Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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Celebration at what cost?

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Editor,
Cherry blossoms the beautiful pink flowers were previously seen and admired. We did not have to ruminate on its blooming date. But now appreciation is not enough. Everything demands a celebration and how. Well let me give you a quick look at the celebrations. It’s a four days long affair (Nov 14-17) So you go to the Wards Lake; there’s no time limit. You enter and exit at will. Then at Polo Ground, Dalang Stage, 5th Ground. All the merry making happens. What do you want? Just name it wine… dine… and Oh my dear its DJ’s nite every night from 9 PM there’s music to lure the mind and soul of the young ones. And nobody can deny that it really makes you forget everything. You just want to swing to the beat. As the saying goes, “Music is the strongest form of magic.” But does all this come for free? If not, then at whose cost is all this fanfare?

In my opinion this celebration goes against what the NGO’s and drug rehabilitation centres are propagating which is awareness on drug abuse, child marriage, school dropout, broken homes to name a few. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” It is the young people, the future generation of our state and of the nation as a whole that is at stake here. Why blame the youth for drug addiction, alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, and for dropping out of school/college? And I can assure all that a year before the next celebration, tiny cherry blossoms will bloom in most of the homes in and around Meghalaya. It really pains me to see this degenerate form of celebration.

From Day1 of the celebration I saw young people throng into the venue with two legs and crawling back home on all four. Only they can explain how. Talking about the sound, its mind blowing! No one can really underestimate the organizers. Hats off to you guys! Good job done; that too for four consecutive nights. Venue well chosen, with wine stores all around! It’s difficult to keep track of the total number starting from Polo till 4th Furlong bridge or the venue’s main entrance. Dates? Perfect timing! It’s just about time for the annual exams of our kids. Who cares if it’s hampering the kids studies, or if it’s corrupting our youth and polluting the environment too?
Do you think we really need to celebrate in such a manner in the name of a flower? Actually this celebration is just another attempt to destroy our youth. Yes they are lost in celebration and cannot differentiate between good and bad. Temptation in the name of a flower! Oh for goodness sakes why celebrate at the cost of our youth?

Yours etc.,
I Skhemlon
Via email

 

Of guiding stars in politics

Editor,

Politicians and their cheerless political wit are all in bad taste. For instance terming DD Lapang as the, “Guiding Star’ of the NPP led- government who makes use of his ‘extraordinary’ political skills to aid and advice the government,” is overloaded hyperbole. Funny it is to note that every successive government and even this one suffers from the syndrome of appointing a string of ‘unproductive’ and ‘extra-ordinary experts’ from outside and within the State. Even the Congress led-MUA government was no better. Therefore politicians across the divide should stop the blame game and of shedding crocodile tears over public money being wasted. Till date the various sectoral indicators from major areas such as PWD, Health, PHE, Electricity, PDS, Transport etc., are in a pathetic state. It is disgraceful that those in authority try to trumpet their short-lived success in front of a galaxy of audience in the national capital when nothing of substance is happening back home. Surprisingly, this Government has not even taken any move to redress the grievances of retired government employees and even those in-service in respect of their postings, promotions, payment of pension etc. The files pertaining to these issues are languishing somewhere. Some may even have been lost in the confusion. So how can we the people expect to see outcomes from the above departments and their staff when their work culture remains unchanged? Add to this the present Government’s lack of seriousness to address these and other more immediate issues. Perhaps with the entry of more such political ‘guiding stars’ the Chief Minister could deploy these ‘ stars’ to guide the ailing departments and also shed some light upon them.

Yours etc…
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3

 

Bringing HNLC on board

Editor,

Much publicity was given in the media when the General Secretary of HNLC, Cheristarfield Thangkhiew came over ground and the government made elaborate arrangements for his reception. Among other things that Thangkhiew offered to the Government was to be mediator between it and the HNLC to ensure that they come over ground lock stock and barrel. But the Government has since remained quiet and we are unsure if the Government is still interested in the proposal or if it is weighing various options. In any case it is the right time for the Government to immediately explore all options and strike while the iron is still hot. Perhaps this time it may work. It is important that the underground groups should all come over ground and lead peaceful lives rather than remain in the jungle and become a threat to peace and tranquility. In fact Garo Hills has now become peaceful as underground groups have either surrendered or have been rounded up. What we want is that the underground activities in Khasi Hills should also come to an end and for this the Government should decide immediately, because this is the opportune time. Had Dr. Mukul Sangma taken interest in initiating the surrender of HNLC after hearing from Thangkhiew, by now, the HNLC story would have been over.

Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email

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