Editor,
I read with keen interest the letter of Bawnes Mawrie titled, “Significance of Sohpetbneng for Khasi Christians” and Belbora Wankhar’s letter as the subject, in your publications dated February 10 & 17th 2017, respectively. The new interest in U Lum Sohpetbneng amongst members of the Christian community is indeed welcome.
Nevertheless the letters are based on certain flawed assumptions. While it is true that religion and culture are distinct concepts in theory, in practice the two mesh with each other harmoniously as is the case with all indigenous faiths. It is only when an alien religion seeks to impose itself on a particular culture that the dividing line between the two concepts is far from clear. For instance, we of the original Khasi faith have, for over three decades, welcomed the participation of our Christian brothers and sisters in our traditional festivals and dances, notwithstanding the fact that these festivals and dances are not exclusively cultural but have a strong religious component.
The case of U Lum Sohpetbneng, however, is entirely different. It lies at the heart of our connection and relationship with U Blei, U Nongbuh Nongthaw and is the epicenter of the Khasi Origin Story. As such the position of U Lum Sohpetbneng is exclusively religious. Let our Christian brothers first renounce the story of Genesis and Adam and Eve, as set out in the Holy Bible and embrace our traditional `Origin Story’ before attempting to lay any claims on U Lum Sohpetbneng.
Yours etc.,
B K Dey Sawian
Shillong-5
Arrive SAFE
Editor,
Harman Singh Sidhu is the man behind the PIL in Punjab and Haryana High Court that resulted in the Supreme Court judgment banning liquor sales on state and national highways from April A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur also directed that roads should be absolutely free from any distraction or attractions and all signage indicating presence of liquor vends. The court came down heavily on states for not paying heed to the Centre’s advice not to give license to shops selling alcohol along highways. Many states do not follow centre’s advisory since excise is a state subject and they would lose huge revenue. Instead, many states have increased the number of licenses. It is an irony that state’s counsels are acting like a mouthpiece for the liquor lobby. Is such an order necessary for safety and security of highway commuters? Road safety activists have welcomed the move. Bihar CM took the revolutionary step by prohibiting liquor. Also consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Manipur, Nagaland and Lakshadweep. Kerala is planning to do so in a phased manner. Will Meghalaya think over it now? India is reporting 1.34 lakh fatalities in road accidents every year, and nearly 70 per cent of them are due to drunken driving. The questions are now being raised on whether the mushrooming growth of liquor vends along the highways is responsible for loss of precious lives in an untimely manner. Deaths and injuries due to road mishaps must be addressed immediately.
Yours etc.,
Kamal Baruah,
Via email
Education system and teachers’ plight
Editor,
After 45 years of statehood teachers of Deficit and Adhoc schools do not have service rules, though promised many a time by our bureaucrats to look into the matter. As a result the teachers have to go through undue suffering at the hands of managing committee who make their own rules and regulations and use it as a whip on teachers. Schools receiving grants-in-aid from Government do not even have uniform leave rules nor uniformity in holidays. The outcome is that some school enjoy more holidays and others less. Why does the Government not notify and specify the actual dates for reopening and closing of schools? If it is done all schools will have common uniform rules. It is a sorry state of affairs that there is not even uniform pay for teachers, leading to frustration amongst teachers and demotivating them.
Lastly, under the “Right to Education Act” no school can collect capitation fees but it is unfortunate that certain schools still collect fees in the name of ‘development fee’ and other different heads. Ironically and more shocking is the fact that some schools do not give a receipt for the fees collected. It is therefore the duty of the Government to give serious thought to the social sector, especially education which is lagging behind and to scrutinize the prevailing anomalies for the betterment of education in Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
- Sohtun,
Via email