Editor,
People go to the market like Iewduh with a purpose. The purpose is to get their requirements, come out of the market and go home. Inside the crowded market, a lot of jostling and pushing is inevitable. Despite all the commotion people take it in their stride. No anger is shown; no nuisance is created, no serious offense is taken against anyone. There are no hard feelings if one is pushed or pushes someone else because we all know it is not intentional. The shop keepers raise their prices and buyers bargain to their best efforts. In the process lots of words are exchanged but both parties know this is part of business. And at the end of the day, buyers and sellers return home. The next day it’s business as usual.
Considering the things happening in our beloved NEHU and the recent jabber on the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), if everyone working and studying in the University have the same mindset as the shop keepers and customers in Iewduh, the University would be ranked among the top 10 universities in the country by now. If the stakeholders in the university perform their duty selflessly to complete their respective task, no article is needed in the newspaper. If the administration runs the university without any bias towards anyone, the stakeholders would not disrupt their activities. And the students! They are students for God’s sake! They would not be interested or involved in activities other than their own. But time and again their rights are snatched away: they are mistreated, and neglected by mediocre faculty and staff who are at the helm of affairs and their faithful coteries. Sadly, when students protest against such injustice they are tagged as the enemy since the mediocres don’t know how to correct errors in the system. They don’t want anybody to expose their mediocrity. What have they achieved besides bringing down the university to a new low in the process of promoting themselves? Why blame the students for their own shortcomings? How long can they hide behind the politics of blame game? Why don’t the administrative authority and the teachers follow the example of the daily business in Iewduh? Taking a jibe at the student community will not bring NEHU to its former glory, one of the best in the country. Instead one should be reminded that the welfare of the students is a top priority and the rest follows.
With only less than a year in office, the Union members’most important duty is to see that the admission procedure runs smoothly without bias. It is a task assigned by the University; not a single soul objected this noble task in all these years. Not a single student was given admission forcefully by the members of the Union. If such things are raised without understanding the primary purpose, one needs to open their eyes before waking up in the morning not vice versa. What is the harm if student union leaders have aspiration towards mainstream politics? Would not that be the University’s achievement for the country’s future? However, NEHU is not a ground for political parties and the student body should never open its doors to any interference from outside. Again, how does the alleged misconduct, misbehavior, indecency, abusiveness of the student union reflect the inability of Khasi-Jaintia community to run the offices of the Union? Bringing a communal colour into the campus affairs is a dangerous game.Let us stop this politics of blame game and concentrate on our own assigned duties without trying to gain undue favours from the higher authorities. Instead, let us thrive together to achieve the very meaningful purpose of the University. Follow the example set by the buyers and sellers in the Iewduh market and let’s mind our own businesses. LONG LIVE NEHU! LONG LIVE NEHUSU!!
Yours etc.,
Rusievan Shangpliang,
Via email
Accidents on the rise
Editor,
Recently, many accidents have taken place along the highways. In the most recent incident, one Rose Lyngdoh from Laitkseh Village in West Khasi Hills was killed and 4 others injured. I had seen a picture of Rose Lyngdoh through an Internet forward and I could not believe my eyes. The face was completely destroyed and I like any other person who looked at the picture was stunned. I did not have the courage to look at it again. But, I am of the opinion that this may be a case of robbery and murder too. Some other pictures I had seen depicted that the hair of the lady was covered with stones. It might be possible that that the murder was planned well before the incident. Accidents have been occurring almost regularly and I feel that the authorities should take the initiative and investigate whether these are really accidents or something else. Also, strict action must be taken against those who are found breaking driving rules, especially in such accident prone places. Only when action is taken will become more responsible while driving. I request for action in these matters and some level of enhanced investigation in the ‘Rose Lyngdoh’ case.
Yours etc.,
Pratham Kumar Sharma
Shillong-3
Ethical sharing
Editor,
I want to impress on all who irresponsibly share content on WhatsApp messenger or any social media that there is such a thing called ‘Ethical sharing.’ In case of accidents or any horrific incident, please have the humanity to NOT expose or carelessly share graphic photos or videos of the victim no matter how tempting it maybe. Think about the victim’s family, the ones that are grieving and are still lying in shock. I’m pretty sure you are all aware of the horrific accident that had tragically ended the life of a respected 50 plus year old lady involving a red Suzuki Alto with a truck. I am aghast by that photos of such sensitive content can be mishandled by smart phone users who are anything but smart. THIS HAS TO END. This isn’t the first time such a case has occurred. Administrator of all groups should take this seriously and the members/ users should all take note. You are not leaving an inch of salvation or any shred left attached to the bone when you do this. I know it may be the hottest or the most trending news at the moment which will die out by the next evening but the scars of the victim’s family will remain long after we have jumped to another topic. It leaves them exposed and naked before the public. It is pathetic and unethical. It is a vile indecent act that demands our common emotional intelligence if we so possess it. Let’s ask ourselves if by some misfortune, photos of our suffering/dying loved ones were to spread like wild fire in the public domain would we not feel rage, anger and helplessness? So please smart citizens lets have some decency and empathy with those who suffer and with their family members. It starts with each one of us!
Yours etc.,
Banjop K Nongbri,
Via email