Editor,
Why the clamour only for rigorous punishment for rape and other sadistic crimes which have their roots in mental-degeneration? Apart from the toughest punishment to the perpetrators let’s go deeper to analyze the possible causes that push men to commit rape? Why so much mental degeneration that certain individuals can stoop to the lowest depths? How to address those issues is certainly a challenge. And that “challenge” certainly calls for serious brain-storming and a self-assessment vis-a vis the environment in which we all are living.
As far as the physical environment is concerned we are convinced now that a healthy environment is imperative for healthy living. Even kids these days know that we can’t breathe well if our surroundings are filled with high levels of toxicity. We have studied through our academic textbooks that people invite environmental disaster if they allow excessive emission of CO2, CO, methane and other dangerous gases into the atmosphere. We have fully acknowledged that each tall and black chimney of the industries and the nozzles of the vehicles are here only to mar the beauty of this planet. The damage that toxic gases are doing to our ecosystem is easily understood thanks to modern scientific appliances. Again, tomes have been written and published to create awareness and to inform us about the scientifically tested measures to address environmental concerns. But do we have the any literature to pinpoint the causes which contribute towards turning the male into “perverts”? Who else is emitting the toxic substances that overpower the inborn sensitivity of the deviant? Now we have American President Donald Trump whom many call a pervert. At this rate the number of perverts are increasing and they have become dangerously ubiquitous. And, each pervert has caused nightmares to the ill-fated females. Should we still fiddle about when the pervert moves further ahead to see even “baby girls” as objects of lust!
Again, I would like to draw another similarity with what prompts big people to “rape”/violate the harmony of Mother Earth. The case is very regularly brought out by the conscious citizens in Meghalaya. Patricia Mukhim has pointedly driven home how the “greed for money” has corrupted certain leaders who are trying hard to justify the senseless exploitation of the “body” of Mother Earth — “Why harp on mining as the only source of revenue” (ST 13 April) ? Many big shots are oscillating from Shillong to Delhi to convince their seniors to tweak the laws to grant permission to further “rape” the state which has been mutilated for past several decades.
In my mind, both are infected with common syndromes! While one type is interested in the body of the female, the other type lusts after the rocky body of “Mother Earth”. And which type is contributing more dangerously to the society can easily be measured by our simple plus and minus equation.
Again, let’s assess the issues from another angle, given the advancement of medical science. Till some years back malaria, dengue, cholera, HIV, smallpox were life-threatening diseases. But medical science has successfully eradicated or contained them all. Scientists have correctly identified the causes of those dangerous diseases and suggested appropriate remedial measures. No doubt, that is a productive achievement. However, why have modern studies practically failed to identify the causes of the pandemic rise of horrendous instances of rapes and criminality associated with them? Is this not a slap in the face of modern civilization considering we have not yet spelled out the causes and characteristic symptoms of sexual predators who are repeatedly raise their ugly heads to strangle the decency of society. Should we still wait to work out tough laws and remedial measures to rid the evil? I guess the time is ripe that each morally conscious individual be allowed a shotgun to shoot “perversion” of any kind at sight!
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Uncalled for rude behavior
Editor,
Apropos the letter “Rude Bank Staff!” by Baiahung Syngkli of Nongpoh, it is very sad that the said Bank staff did not even spare an elderly lady from his uncalled for rudeness! This is not an uncommon case as far as any public related departments/units are concerned. I have encountered many staff particularly from Govt. or Public Sector Units misbehaving with members of the public sans any sort of provocation. They take the customers as being a hurdle to their comfort, totally ignorant of the fact that it is the public that is paying for the subsistence of their family including themselves. It is a part of duty of the administration of such departments/ units to impart requisite training to their staff as far as their manners towards the public are concerned. This is very important. The staff must not think that the people are burden to them. And, If even after receiving requisite training, any staff still misbehaves with the public, he/she should be taken to task as deemed fit by the concerned department/unit
Yours etc.,
Partha Sarathi Gupta,
Via email
India loses its humanity
Editor,
Apropos Ananya S Guha’s article, “Saving the girl child, saving a nation” (ST, April 14, 2018), Swami Vivekananda worshipped and touched the feet of a 4 – year old poor, Kashmiri Muslim girl to defy the divisions of religion, caste and class to hoist the flag of humanity in Kashmir in 1898. What a shame that after 120 years of that instructive incident, some people of our country are defending the rape and murder of an 8 – year old poor, Kashmiri Muslim girl to celebrate the divisions of religion, caste and class and to hoist the flag of criminality.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Work permits for Bangladeshis
Editor,
So much of hullabaloo is being heard about the government’s suggestion of issuing work permits to citizens of Bangladesh wishing to work in the State. My opinion is that Government should treaded carefully and cautiously and examine the situation. We have had a constant flow of illegal migrants from lower Assam and neighbouring Bangladesh. The threat of demographic change complimented by burdening socio-economic stress is real. However, let us understand that most of these illegal migrants who had come here to work and gradually settle down have not been detected due to political patronage. The Congress party which has been at the forefront of appeasing the illegal migrants cannot shy away from the fact that their presence in Garo Hills and in neighbouring Assam has given leverage to them to call the shots. Whatever it is, the current dispensation should not hastily grant such work permits unless the workers come in with a valid visa.
Yours etc…
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3