Editor,
I am surprised to note that whenever the KSU organizes rallies, public meetings etc., there is always tension and incidents of violence in Shillong city. Normal life and safety of the citizens is hijacked by this organization of and on. How long can we tolerate this menace? Is there any authority that would ensure our safety or are we supposed to live at the mercy of this group? I suspect that within the KSU there are disruptive elements who are trying to create instability in the society. I would suggest the security agencies to find out from the video clippings to identify those persons who created violence during the rally.
In this way the security agencies can go into the character and antecedents of those persons and their links to organized gangs, militant groups, anti-national or anti-social groups, etc. However, I also fail to understand as to why permission was given to the KSU to take a rally of that kind. In future, if such a rally is proposed by the KSU, the Deputy Commissioner should not grant permission for it within Greater Shillong area. Let them have their rally elsewhere at Langpih or Block-I Block II where they can burn the effigies of Assam ministers.
Yours etc.,
Kyntiewdor L Nonglait
Shillong -19
Bill passed in haste!
Editor,
It is disheartening to read of the controversial Garo Customary Bill which was passed in haste. It made us ask a lot of questions to ourselves. How can a few MDCs in the GHADC decide the future of millions of Garos? The Bill should have been widely debated and copies of the Bill should have been circulated to all MDCs, MLAs, NGOs, intellectuals, church leaders and citizens for their views so that the GHADC can decide on the Garo customary practices. Civil societies and clans also have the power to decide as to who can be considered a Garo. The Bill passed in such a manner is unacceptable to the Garos. How can a few MDCs decide on such an important Bill which is the life and soul of Garo identiy? These questions arise because a few MDCs under ex-CEM Denang T Sangma acted in haste and exposed their narrow- mindedness. They want to live in isolation in the present day world of globalization. The “cocoon mentality’ will not work and this sort of Bill will bring hatred, disintegration, division and bloodshed among Garos. The Bill is premature and not intellectually sound and was passed by a few MDCs (not all), who are not even aware of how to live and adjust themselves with the modern globalized society. President Donald Trump of the US signed an order to roll back the climate change agenda passed by former President Obama. Why can’t the new executive council in the GHADC do the same?
Yours etc.,
- Sangma
Shillong-l
Hindi not a national language!
Editor,
Your editorial, “Retain English” (ST, April 21, 2017) has rightly said that India boasts of unity in diversity and there is no substance in the argument that it should have one language. Hindi is not the language of Eastern, Southern and North East India. As a matter of fact, Hindi is just a regional language spoken in North India. It is not even the language of Western India. So, such a regional language must not be imposed in our country.
On being asked about his views on Hindi being the common language of India, Sri Aurobindo had said, “English will be all right and even necessary if India is to be an international State. In that case English has to be the medium of expression, especially as English is now replacing French as a world – language” (‘Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo’, p – 587).
Had we paid heed to the pragmatic views of Sri Aurobindo, India could have taken a big step forward towards national unity. The need of the hour is to review our language policy and to accept English without any hesitation as the common language of our country for the sake of national unity and practicality.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata