Editor,
This is a response I feel was long overdue to Ms Warjri’s letter (ST Sep 24, 2018). At the outset, I would like to point out that I am justifiably aware of the baggage I carry and that is that English language. It is a burden and a boon which many of us have to submit to rather unwillingly and unwittingly at times. Your comment on building bridges seems redundant when enlightened souls of the society, so out-rightly denigrate their fellow beings. In leaving your arguments and findings to God, in my opinion, you have occupied the moral high ground or a safe neutral ground.
Furthermore, the partial striking down of #377does not mean that we are ‘redefining’ anything. We are merely acknowledging the fact that history has been unkind to a community of persons, and that it is time to reclaim ourselves, from the types of society and institutions which have bulldozed over us for many centuries. It’s of course, again, your prerogative to talk about what you wish to. All I would have hoped for is a more scientific and rational conclusion to your findings and readings based on evidence you had given. Please continue to read and understand and when presenting an argument be aware and cautious of the position you locate yourself in the discourse.
Yours etc,
William Syiem,
Via email
Making a farce of Gandhi Jayanti
Editor,
Observance of Gandhi Jayanti is a commemoration of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation. It is about emulating his daunting spirit of non-violence and Ahimsa. But today in India, people and political parties of different hues use the occasion to trumpet or exult themselves and to further their political or personal interests. We have witnessed this on October 2 when the Congress, BJP and others held gatherings, not so much to remember Mahatma Gandhi, his greatness and how to emulate him, but to publicly heighten the temperature for the 2019 General Elections to the Lok Sabha. This is appalling and unpardonable. Again, the occasion is observed by merely conducting cleaning drives or Swachhta Bharat programmes forgetting altogether what Gandhi embodies. Even here in Meghalaya we witnessed VVIPs , VIPs, NGOs and officials in different districts observing this day only by conducting cleaning drives without for a moment recalling the Mahatma. Community cleaning drives should be conducted on some other days and at regular intervals to ensure a clean environment. To use October 2 for cleaning drives takes away from the true substance of Gandhi Jayanti and this is totally wrong. I sincerely hope that this will not be repeated. Another important aspect is that conducting cleaning drives is not a one day exercise; it should be a daily routine in order to have clean and healthy surroundings. We cannot clean in just one day the dirt and garbage of the whole year. To attempt to remove the dirt and filth of a whole year in a single day is a farce we enact but we fool no one but ourselves. Let us not demean the idea of Gandhi Jayanti and use it to achieve political ends.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein
When food become poison
Editor,
Despite the fact that the fish is a source of protein and an item of food commonly served at lunches and dinners in the North East a ban on its import had to be imposed by the Government t as it was found to contain formaldehyde which on long term consumption could be carcinogenic ( cancer forming). The timely action of our Health Department in this connection is worth appreciating.
Through your esteemed daily I would like to draw the kind attention of the concerned authorities on the use of “carbide” to ripen fruits like bananas and mangoes. Fruits provide us essential vitamins and nutrients only if they ripen naturally. Unfortunately, the fruit vendors procure raw fruits at a cheaper rate and preserve them in carbide, which facilitates overnight ripening of the fruits, thereby enabling the vendors to sell them to the consumers at huge profit margins. Carbide is a chemical, which artificially ripens the fruits but in the process poisons them. It may cause respiratory as well as cardiac disorder.
The authorities of Government of Assam in the recent past had cracked down on the fruit vendors and after seizing the carbide infected mangoes had destroyed the same. Tonnes of mangoes were destroyed but it was a very important step towards protecting the health of the citizens. Yes, fruits worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed but that is nothing compared to the health of consumers. Will our Health Department spare a thought over this issue and chalk out an appropriate strategy to save our lives from the evil effects of carbide? Generally doctors advice the patients to eat fruits for early recovery from various ailments. In this case the doctor’s advice could prove “Injurious to health.”
Yours etc.,
Md Zakaria,
Shillong-2