Editor,
Apropos your lead story, “BJP MP’s strategy to thwart ‘Greater Bangla’ Plan”, (ST Sep 14, 2014), the statement made by former Minister, Manas Chaudhuri that Goalpara, along with Sylhet, Cachar, Khasi and Garo Hills were Bengali dominated areas in 1874 is incorrect. Goalpara was at no point of time a Bengali dominated area. For a responsible person to make such a misleading statement in a public forum reflects a lack of respect for historical facts. The people of the region had distinctive identities which is not Bengali. Mr Chaudhuri probably has no knowledge of the history and culture of Goalpara or has intentionally attempted to misinterpret the reality of the people and the place in order to substantiate his fuzzy logic. He should also note that even Cooch Behar, which was annexed with Bengal in 1950 through the most notorious manipulations of the then Bengal Chief Minister Dr. Bidhan Ch. Ray, for which he is still considered as the most vicious villain by the indigenous people of Cooch Behar, was also never a Bengali dominated area till the language was forcefully imposed upon by the ruling regime once they reduced the Princely state of Cooch Behar into a mere district of Bengal. Hopefully, in future Mr. Chaudhuri would correct his facts especially of these regions and would abstain from making such public statements based on sheer speculation.
Yours etc.,
J. Prodhani
NEHU, Shillong
Manas Chaudhuri replies: I have no pretensions of being much knowledgeable about the history and culture of the people of Goalpara. In the course of my presentation at the symposium at Rynjah in Shillong on 13th September last, I made a mere passing reference to Goalpara to drive the point home that the Bengalees and the Bengalee culture are not “alien” to the NE Region. I reiterate that the Bengalees and most parts of the Northeast have a shared history. Nobody can wish away the historical fact that in 1874 when Assam was carved out of the erstwhile “Bengal Presidency”, the new Province constituted, besides Brahmaputra Valley and Khasi and Garo Hills, three Districts having a majority Bengali speaking population viz. Sylhet, Cachar and Goalpara. I googled to recheck my facts about the demographic pattern of Goalpara and this is what I found Wikipedia say:
According to 2011 Census, of the 10 lakh plus population of Goalpara, 4.41 lakh were Muslims and 3.14 lakh were Hindus together constituting over 70% of the local residents. Wikipedia further says that “main communities are Bengali Muslims and Bengali Hindus” and “the widely spoken language in Goalpara is “Goalpariya Bengali”…….If Wikipedia is wrong, so am I.
Muted whistleblowers
Editor,
Outbursts against the corrupt and unethical practices of Government officials, politicians, Rangbah Shnongs, Rangbah Dongs, etc, are seen and heard in many places. We feel and look good speaking against corruption and the corrupt, but it surely lacks effectiveness. Unless we have the guts to provide the identity of such perpetrators supported with evidences or proofs, our outbursts are futile. The generalisation of the scheme of things is but a safe maneuver. Generalisation encourages a person with the word “CORRUPT” tattooed across his/her forehead to say, “They ain’t talking ’bout me!”
Yours etc.,
Banphira Lang Basaiawmoit,
Via email
MPS main exams
Editor,
On 16th September the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) conducted the MPS examination in the subject of Economics. On getting the question paper the candidates were shocked to see only 5 compulsory questions carrying 60 marks each in Papers I & II respectively, leaving no choice for the candidates. This manner of setting questions reeks of laziness and utter disregard for the candidates . How can the MPSC set strictly only five (5) compulsory questions for an optional subject as tough as Economics and that too when there are 7 main units in the MPSC syllabus for Economics Paper I and 9 main units in Economics Paper II. After due inquiry about the other optional subjects it was found that it was only in the case of Economics that there were NO optional (choice) questions. Nowhere in India, not even in the civil service exams conducted by the UPSC has there been a case where all the questions of a particular optional paper have been made compulsory with no options. This is highly irregular and inconsistent on the part of the MPSC and it diminishes the chances of those who have opted for Economics as an optional Paper to clear the MPS exam 2014. Therefore, it would be desirable for the competent authority to look into the matter and perhaps conduct a re-examination in Economics Paper I and Paper II to serve the ends of justice and also to provide equal opportunity to all the candidates who had opted for Economics as one of their optional subjects.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request