Editor,
“The Great Minds of India” ,a book by Sri Salil Gewali is a compilation of the thoughts of the prominent philosopher of the world. This is an excellent set of quotations that illustrate how highly great thinkers from all over the world d valued Indian spiritual culture and how it transformed their lives. The compilation is simply outstanding. His book reveals how the Upanishad and the Indian classics transformed the thinking of many western thinkers. This book also communicates the great impact of Indian wisdom on the great thinkers throughout history. It has shown the impact of the ancient thought and wisdom on prominent intellectuals and influential people whose contributions to the world are immeasurable. One of its contributions is to place these related impacts in one book so that comparative studies on the impact and thought can be made. No one can deny the vast expanse of eternal wisdom from beautiful Mother India.“
These are some of the comments made by prominent thinkers and philosophers of the globe. Even our own fellow Meghalayan Fabian Lyngdoh has commented on this book saying, “it is a laboriously compiled booklet wherein the author has compiled the sincere confessions of the great personalities of the world. This book is an eye opener to the Indians who have lost interest in anything that is traditionally their own. This compilation is outstanding in itself.”
Mr Salil Gewali took lot of trouble to compile this book and did intensive research. This is a piece of research works. Such in-depth research works would have been properly rewarded in the western countries and might be considered for conferring Doctorate of Philosophy Degree, although honorary.
Sadly, in India, the universities simply neglect such valuable and lasting research works. Mr Gewali deserves to be conferred with Honorary Ph. D. Degree for his marvelous works. I appeal to the North Eastern Hill University and Martin Luther Christian University based at Shillong to confer Salil Gewali with the Honorary Degree of Philosophy.
Yours etc.
B.B.Chettri
Shillong -2
Empty promises?
Editor,
The IBDLP or in short the Integrated Basin Development Program and Livelihood Programme which was launched with much fanfare by the Chief Minister sounds enticing for prospective entrepreneurs. But in the light of the NGT ban on coal mining how much impact has the Programme made in terms of offering alternative livelihoods? People in large parts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills continue to live in abject poverty. Till date there is not a single project impact analysis or assessment made on the various components under IBDLP. I would like to point out that in an awareness meet organised by the officers of IBDLP they encouraged the local population to register and take up any income generation activity with Government support. I was informed that a few aspiring entrepreneurs who had registered at the Basin office in Saipung Block have yet to receive a single phone call leave alone the letter regarding their enrollment in their chosen area or trade. Such tall promises and big talk of projects should be realistic with action and not fool the poor with false promises. Hope the bureaucrats who are driving the Programme at all levels realise that they need to be with people at the village level and not in the four walls of their cosy offices.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3