Editor,
Apropos the news item “KHADC objects to inclusion of Khasi Hills areas in Garoland” (ST Nov 30, 2018), it is my considered opinion that the Executive Member, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council in-charge Land, Latiplang Kharkongor, has raised a very important but sensitive issue about parts of Khasi Hills areas being included in Garoland. According to the map submitted by the ANVC to the Union Government before the ceasefire and laying down of arms by the outfit, many Khasi areas were included in the Map of Greater Garoland drawn by them. Even the GNLA has re-emphasized the need for carving out the areas for greater Garoland in which many Khasi areas have been subsumed under it. If indeed the Centre accedes to the demand for creation of Garoland state it is feared that many areas of Khasi land will fall under the proposed greater Garoland state. This is not acceptable to the Khasis and they are sure to offer stiff resistance. How can vast areas of the Khasis be ceded to the Garos? The villages may be Garo Villages but the geographical areas fall well within the jurisdiction of Khasi Hills. The land is also under the ownership of the Khasis or belong to the Elakas under the Nongstoin Syiemship, Langrin Syiemship, Maharam Syiemship, Nopbosohphoh Syiemship, Malai Sohmat Syiemship, Mawsynram Syiemship, Shella Wahadadarship, Riangsih Sirdarship, Jyrngam Sirdarship, Raid Mynsaw Sirdarship, Rambrai Syiemship and so on. By no means can the Khasi areas fall under the proposed greater Garoland or Garoland state. The Khasis have no issues if the Garos are granted a separate state of Garoland but not at the cost of the Khasis and their valuable land.
Yours etc…..
Philip Marweiñ,
Via-Email.
Twitter CEO in a soup
Editor,
Big people should learn to keep their distance even from minor controversies. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, has just landed himself in a soup for getting himself photographed with some journalists and holding up a placard that read, “Smash Brahminical Patriarchy,” during his recent visit to India. Soon after the photo-shoot, which instantly went viral, many other important people expressed their anger against him. Why did it not occur to him that he is a public figure and the head of an epic social-media portal – Twitter? Yes, any great media tycoon should stay away from the influence of forces with ulterior motives. Who knows, such controversial steps by Jack Dorsey might stand as a stumbling block for him to dream big in the future.
It is ironic how Jack Dorsey suddenly developed a concern for patriarchy in India How many placards has he held up so far that condemn the racist policies of President Trump or against the growing “white supremacy” in the USA. Has he ever pointed out the faults of the major communities with whom he has lived all this life and with whom he has day-to-day encounters? In spite of being the most advanced country in the world, male chauvinism is still the hallmark of the world’s oldest democracy.
The world is practically shaken by the pervasive patriarchy of some of the communities that constitute the major portion of USA. Has Jack Dorsey ever spoken against these assertions of masculinity and the impacts they have on society? And how many Brahmins has he met in his life that he is prompted to use them as a metaphor for patriarchy and therefore paint them as perpetrators of gender injustice in India? I guess, he should be informed that there are many negative patriarchal mores in European countries that should be “smashed” systematically first. Let him start his social work from his place of birth. Let him voice the concerns of the “depraved” without a specific agenda against any group or person in any corner of the world. Right intention is at the core of service to society. Twitter might go out of business if the Twitter CEO starts to send out the wrong notes. Discretion is always the better part of valour.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Via email