Editor,
Might I be so bold as to suggest that Mr Bhogtoram Mawroh’s response to the article Taking us back to a hoary past (ST Dec 12, 2014) is an attempt at contextualising the whole premise of the book, ‘Unruly Hills.’ Perhaps he does so because when Mukhim talks about a “hoary past” it seems to simplify the entire gamut of possibilities and outcomes discussed in the book.
However, the main point is if we want to critique John Kharshiing do we identify all our tribal institutions as his domain or an extension of his Politics? I hardly think so. They are bigger than he is and questions the writer raises about poverty and homelessness are not necessarily only because of them and their functioning. We have to look more keenly at the failures of the three branches of the modern day state as well. Again our predicament is a compound of problems not necessarily only of the “hoary Past” nor current times but of both working together. I believe in strengthening, reforming traditional institutions not the Grand Council of Chiefs. We must be wary of them because they might end up creating another hierarchy to replace the one they wish to dismantle. Something Karlsson warns us of as well in the book! What I took away from my interaction with Karlsson was his very sombre message about how the “tribal elite” are appropriating money, power and holdings. These are everywhere today within traditional village dorbars, grand councils, government departments etc. How we resist them is never mentioned and that makes the possibilities so ambiguous, so unruly but also hopeful and dynamic.
Yours etc.,
Avner Pariat,
Via email
Where is the Christmas spirit?
Editor,
Christmas has come and gone. The whole fortnight leading into this Christian festival saw downtown Shillong choc-a-bloc with cars. There was literal stampede in some of the shops are people grabbed the same garments. If you were not quick to decide which one to take you could lose what you liked to the restive customer. Is this what Christmas is about? Just buying, buying and more buying? And then comes Christmas eve (December 24). I could not remember Christmas being so noisy and the sky so smoky with crackers of very high decibels that could blow your ears apart. Who is the deaf one here? Christ the gentle saviour or our material driven, blinding and deafening cultures that are so unchristian? Then there are those who believe that Christmas is about emptying out all the liquor stores and drinking themselves silly even while they break the bottles everywhere. So when they are stoned it is not surprising that they are also tone deaf. Hence the need to play awfully loud music in their cars and really having it out! It’s a pathetic way to celebrate any religious festival and least of all Christmas.
The reason we have discotheques s because the place is sound proof and those who wish to dance to loud, obnoxious music until the wee hours of morning can do so without disturbing the peace. Sadly we are a society that pretends to be western without the wherewithal for the high life so there are families who shamelessly blare loud music and keep the entire neighbourhood awake. And no one seems able to tell them to shut up for there is a law that you cannot have loud music after 10 pm. But again, laws in this country and in Meghalaya in particular where most localities are beyond the purview of the law keepers, laws are made to be broken. Sometimes you wonder if policing is only within Municipal limits because you don’t get o see a cop’s face in several localities located beyond Shillong 3.
New Year is fast approaching and I am sure the noise polluters will get into the act and break the peace and I am also sure that no one will stop them from doing so. The old and infirm and the little children who shudder at the sound of a high decibel bomb must grin and bear. That’s what Christmas and New year is all about. We are a indeed a debased society that is only looking for an excuse to make a noise perhaps because we are afraid of the silence. How I wish the churches would preach more about the solemnity of silence!
Yours etc.,
B. R Nongrum,
Via email