Editor,
I have read with great interest the news reports, articles and the letters which have appeared in The Shillong Times regarding pilgrimages made to Lum Sohpetbneng by the believers of Khasi traditional religion and the Christian religion. There is nothing wrong in this. In fact this very good because they go there to pay homage, pray and worship the one real God, the Almighty, the author and creator of heaven and earth and all creation. It is right and just to worship the Almighty in spirit and in truth. If other Khasis who may belong to other religions and want to make a pilgrimage to Sohpetbneng to pray and worship the one true God and not to commit any sacrilege, it is good, right and just. Pilgrimage to Sohpetbneng is after all, is not the exclusive right of the Khasi believers of the Khasi traditional religion; it is also for the Khasis who are believers in Christianity and other religions. The Khasi belief in Lum Sohpetbneng is after all, a mythological belief.
Yours etc.,
Plilip Marwein,
Via email
Buses choking roads
Editor
This is to bring to the notice of all concerned that buses hired by NIT, Shillong to ferry students to and fro its temporary campus at Bijni Complex, Gordon-Bhagyakul chokes the narrow road at regular intervals from the morning till well past late evening. Approximately a dozen buses ply to and fro on this narrow road (on which small cars barely manage to pass) throughout the day causing constant inconvenience and danger to the residents/ motorists of the locality. Besides, the pollution caused by these buses in a residential area is appalling. The concerned authorities may kindly take steps to ensure that these buses do not ply in a residential locality, and alternative location(s) be identified to drop/pick up the students.
Yours etc.,
Mohitosh Chakravarty.
Via emai
Noise pollution
Editor,
Noise has become an unavoidable part of human life. We encounter noise emanating from various sources, such as, vehicle horns, loudspeakers, musical shows, yelling/ loquacious neighbours, emergency/VVIP vehicles and much more, which are too many to mention. It is inconceivable to think of a day without noise until we confine ourselves to the wilds and nature amidst noises of the birds alone. We tend to get disturbed by noises that we encounter on a daily basis as it tends to strike an imbalance in our mental and physical composure. I remember recently as I was walking on the Howell Road (Laban Main Road), I was literally bombarded by very loud music which emanated from a car that zoomed past without caring for the pedestrians and the elderly. One wonders what wisdom these goons on wheels derive with their callous show. I recently stayed with a relative at Laban Last Stop area. Ironically, I found a saw mill operating adjacent to Longkmie Gas Agency and the whirring noise of the wood dressing machine which started as early as 7 am thereby disturbing the morning tranquility of the nearby residents. I want to ask the civic authorities and district administration here how they can allow such a noise polluting mill, firstly to operate in a residential area and that too from the wee hours. Has commercialization become so important for this saw mill that it does not even care for those who are praying, meditating, studying, exercising etc., in the morning time. Similarly, the residents of Nongmalki and Rilbong zigzag are equally disturbed by the vehicles parked by the roadside and play lousy music over “honey” and “girls”. Who is going to stop the “infamous guesthouses” – that are mushrooming in every nook and corner of the city and which for many has become the panacea for unemployment – from playing lousy music to the flesh trade. If Meghalaya Police can order these guesthouses to install CCTV for security reasons then it is the duty of the same police department to also order to maintain order while playing music,since by obtaining a license to operate they have not gained absolute right over the entire locality. The city police have failed in many spheres. Let us see if it can succeed in this regard. Yours etc.
A Lyngdoh
Shillong – 4
Weeding out Corruption
Editor,
This refers to your report “Collective effort needed to stop Corruption:CM” (STMarch 17, 2017). Corruption has become such an integral part of our day today life that it has become very difficult to eradicate it. Today, we wish to have more luxuries and more comfort even at the cost of our integrity and moral values. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. Good governance cannot function unless and until the government itself is firmly committed to the task of the weeding out dishonest and corrupt officials, irrespective of rank and status. Integrity plays an important role in any organization. Without dedicated and honest employees, an organization cannot improve its performance and achieve all round growth. We should do our best with full devotion, honesty and integrity. Time has come to improve our system, make transparent policies for good governance in public administration and sincerely and effectively implement them.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15