THIS time the Republic Day celebration in Shillong was very creatively organized by the District Administration, East Khasi Hills. Beginning from the arrangements of the Republic Day salute in Polo Ground to the series of innovative and fun programmes during the day everything went off well barring a few glitches. Khyndailad was rocking. While the rock bands entertained the crowd, this time what attracted many more people were the food courts that lined the footpath adjacent the Old Assembly building. Children and grown-ups had a jolly good time savouring all kinds of delicacies. Many felt that this food court experience was so successful that it should become a permanent feature of Khyndailad.
Perhaps the only minus point was that the area was littered with garbage after the event. This is something that needs the attention of the Deputy Commissioner and one that can be worked out better next time. The music extravaganza at Khyndailad ended just at the right time – at 5.00 pm, leaving no room for trouble mongering. Later there was a musical concert at the Soso Tham auditorium.
It is not for the first time that Shillongites defied the bandh call by disparate insurgent outfits sitting in Bangladesh. They have done it in the past too. The Rangbah Shnong of Laitumkhrah had recently given a call to all the people under his jurisdiction not to cow down to these bandh calls and to keep their shops and commercial establishments open. It worked for Laitumkhrah because people decided to call the militant’s bluff. It is high time for people to see through these meaningless rituals that insurgent outfits follow on the two national days and take a call to defy these diktats. In a democracy we cannot allow despots to rule the roost. Hats off to the District Administration, East Khasi Hills for the programmes to suit all ages and to the MUDA for enabling citizens to commute freely courtesy the JNNRUM buses and taxis.
