Editor,
Apropos the article of Patricia Mukhim and Dominic S Wankhar ‘s letter to the editor (ST April 7, 2017), I must express my appreciation for providing an insight into the issue flagged by the KSU viz. Uranium mining. To put into proper perspective, the anti-uranium mining issue in Meghalaya was first flagged by (Late) Hopingstone Lyngdoh former MLA and the former M.P candidate Rev. P.B.M Basaïawmoit, immediately after their return from Salzburg conference in Germany in 1992. They also addressed the press almost immediately on their return that same year, in the old premises of the Shillong Press Club. The stance of Hopingstone remained unchanged till his demise. The former KSU leaders and some NGO leaders took up the issue only much later by following Hopingstone and Pastor Basaïawmoit.
Till date, uranium mining remains a contentious issue and the general public in Meghalaya are still in the dark as to who to believe – the KSU and other conglomerates or the Government of India which mines uranium through the UCIL, about the safe and unsafe part of uranium mining. In this scenario it is very important that people in authority, independent scientists of repute, especially nuclear scientists, should come forward to deliver series of awareness programmes to the common people of Meghalaya to know whether uranium mining, as it should be mined till yellow cake stage in Meghalaya is really safe or unsafe. Without such clarity there is bound to be a lot of room for wild speculation, interpretation and false propaganda by various elements.
Coming to the sloganeering during the procession of the Khasi National Awakening Day some of which are not at all palatable and have seditious overtones and elements as pointed out by Dominic S Wankhar in his letter, slogans like “Indian by force” “Khasi by blood and Indian by circumstances or by co-incidence” etc do not augur very well and may sow seeds for sedition which will be fraught with great danger in the long run. Of course, the KSU activists have the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India but in doing so they have to be extra careful lest things get out of hand and may go the J&K way.
The other important thing is that in an occasion like this (the Khasi National Wakening Day), the KSU could have reawakened the Khasi race on many other burning issues that are affecting the Khasi race like the students’ problems, unemployment problem, farmers’ problems, poverty afflicting the Khasi race, landlessness of the majority Khasis, corruption in high places, the influx problem, the border issues, health facilities, crime against women and children and myriad other social and economic problems. Why is the students’ body silent on these critical issues facing the Khasi society?
Yours etc.,
Philip Marweiñ,
Shillong-2.
Norway’s happiness indices
Editor,
This is in response to Michael N. Syiem’s letter, “Norway vis-à-vis Meghalaya” (ST, April 12). The secret of Norway becoming the happiest country of the world in terms of World Happiness Index has aptly been reflected in just one sentence of Arve Johnson, the first managing director of Statoil, Norway’s biggest state owned company ~ “Utilise your resources in the best way for the good of the people, over the long term.” Indeed, Norway has given top priority to human development. It was at the top of the list of Human Development Index in 2015. And again in HDI 2016, Norway remains at the top. Norway shows the way that to make people happy; development should entirely be human centric in the best way possible.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Adverse influence of the West
Editor,
Apropos the “Anti Romeo squad” in U.P., I would mention that these sort of crimes are mainly due to lack of education, social awareness and ethical upbringing. We are all aware that our culture is one of the richest in the world but I am afraid that these values are on the verge of extinction which is not at all healthy for the society we live in. In our state women are comparatively safe and secure but, to maintain this we must insist on our rich cultural values. We also need to restrain ourselves from the western influences although everyone is at liberty and I do respect that but decency and social obligation is also important because independence has certain limitations. It is widely believed that wearing the latest fashionable outfit improves smartness and personality but unfortunately many a times it is embarrassing and also invite trouble. I do respect western culture but we need to copy reasonably good things not mere external symbols as these may be detrimental to the society and pose a threat to individuals’ safety.
Yours etc,
Krishnendu Deb.
Via email