Editor,
Apropos the news report, “Pala asks Centre to legalise rat-hole mining in State” (ST Dec 28, 2018), our Shillong Lok Sabha MP has made himself the laughing stock. To demand legalisation of rat-hole mining in the state of Meghalaya when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has already banned rat-hole mining since April 14, 2014, because it is unscientific and has already caused widespread destruction on the environment, shows lack of concern for the state and the environment. What nonsense was our MP talking and that too at the fag end of his term? Come on Mr. Pala, do not try to fool the Government of India or fool the voters back home. Remember the voters are wiser than you. Do not try to impress the voters at home that you are trying to get the rat-hole coal mining ban lifted. Your demand in parliament to legalise rat-hole coal mining will not convince anyone, not even a fool. How can you ask the Government of the India to do the impossible and to legalise an illegality? This is complete humbug! Pala should remember that election to the Lok Sabha is just round the corner and this kind of utterance in the House is not going to do him any good especially since rat hole mining has caused several deaths due to mine flooding etc. Having won the Lok Sabha seat twice what has Pala brought to the State of Meghalaya in the last ten years? Nothing! As for the MP schemes, even a fool can distribute those. It needs no extra brains for that.Editor,
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Our children will look back in anger
Editor,
When we carefully analyze at how aggressively people want to mine coal in Meghalaya, we can see that greed for money can literally blind a human being. We don’t see our own “dark future”. We don’t see the sufferings from potential disaster any longer. We do not realize that our wrong ambition is going to plunge our own children into the black hole of miseries and distress. Even the recent tragedy where 15 miners are trapped inside a mine in East Jaintia Hills is not enough to jolt us. Now we, instead, discreetly murmur and pressure the center to legalize the rate hole mining. We have enough pretexts and pretensions to defend our ventures, nay our indulgences. We are quick to line up the hungry faces that we have used all along. We do not want to “listen” to the “warning” from the ecologists about the dangers of unscientific coal mining.
True, Jaintia Hills is still surviving; Meghalaya is still breathing, the air of freshness and its beauty is still attracting tourists to this state. The credit for this goes directly, apart from the Creator, to a handful of intellectuals and media. It is those very conscious people who relentlessly struggled to teach people about the potential dangers and ecological damages due to the indiscriminate rate-hole mining. Their scream finally drew the attention of NGT.
Just imagine what would have happened if those concerned activists were “silent” and we all continued to dig pits after pits! For instance, if NGT lifts the ban what would probably happen? We would mine the coal more aggressively and more randomly? What would be the consequence after 30 to 50 years then? We would definitely witness endless environmental disaster. Thank God this state has produced right-thinking and courageous people too! Without budging an inch, they stood their ground to safeguard our state. Frankly speaking, now NGT fears them more than any others. Yes, it is those awakened scholars and social activists who have put their best to awaken us through their articles and by organizing awareness campaigns. Should we still criticize them and doubt their integrity? How do you regard a person who “saves” you from the attack of a poisonous snake? Should you not grateful to him/her? Yes, those conscious people and writers deserve our deep respect and high honours! They cautioned us and wanted to “save” the state from the nightmare of an ecological disaster exactly as a mother lovingly wants to protect her children from the possible danger and sufferings.
The mining tragedy calls for serious introspection. First, we need to bury all “holes of differences”. We should sincerely resolve not to pierce the body of mother earth which is copiously bleeding, helplessly moaning and frequently convulsing. Please note her “convulsion” is a great warning. Our progeny should not fall into the trap. Or else, their curses will not let our souls rest in peace.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali
Shillong -2
Who cares for hungry souls?
Editor,
We know that many among us have been sleeping on streets every night, out in the cold. We know that 48.2 million of our children have been crying for food everyday in India. We seldom, if ever, talk about it. But some of us sometimes say a few words about our indifference to the needs of others. Sometimes, those words hit us hard. Poet Nirendranath Chakravorty uttered such words in some of his poems.
When we were celebrating this year’s Christmas, he breathed his last in Kolkata. After learning that, the first thing that came to my mind was his poem Kolkatar Jishu (Jesus of Kolkata). Chakravorty was a famous Bengali poet who won the Sahitya Academy award in 1974 and had been associated with leading Bengali magazine Desh and Anandamela for children. But for me he will remain associated only with that poem. Now, let us revisit it through its translation into English by Bappa Datta.
“No red signal for that matter/ Yet the whirlwind pace of Kolkata/ Come to an abrupt stop/ Shook violently to a grinding halt/ Taxis, private cars, three-wheelers,/ Tiger stamped double-deckers/ Those who ran in from the sides/ Porters, hawkers, shopkeepers, customers – //
All seemed like an inert image on an/ artist’s easel/ To silently witness,/ In wobbly steps/ Crossing the road from one to the other/ side/ A naked child.//
It had rained a while ago in Chowringhee./ Now the sunlight like tall spears/ Pierced the hearts of the clouds/ To come down/ And cloak Kolkata in a magical light.//
Resting my chin on a state bus window/ I see the sky, and I see you/ Child of a beggar mother,/ Jesus of Kolkata/ You stopped the entire traffic by some magical power/ The public cry, the impatient bus driver/ Clenching his teeth/ You care none of it/ With death looming close on both sides/ You walk through in unstable strides/ As if humanity embodied/ With the joy of learning the first steps/ You want the whole wide world/ In your grip. And that is why/ With shaky feet you go/ From the edge of the world to another/
It is a meaningful coincidence that Nirendranath Chakravorty, the writer of Jesus of Kolkata passed away on Christmas Day in Kolkata!
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email