Editor,
I was filled with pain to read a report in your daily captioned, “City based school bars students from appearing final exam” (ST Nov 25, 2015) whereby three siblings had to bear the brunt of their widowed mother being unable to pay the tuition fees. Like many others who read it, I only wished but did nothing which could help these students. Then came another report the very next day, “Unidentified man pays school dues, pupils sit for exams,” (ST Nov, 26, 2015). This brought a smile on everyone’s face. There are no words to describe such wonderful people who feel the joy of helping others and expect nothing in return. In fact they even don’t want any credit for doing good but just want to be silent workers (I would call them so) who would do anything and everything, day and night so that mankind experiences the bond of Love. On behalf of all the people who are connected with this news, I applaud and thank this anonymous HERO for his/her wonderful and commendable gesture. I am sure this will motivate many other Good Samaritans in future irrespective of the instability prevailing all around the world. “Happiness lies not in possession of wealth but in utilizing it for the benefit of the needy. Feel the Joy of Giving”
Yours
etc.,
Kh. Prem Singh, Shillong-14
Fantastic fanaticism,
Editor,
The negative reaction of some people on what Amir Khan said is a proof enough of growing intolerance in our country. Some mobs have jumped on the bandwagon to brand him as a traitor though he actually condemned Hindu as well as Muslim fanaticism in equal terms. He said,” I’m very clear that a person who is killing innocents is not a Muslim. He may claim to be a Muslim but we should not recognise him like that. He is a terrorist and should be recognised as a terrorist.” This statement should have been highlighted to get the message loud and clear to those who have a soft corner for ISIS. In answering the question of how to weed out the menace of ISIS, US President Barrack Obama has rightly pointed out that this should come from the Muslims themselves. It is only they who can quarantine the headstrong, fanatics. Unfortunately but quite naturally the Hindu extremists have failed to read between the lines of the statement of Amir Khan. It is natural because rabid Hindu and Muslim brigades complement each other as the one cannot survive and grow without the other. They cannot stand secular ideals. Divide by hatred and rule by spreading fear is the name of their game.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De, Kolkata
The Aamir Khan episode
Editor,
The world famous Indian actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao are in the news for the wrong reasons. Afraid to live in India, Aamir Khan’s wife wants to leave the country. Under similar situation, my beloved wife did not stay in her and my place of birth and made me leave my near and dear ones because the Home Minister of our State (a BJP man from my church) asked me to either stop writing in the newspapers on matters that hurt the religious sentiments of the people or find a safer place to live and write from. My story goes like this: An organization of a particular religious community filed a criminal case against me in the Indian court of law for hurting the religious sentiments of a particular religious community. I won the case in the High Court as I was found not guilty. Immediately after that my family and I started receiving death threats. For the sake of my family’s safety and security, I now live at a distant place, far away from my loved ones. I am ready to go to any place God takes me but will not go where people send me (be he the Home Minister or PM of my beloved country) against the will of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God or Allah (of the Arabic Bible) or Ishwar (of the Hindi and Urdu Bibles).
Yours etc.,
Omar Luther King
DELHI 110034
Smart CityShillong
Editor,
Are we ready to convert Shillong- a Smart City. I have my own doubts looking at the present scenario of the state. We have not been in a position to make Shillong a role model like Gangtok the capital of Sikkim. The administration has not been able to curb the habits of the people through awareness programmes as well stern actions against the violators. The following few steps should be taken for reforms. 1. Total ban on the use of plastic carry bags/bottles etc., 2. Total ban on smoking on the road. 3. Total ban on littering on the road. 4. Total ban on the hawkers. 5. Total repairs of the roads without pot- holes anywhere. Only laying of tiles on the footpaths will not make Shillong a smart city. Recently I read in the news that Shillong is declared as one of the dirtiest cities of Eastern India and felt sorry and ashamed. This was not the case 20-30 years ago. How many governments will be required to make the city smart? At present the State Government , MUDA, District Council, Shillong Municipal Board, Syiem of Mylliem are at loggerheads and no solution seems forthcoming. If the same situation continues about establishing the supremacy of one agency of Shillong city, no improvement will take place and it will be a far cry for the dream to come true. If we are really sincere in making our city smart then like- minded people should come forward and have a brainstorming session to sort out the problems. There is no dearth of intellectuals and they can really throw light on the issue to fulfill our dreams.
Yours etc.,
SL Singhania,
Via email