Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Withdraw from Doklam to avoid confrontation” (ST Aug 8,2017), I would like to state here that China flexes its military might everywhere vis-à-vis its neighbours without consideration whatsoever. This clearly demonstrates its expansionist character just like it did with Tibet. China has repeatedly shown its expansionist blood in several border areas with India especially in Arunachal Pradesh. India on the other hand is docile, non-expansionist, non-aligned, non-interfering in other borders including that of Pakistan. This is seen by other countries as a sign of weakness and timidity. It is this kind of timidity that made the powers that be in New Delhi has almost given up the entire North East India to China in 1962, under the leadership of Nehru. This is why China is taking advantage of India; so too Pakistan. India cannot take such intimidatory tactics lying down. India has already spent maximum financial resources and men to keep Jammu and Kashmir within its territory, though much has been lost to Pakistan over the last 70 years. How much more land can India lose to Pakistan and how many more men, bombardments, destruction should India suffer to keep the country in one piece? How long can we tolerate terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistanis and Islamic Jihadis in our land? Again India should act and act decisively and swiftly to show to the world that it does not fear anyone and that should come from the political masters who are ruling India.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Gender stereotyping
Editor,
Your editorial, “Gross sense of entitlement” (ST, August 8, 2017), is right in pointing out that a new kind of machismo gives the male a sense of impunity and entitlement to rape and molest. In many popular movies, courtship begins with eve teasing and that helps those movies get huge box-office success because both men and women (yes, women too!) are comfortable with such gender models. We have created male stereotypes after baboon males and female stereotypes after baboon females. Indeed, baboon males are often aggressive towards females. This also explains why boys outnumber girls when it comes to ragging and bullying.
We have been brainwashed with such gender stereotypes as, ‘a real man should not cry.’ A man can be angry, vulgar and violent to prove his masculinity but he cannot be emotional. If he becomes emotional, he is branded as effeminate. If he is naughty it adds a feather to his cap. So, molestations are well suited to such male – baboon stereotypes. Our popular belief and prejudices are reflected not only in our comments and actions and by our films and advertisements, but also by actions and utterances of our political representatives. Thus, baboon male stereotyping is endorsed by our political leaders as well. One of our political leaders said, “Rape accused should not be hanged. Boys make mistakes.” Another political heavyweight commenting on rape said, ‘it is sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Yet another one said that the boy and the girl should both be punished in a rape case.
To free our boys from such animal tags, we should ask our sons how they feel when faced with cruel ragging and what must they say about those brutes. We should remind them that there is no reason to suppose such sadists and rapists are human beings. Instead of making our son a “man”, we must try to make him a “human”. The author of the book “Chase the rainbow”, Poorna Bell had asked all male stereotypes a very candid question, “If we are capable of softness and strength, then why do we imagine you aren’t?”
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Compassionate ground appointment!
Editor,
Apropos the news item published in your paper on the pay commission recommendation that compassionate appointments should be reopened I like to say the following.
1.Government servants are a pampered lot. Life is easy for them compared to others. Most of the deaths occur in Government service due to bad habits specially excessive drinking. They have all the time to drink and be merry.
2.Compassionate appointment is not based on merit. Most of the time incompetent and over aged persons are considered for compassionate appointment. One day they will supervise the work of much more qualified and more competent persons!
3. The family of the deceased Government servant at his death receives family pension and other perks.
- Vast majority of the families in the state don’t have Government employees and as an average have much lesser income than a government servant family and are less privileged. 5. Compassionate appointments will be at the cost of availability of posts to vast majority and deprive the more deserving job aspirants in all aspects from the state. In the light of the facts stated I urge the Government not to accept such a biased and unfair recommendation of the Pay Commission at the cost of vast majority of unemployed youth in the state like me. One has to bear in mind that every job counts in the current scenario of job availability in the state.
Yours etc.,
Desmond Lyngdoh,
Shillong -4