Editor,
Khasi language is recognised as Associate official language of Meghalaya, and the University raised this language up to doctoral level. But sad to say the media TV, AIR and FM radio channels dish out a mish-mash of English and Khasi words using words like, ‘thank you’, ‘bye, I’ll be back’ etc. The word dedicated is used randomly. There is a Khasi word for this, ‘aiti kyrpang’ ‘tem kyrpang’. The R.J. of one FM invented a Khasi programme by the name ‘Jingjia ba shutia’ The word ‘shutia’ is a disparaging term. Khasi words like ‘Jingjia ba biria’ ‘Jingjia ba danda, ‘thamula’ could have been used. The media are supposed to educate people instead of destroying the very essence of Khasi language.
On January 29 this year during the mela on Agriculture and Veterinary, Mr PBO Warjri, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary spoke about half an hour in pure Khasi without using a single English used. Another officer also spoke in pure Khasi. I often hear people in villages expressing their disgusts about Khasi programmes because of the Khalish ( smatter of English and Khasi) used by the media.
Yours etc.,
Blan K. Lyngdoh
Shillong – 14
GNLA peace talks offer
Editor,
GNLA has offered to talk with the Government through mediators like members of peace forum and arrested chairman of GNLA, Mr Champion R. Sangma’s Shillong based lawyer, Sujit Dey. GNLA says they are fighting for a separate Garoland so why are they using Sujit Dey as a mediator to facilitate talks with Government when he is not even from Garo hills and not a Garo. Is there a dearth of Garo people to act as mediators in the peace talk with Government? Or is the GNLA commander in chief Sohan Shira not qualified enough to talk about a separate Garoland? How can a non -tribal lawyer act as a mediator for GNLA when they are fighting for separate Garoland? Remember that GNLA have killed several non-tribals in fighting for the cause of Garos. Now so many new militant outfits have come up almost every month on the pretext of separate statehood. Will the Garo people stop to think if we are on the right track? Or is every outfit making this an issue to collect/extort money for their personal benefits? If all outfits are fighting for a separate Garoland why are they not united? The dissension among Garo militant its leaders is worrying for Garo people today. Today all that the outfits have done is to use young Garo boys in these internecine fights. With the passage of time many leaders have come over ground/surrendered and are today living a lavish lifestyle out of extorted money collected from people while in active militancy. None of them are committed to the cause. The ANVC claimed to fight for Greater Garoland in the beginning but has now settled for a Garo Territorial Council along the lines of Bodo Territorial Council. I request all the militants to end these fake promises and to give up arms, end militancy and come over ground to walk hand in hand with common people and fight for the cause of Garos in general.
Yours etc.,
Kala Birong Momin
Hawakhana, Tura
Ardent shocked at ‘slum’ word
Editor,
Apropos the news report where Mr Ardent Basaiawmoit expressed shock at the statement of the Urban Minister that Mawlai is a slum ( ST March 15, 2014), though officially Mawlai is not included in the notified slum, but one can witness the filth that dominates the entire Mawlai area. The road side of Mawlai GS Road has become a garbage dumping ground. Nobody is concerned about the cleanliness of Mawlai area. Indeed Mawlai is a big area with stalwarts like SD Khongwir, FS Cajee, PT Sawkmie, the local MLA living in it and having represented it but sad to say these big heads have no concern for cleanliness. They love Mawlai only from the tip of their tongues. Since Mawlai does not fall under Shillong Municipality, there is no system for collection of waste and its disposal. There is not even a place to dump the garbage. Ardent may visit Mawlai and witness the area around the Shillong Polytechnic and NEHU which is full of filth. Residents directly discharge their toilets into the nearest drains. Ultimately all the discharge flows into the once famous Wah Umshing and Wah Umkhrah which have also become dumping sites for both garbage as well as human excreta.
Yours etc.,
B R M Wanswett
Shillong- 8
Caution should be the watchword!
Editor,
Regarding the write-up of Dheera Bhowmick captioned “Gift of a friend” published in the Sunday Canvas (ST March 23, 2014), I would urge that caution be the watchword in describing the whole area situated westwards of the Jordan River. Bhowmick in narrating her journey from the Dead Sea to the great Western Wall in Jerusalem has written, “When we left the place we could see the twinkling lights of Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jericho in Israel.” Having lived there myself for some months, I have experienced that it is not fair to tag all these places with the name “Israel”. I suspect that the tag “Israel” for the whole Jerusalem even after the Six-Day War of 1967 can be loosely defended. Particularly, for Bethlehem and Jericho, they can in no way be tagged “Israel” as they are part and parcel of the West Bank.
Yours etc.,
Collin Wanñiang,
Via email