Editor,
Apropos the letter by AS Syiem (“Who is against railways?” ST 24/6/17) which is a response to my letter (ST June 22, 2017), it sounds like a government mouthpiece. With due respect to Syiem whom I thought was a gentleman (an academician) and who would not so easily give in to sweeping statements about catholic priests or anyone for that matter, my perception about him after reading his letter has shifted from respect to pity. To say that we priests do not know the socio-economic pulse of the people or their problems, is the most stupid statement I have heard from an academician. Does he know that catholic priests visit the rural areas and are in touch with poor people more than he does or any government officer does? Does he know that the Catholic Church has got more schools and dispensaries in the rural areas than any other religious groups or the government for that matter? Does he know that the undersigned has a pastoral care of 8 villages and he is not an armchair theologian or academician? Does he know that the undersigned’s opinion about the negative impact of railways is not subjective but is based on his conversations and discussions with many persons and groups?
When I speak about improving the Shillong airport and road connectivity, it is with the idea of improving tourism (that’s the reason why I support the idea of the CM about a railway from Shillong to Sohra). Syiem himself will have to admit that tourism is the only strong economic opportunity we have since Meghalaya is not an industrialized or agricultural state. I think Syiem is not sincere if he still thinks that railways will not increase influx into the state. Even a common man without much education understands that. Let Syiem know that the Church has always been on the side of the people of the place and if the Khasi people (who are just a grain of sand in the huge population of India) are in real danger of being outnumbered, should the Church keep quiet and watch the slow extinction of a community? Did not Jesus himself side with the tax collectors, the Samaritans etc. (who were minority groups) against the domination of the majority Jewish high class? I think Syiem should understand that the right of self preservation is a universal right and those who try to do that (of course not through violence) should not be branded as ethnocentric. To conclude I must say that Syiem is guilty of defaming the Catholic Church and the catholic priests. If he is truly a gentleman, he should apologize for such demeaning statements.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
Many groups are against Railways
Editor,
Apropos the letter by AS Syiem ‘Who is against Railways’ (ST June24, 2017) in response to the letter by Barnes Mawrie, ‘We need roads not Railways’ (ST June 22) I would say that both are equally correct because both letters speak of the benefits to society in different ways. Syiem has stated that Barnes wants Airport at Umroi to be upgraded and not railways, and added that only someone like Mawrie can afford air travel. Personally I agree with Mawrie that we need roads not railways. Roads in our state have turned from bad worse. When I was coming from Mizoram last winter and when we reached Meghalaya-Assam border one of the passengers said ‘I had never traveled in any road in India that is worse than the Meghalaya road. I tried to defend my state by saying that this is a National highway and not under the state government. Likewise I had a chat a number of tourists in Mawlynnong and Cherrapunji and all of them speak of the need to improve the road condition in our state. John F. Kennedy in his address to the public once said, ‘American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good’. Therefore the main concern of Mawrie is to develop the roads first and not to enforce the railways without improving the road condition in the state. I believe Syiem knows the road condition of Sonapur in East Jaintia Hills District. Several times newspapers have reported of road accidents in this particular area. Just last year one night super fell into a deep gorge and many innocent people lost their lives. This road is very difficult to travel especially during rainy seasons. And this is supposed to be National Highway 44! I also believe that Syiem is aware of the three lists (Union, State and Concurrent) which is in the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution. Hence, National Highways and Railways are directly sanctioned by the central government. The NH 44 linking East Jaintia Hills to Cachar district of Assam has deteriorated with time. Hence I would agree with the statement of Mawrie that we need roads first before railways. However, I also agree with Syiem that railways will make the commodities coming from outside the state much cheaper. How many railway stations in India are clean? Just this month (5th June) we celebrated World Environmental Day and many schools and villages took active part in cleaning, planting trees in different areas of the state. We have seen articles, letters to newspaper that Shillong is losing it’s fame of being the Scotland of the East and the city itself is dirty. Just imagine if we have a railway station in Shillong!
It is probably because of these reasons that many pressure groups like KSU, HNYF, FKJGP etc are against the implementation of railway connection in our state. Just the other day the newspaper reported that Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, P.S Dkhar gave permission to some pressure groups to protest against the railways in the state capital. Therefore for AS Syiem to ask who is against railways is totally wrong, when many KSU leaders are being arrested by the police everyday allegedly for throwing petrol bombs at different public offices in the state. This happens because they are protesting against the implementation of the railway project in the state. I too agree with Mawrie that railway connection will bring harm to the indigenous people of the state. We have seen many outsiders flocking to our state and causing harm to our people. Just recently one outsider cut away the ears and finger of a lady in Smit. Till now we have only road connection yet so many outsiders are flocking into the state! Imagine if we have railway connectivity! I am also disappointed with the state government for not having proper check gates to curb infiltration. I have traveled to different states of Northeast India and I found that there is a thorough checking of vehicles and passengers before they enter the state. Mizoram check gate is in Vairangte, Tripura check gate is in Joraibari, Nagaland check gate is in Nagaland gate Dimapur, Where is the Meghalaya check gate? Therefore, is it better to improve road condition as Mawrie has stated or to have a railways connection as Syiem avers. .
Yours etc.,
Aiborlang Nongsiej
Mawkyrwat