Editor
Apropos to the editorial, ‘Power of the written word’ (ST, April 27, 2018) by Patricia Mukhim, there is no doubt that honest journalists are being attacked across India without meaningful provocation while performing their regular duties and serving the public with sincerity. This is a highly condemnable action and the guilty should be arrested and booked by the law of the land. It is also quite unfortunate and unacceptable that there has not been any major protest among the ordinary citizens regarding such an alarming trend across the nation targeting journalists; and possibly each and every political party in India is directly or indirectly behind such wrath expressed against helpless journalist victims. This is not a stray incident but a regular occurrence in various parts of the nation. In some instances journalists have been murdered for their honest services in keeping the public aware of the social prejudices, political and administrative corruptions as well as serious challenges faced by the nation in specific areas. But the other question is to ask is why the journalist world has been so silent regarding this incident across the nation.
There is a global trend where a section of journalists too are becoming increasingly corrupted and serving as undercover agents for various political parties and industrialists or other interest groups and benefit largely from their association. Many famous journalists in India had held office of profit through their nexus and covert support of corrupt political parties at the highest level including assemblies and parliament. To answer why the general public is not responding to such heinous actions by goons is possibly because people have lost their age old trust and bond with the media too. Many ordinary citizens believe that a section of media has been sold out and are serving as an extended hand of different interest groups and not public interest solely. Of course the crime of a handful should not be imposed on vast majority of dedicated and sincere journalists working to serve the nation to the best of their ability. It is also true that that special trust and empathy between media and ordinary citizens has also been breached by some journalists and media houses. It is a time of serious and honest introspection to look at the democratic structure and future of the nation and also find a democratic way of protesting against such atrocities.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB Canada
Neglected road at Khlieh Iewduh!
Editor,
As there is urgent repair work being carried out by the Public Works Department in Shillong, I take this opportunity to impress upon our government and the concerned authority to take a considerate at the approach road to the parking lot at Khlieh Iewduh. This road receives least attention yet it is the road that is used all through the week by vehicles of all types ranging from two-wheelers, cars, SUVs, buses and trucks and pedestrians, both young and old. The road wears a dilapidated look filled with potholes making vehicles plying along this road screech endlessly. The road is used by people from all parts of the state for trade and commerce. It is an important road as it is only through this road that all essential and food products are brought to Iewduh, which is one of the oldest and biggest markets in the state. The condition of the road is such that goods laden trucks/buses may turn turtle in one of the potholes and collapse on pedestrians or the smaller vehicles parked alongside or plying through this road.
This road has been woefully neglected because it is not used by the elite, government officials and higher echelons of society. Roads used by our government officials are being black topped and repaired even when they are still in good condition. However, for the well-being of the common people of the state can the authorities concerned repair the road before the onslaught of monsoons? If this stretch is left orphaned the rain will only make it worse. I request the newly formed government to be considerate and sympathetic towards the difficulties faced by the common people and ease their movement along this stretch of road. Is this asking for too much?
Yours etc.,
Jennifer Dkhar,
Via email
Secularism is integral to our Constitution
Editor,
In the article, “Are we girls or play things?” (ST, May 1, 2018), Poonam I Kaushish said, “Thankfully, three such notorious Babas, Asaram Bapu, Guru Swami Nityanand and Ram Rahim are behind bars.” It is because of the secular nature of our Constitution that has made it possible to send those Babas behind bars. It is perfectly constitutional if Ram occupies our private space but it will be against the spirit of our Constitution if an Asaram starts enjoying the public space. Unfortunately, some people have been trying to banish the word ~ “Secular” from our Constitution by spreading half-truths. They argue that since this word was not there in the original Constitution, it should not be a part of it.
It is true that this word was not in the Preamble when the Constitution was adopted and enacted on 26 November 1949 or when it came into effect on 26 January 1950. It was incorporated by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976. But in no way can it be suggested that the ideals of secularism was not part of our original Constitution. This is a totally false propaganda based on half-truths.
Indeed, Article 25 to Article 30 of our Constitution are the embodiment of the spirit of secularism. While Article 25 has given every citizen equal entitlement to freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion; Article 25 (2) has brought religion under the control of the State and not vice versa as for example Article 25 (2) (b) has given the State the power to throw open Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.
So, we need to highlight the fact that “secular Hindutva” is totally an antithesis of the secular ideals of our Constitution. And the spirit of secularism has been a part of our Constitution since it saw the light of day. As a matter of fact, every inch of our Constitution is secular.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata