Editor,
As a resident of Shillong I would like ask the Shillong Traffic Police why they have blocked the main road from the BSNL office tri-junction near the Lady Hydari Park up to the bust statue of Mr TH Rangad by installing a big NO ENTRY board? Is it because Pine Mount Schoool is located in this area? There are a number of schools in Shillong but no other school ever tries to openly block the PWD roads that pass by those schools. As such, the city of Shillong is already overburdened with vehicular traffic and all the roads remain jam packed almost throughout the day and even up to late evenings. In such a situation the vehicles en-route to Laban, Lumparing and other areas of south Shillong try to avoid the traffic snarl in front of the Civil Hospital and take the road by the Pine Mount school to save time but are shocked to find the NO ENTRY sign at the tri-junction and are bound to turn their vehicles on the spot, thereby creating temporary traffic chaos. Alternatively vehicles have to go to Malki point by taking a round by the Seven Set School. The attempt also is not always fruitful as that too remains almost impenetrable due to heavy traffic. Through this, I request the Shillong Traffic Police to abandon these arbitrary “No Entry Zones” to either allow entry of the vehicles of the parents and guardians to park inside the premises of the school during exams or other school functions, as there is sufficient space inside or find out an alternative parking area leaving the main road free for the flow of normal traffic both up and down.
Yours etc.,
Bibhash Dhar,
Via email
Why can’t Bharat Mata wear tribal attire?
Editor,
So who, indeed, is Bharat Mata? Following the letter dated December 8, 2017 by Fabian Lyngdoh in this daily I am further inspired to express my opinion towards-Bharat Mata, that is, Mother India and relatively seen by some as a mother goddess of fertility.Bharat Mata is shown as a four armed Indian goddess wearing saffron colored robes, holding a book, sheaves of rice, a garland, and a saree. This shows that this is not modern concept but it was there throughout history. This has nothing to do with RSS or BJP. And if some party relates itself to Bharat Mata then I feel nothing wrong with it because Bharat Mata is not a religious identity – this is a geographical and cultural identity. What kept us together longer than any other nation on this planet is that essentially, we have always been a land of seekers – seekers of truth, liberation and freedom? In this seeking, we found togetherness. When we look for oneness, we try to become a land of believers. This seeking is not something that we made. It is the nature of human intelligence to want to know more, realize, and liberate itself. A nation is the people. The boundaries and the definition of a country come from the land. We have always seen nation or earth as a mother, because if we sow a seed, life grows. Almost everywhere in the world, except in certain very martial cultures, a nation has always been seen as a woman or a mother, because in a certain sense, a nation is defined by an aspect of geography. Hence saying that Bharat Mata is alien to North East is misleading and if Bharat Mata wears a tribal attire, there is no threat to the tribal culture. No matter how badly you contaminate human beings with belief systems and brainwash them, once their survival is taken care of, they always want to know the nature of their existence and of everything around them.
Your etc.,
Anil Kumar Rai
Bahrain
A drama that shook our conscience!
Editor,
Recently, Shillong’s ace theatre performer Lapdiang Syiem who trained from the India School of Drama enacted the play, “ A being – human; being human human-beings,”at KC Secondary School Shillong. Lapdiang graduated from the National School of Dram, Delhi and the Commedia School, Copenhagen, Denmark. Thank you Lapdiang for reminding us of the fact that our boundaries are constantly being trespassed upon. A query made by a guest at the second splendid artistic rendition of our present world brought home the disturbing fact that our boundaries, especially personal ones are being systematically and methodically trespassed without as much as a murmur being heard from any quarter. Lapdiang in her comments said that she felt that where she performed is a safe place and it probably still is. A scathing commentary on life such as hers would bring awkward and uncomfortable notice from undesirable elements. Our only hope is that her art would not be immediately understood by those who would intrude on our personal space and connoisseurs of art would continue to be treated to this feast.
May God continue to bless and protect Lapdiang in her endeavour to hold an artistic mirror to the world.
Yours etc,
Dr S. Syiem,
Vi email
An Assembly Building in six months!
Editor,
The news item in your paper captioned, “Next House Session in New Building” (ST Dec 8, 2017), left me wondering if our honourable Speaker, A.T Mondal is being overly ambitious, when he said the next assembly session would be held in the new building. While it’s good to be positive and optimistic in life but as human beings blessed with wisdom and reason we also need to be logical and practical. The state is geared for elections in February next year and the first session of the new government should tentatively be held in a month or two after the declaration of the election results. So if we go by what our Speaker says then in less than six months the state of Meghalaya will be blessed with a new and hopefully permanent Assembly building. If what could not materialise in 16 (sixteen) long years will stand tall in 6 (six) months time then it would surely be no less than a miracle. Sadly, miracles don’t happen these days. Therefore I’m curious to know as to what type, model and make would our new building be? Will Mr Mondal please amplify!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email