By Michael Makri
I am sure that even before you could complete reading this article many conclusions might have already surrounded your mind. That is fine! That’s obvious, because any one who reads, should and must also reflect, act and draw conclusions for further action. This is what I call a ‘revolution’ (not in a strict sense of the term as we understand in history). This is a ‘revolution’ or a ‘turn around’ for fundamental change at personal levels and its effects for societal change. But for this personal revolution to happen, each one must develop progressive thinking. So what is this progressive thinking that I am talking about? Let me state my point for the benefit of those who are reading this short article.
No doubt there are myriad problems in our state, in the country and in the whole world at large. Problems with political parties, problems with educational institutions, problems with corruption, problems with non-tribal (as far as it concerns with Meghalaya), problems with NGT, problems with roads and communications, problems with safe and drinking water, problems with civic sense of citizens, problems with ethnic clash, problems with safety of women and children, problems with morality, problems with relationship and the list is long. Can any of us solve these problems? Yes we can and personally I believe all these problems are man- made and so there are solutions to them. All we need to do is to develop a ‘progressive thinking’.
My problem with what is happening in our society is not about Congress and UDP or HSPDP or NPP. If we read the different parties’ vision and mission statement, all of them state that they are ‘totally committed to solve and to ease the problems of our society’. In my search for the most credible party of all the political parties in Meghalaya, I could not pinpoint a single one. The reason is obvious! You find it right there –‘We are committed for change and development’ is inevitably their resolution. Hence, I feel confident that all the political parties are THE BEST party.
The problem is again not with HNLC or GNLA or KSU or GSU or NEHUSU. All organizations and unions want the best for their society; liberation, freedom, peace, prosperity, harmony, progress, development etc., And who on earth would not want these? But do they have a road map for changing society or themselves and their behaviors?
My problem is also not with Tribals or Non-tribals or Khasis or Dkhars or Hynniewtrep or Hynniewskum. As far as my conscience goes they are all human beings created and crafted after God’s own image. All of them are decked in splendid beauty for the glory of our Creator. With exception to none – all are given so much gifts and talents though some ten others six and few may be one or two. The myriads of them that make a rainbow remind all of us that the world is not coming to an end so soon. But each of them manifests the many generations to come.
My problem IS therefore, our MIND SPACE! As I see it, OUR MIND is occupied with too many futile, useless, fruitless, negative and regressive thinking for so long. This is THE PROBLEM we need to collaboratively solve. We are in an age when we should be thinking and discussing about inventions and ideas instead of agonizing over meaningless issues. Hence arrogant words coupled with animal behavior emerge from the mouths of one politician against another, from one party against another and vice versa. For sure one organization will point dirty fingers at another and vice versa. In fact, this fight against tribal or non-tribal will always be an issue. Are we blind to see what is taking place in our society? We don’t need to shamelessly write them with facts and figures here.
Why can’t we have a progressive thinking instead? Why can’t our MIND SPACE be open to progress? Why can’t we discuss development and achievements in science, sports, education, health, industry, and infrastructures? Why not politicians and leaders have progressive thinking for the benefit of the society as it is written in the mission and vision statement of their political parties and not work for their personal gain? I can visualize the state of Meghalaya with only one political party discharging its role like the ‘Soti Juk’ of the golden days. Why not the different organizations and unions put to practice what is laid down in their rule of book? For whom are they fighting? Is it for their society or for other vested interests? I can assure you – millions will be following these organizations or unions in their fight for progress, development, peace, prosperity, etc… WHY? Probably these questions might pertain only to people like me. So what change will it effect?
That is why the media is not talking about it. That is why the subject of debate and discussions on development are not seen in our media. That is why the Congress or HSPDP or UDP or HNLC or GNLA or KSU or GSU or Tribal or Non-tribal or the sorts are not talking about it. We are busy narrowing down our mind space curtailing our own freedom to progressive thinking on larger issues. We are caught up with the ‘NOUN’ and we fail to learn the ‘PARTS OF SPEECH’ needed for the construction of a SENTENCE. How far can we go then? “Until all the coal in the mines are transported; until all the trees are cut, the forests destroyed and until the central government stopped sending generous fund for us” said my friend from Jowai. With out a second thought I added, ‘this is too soon’ and in fact our forests are gone, our coal mines are gone.
So, can we have a progressive thinking? Can our mind space be opened? Can we Meghalayans talk about it on our Facebook? Can we share about it on our twitter? Or Instagram? Discuss about it in editorial or columns of our newspapers? Debate about it in our TV channels? In the end the Congress or the BJP, the HSPDP or the UDP, the KSU or GSU, aren’t they tools for progress and development? The subjects of conversations pointed above are anti-development, and anything anti-development is anti-society at least for me. And hence we should shun them NOW.
I would like to see the Scotland of the East look better than the Scotland of the West. I want my Meghalaya to do better than Kerala in the next national games. I want Meghalaya to produce better scientists than APJ Kalam, since it is in this state that he breathed his last. I want to see Meghalaya more civilized than the most civilized country in the world. I want Meghalaya to be more innovative than Japan or China. I want Meghalaya be safer for women and children than Copenhagen or Denmark. I want Meghalaya be more opened minded than Canada. I want Meghalaya to be better than what it is today. And not worse – for god’s sake. And these can happen when we start Thinking Progressively. Else, we will all be wasting time doing something that is useless, futile, and negative. Think! Is anti-development what our future generations deserve? It is time we think progressively!