Editor,
I read the news about the spitting and effigy burning near the Secretariat (ST, Oct 31) with much dismay. On two counts, its ironic. The leader of the Synjuk Nongsynshar Shnong happens to be both a well known medical doctor as well as prominent leader of the so called ‘purer’ Seng Khasi movement or belief system. I wonder if this is what they taught them in medical schools and religious places. To burn effigies and to spit openly in public. Millions of germs must have spread on that day from not so clean mouths. Wonder too if in the next protest TB patients will be brought from the wards to do the spitting for more voltage and power. It may be mentioned that the 26,500 tonne steel Howrah bridge in Kolkata had severe corrosion simply due to bird droppings and human spitting through the years. The Government had to spent 7 lakh rupees every year just to clean it.
Yours etc.,
Sincerely
Rasputin Bismarck Manners
Kolkata
Who will win the Nongstoin seat?
Editor,
HSPDP has elected Mr Dios Jyndiang a driver cum personal assistant of (L) Bah Hoping Stone Lyngdoh to contest the upcoming by election to the Nongstoin seat . A Master’s degree holder in Education, but a total stranger to most of the people of Nongstoiñ , we don’t know how familiar he is with the idea of being an elected representative and how much he can deliver and contribute towards improving the political system. But we all know through media publications that he has been a close aide and was mentored by the legend (L)Mr Hoping Stone Lyngdoh. Ironically most party members do not favour him because they are doubtful about huis winnability. Elite groups are not in favour of Mr. Jyndiang. They ack confidence in him and don’t see him as the man who will one day lead but as a man who will follow eternally. On the other side we have Mr. Gabriel Wahlang who is a nominated MDC to the KHADC , a former Science teacher of St. Anthony’s School a former Youth Congress President and who has the backing of the party high command from both Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Mukul Sangma. The Congress Party in Nongstoiñ should learn a lesson for what has happened in the past elections because lack of unity may lead them to disaster and a nightmare. Gabriel Wahlang who hails from Pyndengrei, Nongstoiñ, is a son of the soil and stands a chance of winning but his main challenge is shortage of time to make himself known to the grass-roots voters. Common people barely know Mr Wahlang and he has to put in all his might to convince voters in his favour. This election isn’t about sympathy for the HSPDP party any longer because we have seen the internal disputes in the HSPDP which is disgraceful. The Congress Party as well is not in a proper form. It is losing its grip on its members who are hungry for power. It’s so damn pathetic! This election therefore is between Gabriel Wahlang vs Dios Jyndiang. It’s a contest between two personalities rather than between two parties, which is quite interesting. However the people of Nonstoiñ are still in a state of confusion and dilemma as to who to vote for. The Biblical story of David battling the giant Goliath is playing itself out in the Nongstoin poll battle. There is Jyndiang who has no social and political status but is educated and Gabriel Wahlang, a nominated MDC who has a huge army of supporters behind him. I personally carry no brief for either of them but I yearn to see change for the better in Nongstoin. May the people of Nongstoiñ choose the right man. Earlier the name of Mcmillan Byrsat the Lyngdoh of Nongstoiñ Syiemship had come up. He is seen as a an expert in customary practices; a man who genuinely stands by the principles of ‘Ka Jinglong U Khasi’. He is a very prominent member of the society and a member of Advisory committee of the KHADC. Nongstoiñ Hima already has its own written law which has been assented to by the Governor, which is why the local head men within the Hima Nongstoiñ can legally issue NOCs to their own people. Apparently Byrsat is the man behind it. He does not belong to any political party and nor has he applied for a ticket from any party. But it is intriguing as to why his name came up. Perhaps people see in him the potential to deliver and bring a change in the system of governance which we are most in need of in this present confused state of affairs.
Yours etc.,
Mickey Marweiñ. Pyndengrei
Nongstoiñ.