Editor,
Apropos the letter “Is burning the dead a healthy practice?” by Rasputin Bismarck (ST, Aug 23, 2017) I respectfully beg to disagree. Every group has the right to dispose of the dead according to their age old customs and religious traditions. This is a sensitive issue and we must write with responsibility. Just as we expect people of other faiths to respect our institutions and traditions, so must we respect their institutions, customs and traditions.
Having previously written a letter on this issue, defending the church (ST, Aug 22, 2017), I feel it my responsibility as a Khasi to say this in a public forum: As citizens of a secular country we fully support the efforts of the Dorbar Shnong, Madan ÏingSyiem and the Seng Khasi Mylliem to amicably decide upon a permanent cremation ground at Mylliem. Apropos the letter “No personal comments please!” (ST, Aug 23, 2017), I respectfully beg to clarify that I was not aware of any personal comments in my previous letter; only information available in the public domain. However if this was construed otherwise, I do apologise. Yes, I fully agree that we must debate issues for the common good of our Khasi Jaiñtia community, to which we all owe our common loyalty and love.
Yours etc.
Rev. Lyndan Syiem,
Shillong
Ignorance personified!
Editor,
The appalling ignorance of Rasputin Bismarck has left me worried. His views reflect his total mindlessness and paranoia while he wrote the letter. More bothersome is the wanton indiscretion shown by the newspaper which published it, despite the letter’s murderous propensity to incite inter religious/inter community sentiments. We can ill afford to go around expressing our jaundiced views on the crematorial practices of others. Mr Bismark should have better business than this. I am sure if he applies his mind with sanity, there will be no dearth of relevant issues to write on. And for his information, cremation of the dead cannot be compared to burning of effigies. Cremation of the dead has existed thousands of years before both Rasputin and Bismarck trod on the soils of Russia and Germany respectively, and will continue to exist, notwithstanding the fact that Rasputin Bismarck still wants to kick up religious hatred with his ill- conceived logic. Let the ways of wishing RIP to the dead not become a topic of debate for those who are still alive.
Yours etc.,
Devadeep Dasgupta,
Guwahati
(Editor replies: This paper gives space to all shades of opinions and believes in rational debates. We do not judge writers based on their religious, community and political affiliations. All are entitled to express their considered views in a democratic country).
Why Gorkhaland?
Editor,
Gorkhaland is the yearning of every Gorkha living in India. Creation of Gorkhaland will permanently soothe their anxiety and insecurity which is lingering inside them ever since the demand for a separate state came up in the public domain. It will enhance their sense of belongingness towards this country, which they so dearly love. They will undoubtedly feel equal to their countrymen and not feel like a subject of Nepal. Guaranteed, that Gorkhaland will be an exemplary state for others to follow, like the people living in Gujarat are doing for their state. Gorkhaland is a long outstanding aspiration of Gorkha soldiers in our armed forces. Being in uniform, they cannot make a political demand. It is the duty of the heads of the State to uplift the morale of serving personnel. It will surely infuse more valour to their fighting spirit. They no longer need to be in perpetual pain of suspicion lest they might be called a mercenary force fighting for India.
This is a humble request to all, particularly to the people from West Bengal, to support the cause of Gorkhaland considering it as a demand of one brother from another brother, his share of the ancestral land.
Yours etc.,
Krishna Chetri,
Shillong-2