Editor,
Many letters have been flooding your esteemed daily lately, expressing indignation and condemnation for a senseless bandh called by a banned outfit (that too, through a virtual voice) on the 2nd October. To call for a bandh (or any other kind of public disturbances) during a religious festival is clearly wrong, and smacks of gross insensitivity and disrespect for the rights and feelings of others. As a Christian (though falling far short of Christ’s tenets many times), I too would like to voice my strong disapproval and condemnation of the same. Surely, as Christ reminded his disciples, we are called to “do unto others as we would like them to do unto us?” What is disheartening to me, however, is the silence and apathy of the Church to this, and many suchlike issues pertaining to society. Barring a few individual Christian voices, the Church as a whole seems woefully silent. Surely, one of the many roles of the Church is to be the voice of truth in the society – to be at the forefront in speaking up for what is right and just, and by that same logic, to speak out fearlessly against all that is evil and wrong. The Church is never meant to be a closeted institution, but one that reaches out to the world through proactive examples and actions. If we, as the body of Christ, take this responsibility seriously, perhaps, the world would have been a much better place. It is not too late, however. We can still strive to do our bit to make a difference in our society. After all, we are called to be “the salt of the earth”, and “the light of the world”.
Dr (Mrs) Gayreen Lyngdoh,
Shillong-4
Secular India?
Editor,
Bandhs in Khasi and Jaintia Hills during Durga Puja come to us as no surprise. Even during last year the Durga Puja celebration was disrupted by Pro-ILP movement and the killing of a businessman in broad day light. The whole Pro-ILP movement vitiated the peace and communal harmony of the state. Why this happens only during Durga Puja and for how many years will it continue? The steps taken by the state government are archaic and obsolete. This bandh should have been condemned by the state government as well as by the NGOs. Had this bandh been called by some lunatic groups in the remote parts of the country, the bandh would have been condemned by one and all unequivocally. Is secularism confined to those states where Hindus are in majority?
Yours etc..
Satyajit Deb and Manna Paul
Confrontation not the snswer
Editor,
Apropos the letters to the editor (ST 2.10.2014) of Mewan Pariat and Leo Kharsati, on the subjects ‘Paying Obeisance to militants’ and ‘Any real leaders around? Speak up or forever hold your tongue!’, I can understand the anger but please join us and come to Ground Zero to see the real situation. Innocents are branded terrorists, arrested and tortured by police. Youth are getting their jobs taken away from right under their noses, poverty is on the rise and so are prices rise of essential commodities, health care etc., thereby affecting the common person. We see much destruction of the soul, the mind, the body, the environment, water sources, air etc..All these have their own Departments but the officials are steeped in corruption. Please come out to fight the system then you will realize what a mess it is and we are sitting on a time bomb about to explode. There are more than 100 acts of the State that are not in order and are not in Official Documents but in plain paper. In addition to that we have terror staring at us from militant threats (seems like someone in Government wants us to concentrate on militants while we brush aside the rampant corruption which is giving rise to more and more militant groups). Many youths from many poor families are forced into joining these groups. By condemning them I will not be doing any good. We should instead lead them to the path of peace. A tooth for a tooth will not lead to sound solutions. As a Social Welfare State it is the duty of the Government to see that justice is delivered to everyone equally but this is not done and many are led astray due to weak minds. The rule of law is also deliberately abused by those in power. The powerful get away with everything while the common man only faces the raw end of the law. Through this letter I would also appeal to the business community to stop giving bribes and to be genuine in their businesses and to stop all forms of illegality. Genuine ones do not pay as their business is clean, but we are aware that many traders do pay monthly to Politicians, Officials, NGO’s, militants, as they (Traders) are conducting illegal trades. This promotes acts of terror which people face. Business people indirectly finance the terror, where many youth are used, paid money and are then given directions to indulge in illegal acts. We do not want to see a battle field where innocents die but want to see reaping fields where everyone can survive in mutual accord and in peace and love. There should no longer be leaders, but team work, as it is the people who should rise to demand what is good for their children’s future within the realms of justice, without having to harm the identity and cultures of others. Battlefields have caused death, sorrow, and agony to many while a few benefited. Disruptions cause loss of Government revenue and leads to corruption which is the root cause of all violations, and the birth of militant groups.
Yours etc.,
Agnes Kharshiing,
Via email