Editor,
For the last few months, we have been seeing a venomous critter creeping and crawling across the pages of this newspaper: a wannabe analyst who seeks to force his ‘Two Veda’ (Dwivedi) myopic knowledge into our heads. It is not hard to find him as he like most of his companions from the North of the country are loud and always need to show-off. See, I just stereotyped the entire of North India as difficult and coarse. How does that feel? How do our Muslim friends feel when they see themselves painted black by narrow words? Does the presence of several Muslims in a particular part of town qualify it to be called “mini Pakistan”? Based on a religion, this Dwivedi chooses to narrowly define these people and, again, what’s so bad about Pakistan? At least they have lots of beef! If these Bangla immigrants/refugees are mini Pakistanis, then why did they break away from Pakistan in the 70s? One is playing a nonsensical game by imagining Islam to be ‘shi sur, shi dur’. Nothing ever is. My work in Delhi and the surrounding areas has shown this to me clearly.
Dwivedi has forgotten that he is not ‘of this place (Shillong)’ and he continually runs his mouth off about everything as though he has grown up within the culture and/or community of Shillong. He passes judgement like someone who is “local”. There is no Khasi clan with a Dwivedi surname when I checked last time, but maybe I am wrong. I know it seems narrow-minded to say such a thing but isn’t it equally narrow-minded to say these things about the Muslim community when one isn’t a member?Outsider perspectives are great but an outsider-insider one is best.
Why should these people (Muslims in Shillong) have to answer for all the crimes committed by trigger-happy Muslims in the name of Islam? I do not say “Hey, Brahmin i.e. Dwivedi why did you destroy Babri?”, “Hey, Brahmin, why did you kill Graham Staines?” I do not look at my Hindu or Muslim friends and think such things. I know there are bad people out there and they hide behind a lot of things – religion, political affiliations etc. Ideally we should be without religion but that isn’t the reality.So instead of imagining one billion people as monsters, be a little humble and look in the mirror first. If you want to see monsters, you don’t need to look very far.
Yours etc.,
Babet Sten,
Via email
Of PM’s swift moves
Editor,
I congratulate Prime Minister Modi for having made such a historical landmark to curb black money and corruption by demonetizing the present ₹500 and ₹1000 denominations and introducing new secured and improvised notes that shall be used henceforth. However, I am skeptical of whether this move of our PM will actually reduce black money in the country. Several cases of demonetization were recorded in the past years. In 1946 ₹1,000 and ₹10,000 denominations were demonetized and another was in 1978 where ₹1,000, ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 denominations were demonetized as an attempt to counter forgery. My view is that we are yet to become a cashless society. Perhaps, there is still a huge population without a bank account. Also various schemes of the government (viz. Jan Dhan Yogna) enable people to open bank accounts, of which the bankers themselves put a rupee or two, to show these accounts have money in them. This is not financial inclusion in the real sense. Also, it is important to distinguish the ‘flow’ of black money and the ‘stock’ of black money and assets that have been acquired illegally and which are disproportionate to known sources of income. These add up to a significant portion of wealth, contrary to the money that is invested in real estate, gold, jewelry and such other luxuries and properties.
Hence this move would not have any great impact, although people with stocks of black money or currency stored in unknown locations are going to be affected as they will have to have a valid ID and address proof to exchange the ₹500 or ₹1000 notes in the banks. But the core matter is whether or not the move will inconvenience ordinary middle class and poor Indians when they buy their daily needs. Besides, casual labourers working in homes or fields keep their savings in cash and they may or may not have access to bank accounts. A lot of the blue collar economy works on cash and the very poor are affected. People do keep cash in their homes (viz. ₹500 note) for small regular expenses and payments. Even merchants in commercial areas or local markets who have to deal with the abruptly declared non-legal tenders will find it difficult to adjust to the present situation. How will they pay other people for their things? This is something that needs to be thought of. Things implemented suddenly are not borne out of pragmatism, however, I hope that the exercise will be worth it in the end. Let us wait, watch and observe!
Yours etc.,
Mewan Pariat,
Bengaluru-77,
Rivers in Jaintia Hills
Editor,
Come November and the waters in the rivers of Jaintia Hills turn blue. It would be wise for the people residing along the river banks to net as much fish as possible and transfer them to ponds. If ponds are not there already, then dig with the help of JCBs, cover the bottom and sides with thick plastic sheets and fill with river water while it is still clean. Next summer when the water is clean again, transfer back some of the fish. If the rivers continue to turn blue, then transfer of fish should be done before November every year.
Yours etc.
D Rangad
Shillong -4