icon in the literary history of the state.
Since the inception of the State, I do not recall that this issue was ever taken up the NGO’s, individual or even the State Government. I would therefore sincerely appeal to the State Chief Minister who is currently in New Delhi to set off talks and meetings with the concerned department of the Central Government on this pertinent subject of U Soso Tham. The NGO’s who had made noises on the contentious ILP issue in the past months must also kick off steps to support the initiative so as to achieve the long overdue postage stamp of U Soso Tham rather than a mere laying of wreath at the poet’s bust and make unfair lectures.
Yours etc.,
Cliff . R . Sohtun
Shillong -6 .
End of dynastic politics?
Editor
The recent poll debacle of the Congress party in four states indicates that dynastic politics is nearing its end. The people of this country have carefully read the agenda of the two major parties – the BJP and the Congress. The recent entry of Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP into the political arena is mainly because people are tired and disgusted of political groups that pay less attention to the daily problems plaguing the common people which the AAP has understood. Kejriwal and his party is transforming the problems into solutions. Ironically the BJP and Congress now seem to ape the model adopted by the AAP. Hope that here in Meghalaya too, we understand and dissect each political group wisely.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3