Editor,
It is very sad indeed that it should be necessary to write this rejoinder to the article by Sylvanus Lamare (ST Oct 13, 2014) purported to be a “Response…” to one of mine (ST Oct 11, 2014) because the writer seems to have missed the main points raised in my article. Among many others, the main points in my article are, the competence of the MBoSE (the Board) to change the curriculum, and, the disconnection between the issue of curriculum change and those of others like inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India (CoI). As a Khasi I am particularly interested and, therefore, concerned that my language has, so far, not found a place in the Schedule in spite of claims by some person(s) or groups of them of having attempted to get that place. So, in spite of my aversion to speak or write about things which I know little or nothing at all, I feel compelled to write this rejoinder.
I had referred, with due respect, to Dr. Sylvanus Lamare, for his expertise and considerable erudition and especially his vast knowledge about our language, and also for his position in the Sahitya Academy where he is now serving a second term as State Representative. It is reasonable to believe that a person with such long tenure as representative in the Academy would know intimately the ins and outs of the Academy. I had also mentioned the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) as a body that should be interested in the issue. As Sylvanus Lamare has pointed out in the article, it is not only the KAS but the entire Khasi community’s that should be involved in the “fight” for our language. So, it was expected that people of our community who are so closely associated with the hub of the issue, would share their experiences with the rest of us, which is what I had expected that Sylvanus Lamare would do. However, the article had nothing to show that he had got the point. Instead, he laments about the Board’s (MBoSE) insensitivity to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 which, according to him, would tend towards making vernacular a medium of instruction at all levels of education.
In the article, it appears that not having vernacular as a medium of instruction at all levels is an obstacle in the process: it would have been better to just enumerate the criteria to be met, even without further details. His claim that vernacular is a medium of instruction at all levels in some states is debatable. So, the article is not really a “Response…” to mine as the caption of his article would make it appear to be. If it is a response we would have been told whatever criteria there may be that present such unsurmountable obstacles in the way that our language has to traverse to reach the ultimate goal of a place in the Schedule.
In my article I did not make any comparison between English and any of the MILs but, the writer has done that, which is out of context. It seems to me, as a reader of that article, that the writer does not really want our language to be placed in the Eighth Schedule!
It is not my wont to place myself in a position to cross swords with any one, least of all with eminent celebrities and scholars who are way above me in learning; but, I won’t let slip a chance to point out their failures and flawed argument
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
What expressway this!
Editor,
When Eric Martin the lead singer of Mr.Big was asked to describe the experience of his journey from Guwahati to Shillong by media persons the first time he visited Shillong, he aptly described the journey as a rock and roll ride. Seven years on we still have to go through that same experience while travelling from Guwahati to Shillong and vice versa. Let’s put aside the blame game being advanced by the parties involved for the delay in the completion of the Shillong-Jorabat expressway and let’s focus on an aspect that can only be described as utter negligence or simply put it a “Don’t care attitude” on the part of the company undertaking the construction of the project. One can contest the claim by the NHAI that almost 76 percent of the project is complete but the one thing that irks almost everyone is the gap that exists between the different layers of the road. When we jump from one level to another of the layered road it could literally break your back
since proper sloping has not been done to ensure that the transition is a smooth one. Every now and then you have to go through these bumpy rides which at times can even cause you to hit the ceiling of the car you’re travelling in. All we’re asking from the Company undertaking the project is to spare a thought for the elderly, the sick, the elderly who are sick and the healthy too who have to go through such rough experiences while travelling through the so called, “Shillong-Jorabat Expressway.”
Yours etc.,
Gary Marbaniang,
Via email
Where has the transparency gone?
Editor
The Police Department was scheduled to recruit armed branch constables and sub Inspectors, this year especially for tackling insurgency in the state. With regards to the selection process the police department under the leadership of its Ex- DGP ( N Ramachandran) had initiated progressive reforms to make the selection process fair and transparent by immediately putting up the results of the Physical test and the written examination on its website, besides providing the answer keys enabling the aspirants to have a look at their own performances. This is a commendable effort and candidates who underwent the selection process had regained faith in the system. Each candidate could check out his own scores and those of his/her colleagues. This system had prevented any tampering of results by unscrupulous elements. This example set by the Police Department with regards to the selection process should have been emulated by the MPSC to ensure 100% transparency.
However, this year, although the last date for interview for the above post was September 12, the results have not yet been declared. This has cast doubts in the minds of many aspirants about the fairness of the process. Can the Police Department explain this delay? The Department should not veer from the path it had set for itself after having made tremendous progress.
Yours etc.,
Names withheld on request