Do schools own the public road?
Everyday come 2:00 pm then all the roads in and around the Don Bosco area become one-way roads. Cars are parked on both sides of the Boyce Road leading towards Shillong College onwards to Governor’s House or Polo Ground.
They are parents of students of St Mary’s School (both junior and high school). Along the Jacob’s ladder towards St Anthony’s College and Hopkinson Road above it leading towards Lower Lachumiere is also double-parked with cars belonging to parents whose children study in St Anthony’s (junior and senior school).
Veronica Lane on one side and the road from Fire Brigade up to Dhankheti and spilling on towards the road leading to Cleve Colony are also packed with vehicles of parents waiting for their wards from St. Edmunds School.
The entire length of the road from Don Bosco Technical School, along the Calvary up to the Loreto Convent Gate is a free parking for students of Loreto Convent.
Very obvious is the fact that students in the above schools are the cat’s whiskers. When they step out of the school, there is every model of car from SUVs to Sedans on display. But since when have schools begun to own all public spaces? And why should the public be asked to re-route their vehicles to accommodate fastidious school authorities?
The Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills, Sanjay Goyal says he tried to convince the heads of the above institutions to introduce school buses which is what every school in this country, other than Meghalaya is compelled by the Government to do in the best interests of all. Goyal says he met with stiff resistance from the school authorities who are a law unto themselves, although most of them enjoy Government patronage. A time has come for citizens to claim their right to the public road. Schools should be told to arrange school buses and if they are unwilling to do so then parents should not be allowed to double-park by the side of the public road.
The Shillong Traffic Police have their hands full trying to manage this elite citizenry but does anyone care? Quipped a visitor to the city, “I have never seen such self centred citizens who only think about individual good but care a hang about public good.
And the schools are no better! Wonder what civic lessons they teach the kids! If only these heads of institutions had to manage traffic for a day they would know the pitfalls of having thousands of cars converging at the same time and place every day.” Talk about attitude and the school authorities have an overdose of it!
Welcome to the open air bars!
An unpleasant sight that greets morning walkers everywhere in this city is empty liquor bottles strewn on the streets from the night before. Since this conservative society does not believe in social drinking, it tends to happen in an “unsocial” manner by the side of lanes and by-lanes where young men and women get together and down a bottle or two of beer.
Or better still Rum, Whisky, Vodka etc. The smaller bottles have just made “on the rocks” equivalent to, “straight from the bottle and super neat for a super kick.” That’s what many want.
A quickie that gives a tight kick so that it’s not too heavy on the pocket and also a does not take too much time.
One wonders if this is a universal phenomenon or a peculiarity of Meghalaya where resto-bars are out of bounds for those with a tight budget.
Since homes are out of bounds for drinks and recreation spaces are non-existent, the road has become the theatre for action.
The language that emanates from these little open-air roadside bars must be heard to be believed.
All the frustration of the day comes spilling out in swear words. Seems like life really sucks! But what the hell! As the song says, “It’s my life……” Indeed it’s their life and youth comes but once in a lifetime.
