Editor,
Through this small message in The Shillong Times, I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to all my friends, wellwishers, relatives and acquaintances, who have sent messages of congratulations on the recent conferring of “state icon” award by the Election Commission of India on January 17, 2016, in New Delhi, and also the bestowing of the “Tirot Singh” award by the Govt of Meghalaya which will be formally conferred on 26th Jan 2016. My special thanks and appreciation to all those involved in judging me worthy of the prestigious awards, especially the Additional Chief Secretary, Govt of Meghalaya in charge of the Election Department and the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
Yours etc.,
Headingson Ryntathing,
Via email
India fragmenting?
Editor,
With each passing day, intolerance is increasingly engulfing the Indian society. Individuals forwarding cartoons or cracking jokes are promptly arrested! No qualms in killing intellectuals who dare to protest against any rabid ideology and the dietary habits of certain communities have also come under threat! Is India a democratic country or going the suicidal Taliban way? Moreover, the Indian polity is scandalously being fragmented on the lines of religion, caste and language.
Though the politicians are engaged in such dirty games, it must also be remembered that they are merely exploiting the fissures that lie deeply embedded within the society which has again been proved by the suicide of the Hyderabad student who happened to be a Dalit. Mahatma Gandhi is certainly a man to be proud of, but Indians simply hold no moral right to pay glowing tributes to him. Reality has proved that Indians are eminently capable of desecrating his ideal of Ahimsa. Thus introspection is the only meaningful mode of celebrating Republic Day.
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee
Kolkata -114
We should be grateful!
Editor,
In his letter, ‘Should we be grateful?’ (ST Jan 23, 2016), Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra had criticised the earthquake predictors for spreading rumours regarding possible earthquakes. He says that the aim of the earthquake predictors is to strike fear among the people of the North East and the area surrounding the Himalayas. Why would they even do that? What’s their loss or gain? Sanbeer says that havoc can be created by simply posting rubbish on social networks. Well, I think that there are more positive than negative people on social networks. I don’t think that we’re living in so bad a time that people have lost their senses. If there is one person who aims to spread rumours with the help of social network, then there will be at least ten who will aim to neutralize the rumour. Also, I still believe that a lot of study and research is involved in predicting earthquakes. This includes the study of the movement of tectonic plates. The seismologists have predicted the earthquake after studying the movement of tectonic plates. They have not ‘shot an arm in the air’. Sanbeer has said that rubbish is meant to be cleaned. The statement is true but not when we relate to a big mass of people. Sanbeer might be having some bad personal experiences regarding rumours and thus, he is criticizing the seismologists. I don’t see why he should vent his anger on the earthquake predictors. By making such statements Sanbeer is only negating what could possibly be a real warning.
Yours etc.,
Pratham Sharma,
Via email