Editor,
In 1864, Shillong became the headquarters of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills District in place of Cherrapunji . When the headquarters of the district were transferred to Shillong, “Babu Jeebon Roy was the constant companion , adviser and guide of Colonel Bivar in the acquisition of land , formation of the new town , alignment of roads and location of the Bazaar and residential quarters ” ( Memoirs of the Late Babu Jeebon Roy, U Khasi Mynta , Supplement , Jylliew , 1903 ). In 1874 , when Assam was separated from Bengal and became a new province ( Sylhet District was also included as part of Asam Province ) , Shillong was chosen as the headquarters of the new Administration on account of its salubrity and its convenient position between the Brahmaputra and Surma Valleys ( The Imperial Gazeteer Of India , Eastern Bengal And Assam , 1909 )
The administration of Assam Province was under a Chief Commissioner . The first census of Assam was conducted in 1881. The population of Shillong according to the census of 1881 , 1891 and 1901 was 3737 , 6720 and 8384 respectively
In 1905 , Bengal was partitioned and a new Province under a Lieutenant – Governor known as the Eastern Bengal and Assam Province was constituted in October , 1905 . The capital city of this new Province was Dacca, with Shillong as its summer sanatorium / capital . When the Partition Of Bengal was cancelled in 1911 , Assam again reverted to its previous status as a separate Province under a Chief Commissioner ( India Since 1526 , V . D Mahajan , pp. 236
Yours etc.,
A Lyngdoh
Umiam , Ri Bhoi
Shillong unsafe for women
Editor,
Apropos the article “Girl escapes from kidnappers’ clutches” (ST November 16, 2014) it is shocking that such a brazen attempt could be made to kidnap a young girl from the city. It is very obvious that this is the handiwork of those who have planned their nefarious activities in a well-thought out manner. If such be the case, our sisters and our daughters will not be safe anymore. What will befall them if they fall into the clutches of such criminals cannot be imagined. We must speak out and voice our outrage against such acts. Civil society must not remain silent. Police must make a vigorous attempt to track down the culprits and make sure that the city is a safe dwelling for our womenfolk and our children. Whatever be the grouse against the police force, in this area they must not fail.
Yours etc., ,
D Lyngdoh,
Shillong-8
Clampers paradise!
Editor,
Having been clamped myself while buying medicines from a pharmacy on the Laitumkhrah main road, I totally endorse what others have written about this problem. The Traffic Police is seen to be acting in an arbitrary manner without giving any thought to public welfare. The abrupt manner in which they frequently declare one-ways and no-parking zones is a source of constant irritation and inconvenience to commuters. Add to this the cordoning off of busy roads on the event of VIP events (including funerals), one gets the sense that our traffic policemen have a different agenda from that of public service. How else can one explain such thoughtless actions on a day to day basis? Even the most thick-headed police officer would realize that taking fines from people without allotment of designated parking areas in a place the size of Laitumkhrah amounts to a scam to enrich the departments coffers. One also fails to understand why the Rangbah Shnong has never taken up the issue of parking space with the Govt. Does he not care about such issues?
Edwin Lamare
Shillong-3