Editor,
Almost on a daily basis, we see reports of violence against women. It is quite sickening to glance through such news from day to day. Rape cases and murder of women and young girls have become so rampant in our State that one wonders where have we come to or whither are we going. Our society which is characterized by great respect for women and where women play a decisive role in society, seems to be drifting into moral bankruptcy. The people known for their great and admirable code of moral conduct “kamai ia ka hok” (earn righteousness) and possessing an enviable characteristic “tipbriew tipblei”, is gradually losing hold of its basic ethical foundation. In the last ten years, the graph of violence against women has shot up alarmingly. It is time for the community to sit down and evaluate itself. It is evident that this moral paucity has been caused by two factors:
Firstly, the negative values learnt from the media which often projects women in poor light and objectifies them as means for a man’s sexual gratification. The fact that so many innocent women/girls are raped and killed from time to time, demonstrates this sort of mentality in males. Undoubtedly, this is a case of moral deviancy in a community. Man is always motivated by an ideology and if he imbibes a negative ideology his actions will consequently be evil. The media today abounds in such harmful ideologies and the uncritical youth consume them and then what follows is evil intent and malicious acts.
Secondly, the generational and emotional distance from the traditional values. The emerging generation in most cases is unaware of the rich moral heritage of a community. Ignorance about it leads to indifference and perhaps to no loss of love. As the saying goes “how can we love something that we do not know.” It is lamentable that the youth of today have become highly oblivious of the past heritage be it cultural or moral. In this manner, a sort of moral vacuum is created in their life which is easily filled in by the cheap media propaganda of today.
The solution to this evil lies not in reactive measures but in constructive approaches. It is useless to arrest and punish the offenders because results have shown that there is no abatement of crime. This problem must be tackled at its root. Education and formation are a must and the only way we can halt this phenomenon. Education and formation should start first in families corroborated by schools/colleges, the Church and other religious institutions. It is unfortunate that the institution of kñiship has collapsed and with it comes moral weakening. As of today, the parents have a greater role to play in the moral education of the children. Today’s parents have an additional task of educating children in the use of the media. Since the media has become so easily accessible to youth (TV, internet, mobile etc), there is every danger that they misuse it. Thus parents and caretakers should pay attention to this growing menace. Parents today can no longer be media-incompetent but they should learn the basics of it so as to be able to guide their children and also control them in the use of media. Educating youth in the traditional cultural and ethical values is of immense importance. The younger generations should not lose sight of the rich heritage of the past. The Jewish community is an example for us, for they keep on transmitting the tradition to the emerging generations without fail even up to this day. We have a very rich and sound tradition of ethics and morals which we should transmit to posterity.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
Sorting out Shillong’s traffic mess
Editor,
As you are aware traffic congestion has become part of daily life for Shillongites and it is resulting in great inconvenience. In this connection, I would draw attention of the concerned authority for immediate examination of the following suggestions:
- Increase frequency of SPTS buses. 2. Cover all localities. 3. School bus compulsory (Engage SPTS buses). 4. Different school timing for set of schools. 5. Identification & strict implementation of embarkation and disembarkation point for public transport. 6. High parking fees in commercial areas.
I also appeal to the Shillongites to restrain from indisciplines driving and obey traffic rules as this may also help ease traffic movement to a reasonable extent.
The above suggestions are made considering present infrastructure of Shillong but, for days to come more measures are to be adopted like widening of roads , construction of flyover, construction of parking lots etc. as numbers of vehicles are adding to Shillong roads daily.
Yours etc,
Krishnendu Deb.
Via email
Where there’s fire, there’s smoke
Editor,
Apropos the report your esteemed daily had carried regarding the fire tanker at Nongrim Hills catching fire, being a resident of Lower Nongrim Hills, I personally feel I must first laud the efforts of the petrol tanker driver who had the presence of mind and courage to get into the tanker and move it to a distance. Not only did he move the tanker but he also risked his life by opening the lids of the tanker (as per reports of the first witnesses to the fire) which perhaps prevented a blast. This speaks volumes of the employees both working and hired by the proprietor of the petrol pump. Further, that the petrol pump is located in a junction Pohkseh-Lumshngain- Nongrim Hills, is a fact that has gone unnoticed by your reporter for regarding the No objection certificate granted by the Dorbar Shnong of Nongrim Hills neighbours had to give consent. An event such as the above was not anticipated by the Dorbar, since many petrol pumps which are in fact closer to residential areas do exist in our city. To cite a few examples the petrol pumps in Fire Brigade, Jail Road, Dhanketi, Mawlai and many more. Therefore, to point blank criticize the Dorbar Shnong of Nongrim Hills only is uncalled for. I would also like to point out here that the Dorbar Shnong and residents of Nongrim Hills have shown their preparedness for any disaster, be it this fire or maybe an impending earthquake by coming out in numbers to voluntarily assist and help out. Kudos to the Dorbar Shnong and residents of the adjoining localities! I personally salute you.
But what worries me is the attitude of onlookers, some of whom came to Nongrim Hills to capture the incident on their smart phones. In fact some drove all the way, gathered to watch but not to lend a helping hand. There are of course those who spread panic when in a situation like this we require to be calm. But then where there is fire, there’s sure to be smoke.
Yours etc,
Amanda Basaiawmoit,
Via email