Editor,
The headline “Shillong Chamber Choir faces the music” and the picture of the choir (ST Mar 24, 2016) misleads the reader into concluding that the Choir is guilty of some misdeed. It is the Dept of Arts and Culture that is under procedural and financial scrutiny, but of course a headline saying that will elicit only a shrug, whereas to cast a slur on the high flying Choir will surely get much more attention. Most readers will be happy to see the clarification given by the Shillong Chamber Choir (ST Mar 25, 2016), but I am disheartened that one more time, a good initiative faces smear and innuendo. This a problem of our society and the media often plays to this gallery. We expect better from the most respected newspaper in the state. I am not privy to the facts of the case, but the content of the news articles leaves one in no doubt that the choir was sponsored in good faith and that the purpose of the funding was more than fulfilled. The Shillong Chamber Choir brings delight and pride to Meghalaya. We should nurture and protect our artists and musicians, rather than expose them to pious pettiness.
Yours etc.,
Glenn Kharkongor,
Via email
Christ championed cooperation and secularism
Editor,
Two of the teachings of Jesus Christ have become very relevant at present. The first is definitely his demarcation between God and government. According to Mark 12:17, Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. Here, Caesar means government. This is a clear message for a secular government which is not connected with any religious and spiritual matters. On the other hand, we need to be very cautious about not mixing up between “what is Caesar’s” and “what is God’s”. Had we followed this teaching, we could have avoided oceans of bloodshed and banished many Rasputins from enjoying political power. The second is his teaching, “Love thy neighbour.” This is a mantra for survival. Today, living in a society of “First Boys”, we are telling our children to be competitive and to forget the art of cooperation. But can anything survive without cooperation? If various components of our mobile phones start competing among themselves then we have to run to a mobile care shop. Cooperation instead of conflict is the key for survival of everything be it simple or complex machines or rural and urban societies. We should not aim for “neighbours envy,” but should try to be His pride.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata- 700110
Mortifying the synagogue of learning
Editor,
This letter is an outcome of shudder and indignity that I and many others like me feel at the current juncture. Reference here is of uncouth acts of the state machinery taking place in the Indian varsities. Food and water supply, electricity being cut off, frisking of visitors to the university, police beating students within the university premises and arresting them and virtually turning the campus into a war zone are all being done in the name of law. The question arises as to which law permits such appalling acts where people’s rights to basic amenities are deprived. If any action has to be taken against the protesting students then due procedures can be followed, but forcefully ending students’ protest is unacceptable. The fact that in India the police has entered the synagogues of learning to wrestle with students, is in itself an indicator of the nadir that has been hit. Universities across the globe have been the platform for debates, diverse opinions, and intellectual deliberations and in India today the very essence of higher education has been attacked by the use of force on the student community. At this stage through this esteemed paper I condemn the police brutality taking place on Indian varsity campuses. It is deplorable and unlawful.
Yours etc,
Piyashi Dutta,
Via email
Law must be stringently applied on rapists
Editor,
Apropos the article, “Is rape an instrument of extreme protest” by Patrica Mukhim (ST-March 25, 2016), one would find that hardly a day passes without a news-report on Rape. It is clear that rape is a sexual as well as cultural attack which has become a great social problem today. The negative social attitude towards the victims of such cases creates serious psychological problems and people look down upon a victim of rape, whereas a woman who has gone through such a traumatic experience needs social and emotional support. Public display of big hoardings only serves to excite the young minds. Laws alone cannot put an end to evils that are endemic in the social structure; the government can at least make some attempt to take its own enactments seriously. We need to focus on the fact that insufficient attention is paid to the prevention of rape by planners, administrators and law enforcement agencies. Law must demonstrate that it will come down with a heavy hand on offenders.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15