Editor,
The efforts of establishing myths as facts by some participants of the 106th Science Congress is nothing but vashikaran or taming of whatever scientific temper we have had. The Science Congress has gifted us with a bouquet of myths! One vice-chancellor discovered test tube babies in the Kauravas and 24 types of aircraft and guided missile technology in the possession of Ravana. I am afraid that after some years, we have to accept stories like Shaktiman as a real one and it will be incorporated in the text books.
It is pertinent to recall Satyajit Ray’s film, Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) which fetched best feature film award in the 1979 Hong Kong Film Festival. In the film, a boy asked an idol maker whether Durga riding on a lion fought with Mahisasur was true. The idol maker replied that how he could say that it was untrue since it was written by big sages. This made the boy come to the conclusion that every character be it Mahisasur or Hanuman or Tarzan or Phantom was a real one!
It is a matter of grave concern that our science teachers in the platform of Indian Science Congress have been giving statements which are totally against Article 51A (h) of Constitution of India that says ~ “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”. Since this has been enshrined in our Constitution as the Fundamental Duty of every citizen of India, a scientist is therefore supposed to be an embodiment of it rather than a violator of the same.
We have already been suffering from the consequences of the spreading of myths. Given that advertisements for vashikaran for taming a person are mushrooming day by day, they are undoubtedly doing a brisk trade. This means that the umpteenth number of our brothers and sisters have been slow poisoned in the name of vashikaran or taming! How long are we to consume poison?
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email
Violence against women on the rise
Editor,
I refer to the news report, ‘Requiem for dead sisters’ a theatre staged at SAN-KER (ST Jan 14, 2019) which ostensibly highlighted the continued violence against women. Closer home many young women have been raped and killed and their cases are still pending in court. Even women’s organisations and the People seem to forget these atrocities against women. Even the Meghalaya State Commission for Women does not speak about these cases and nor does it pursue them. Hence the evildoers and rapists have a field day and become serial offenders. These cases should be followed up diligently by all those who claim to support the cause of women. It is very unfortunate that such cases are happening very rampantly in a society that boasts about given privileges to womenfolk. And it looks like those privileges might soon be taken away from women if we are to go by the KHADC legislations.
It is ironic too that Meghalaya should have one of the worst indicators when it comes to women’s health. So the claims that women are privileged in this state must be weighed against the disadvantages they suffer and the burden they carry as single mothers bringing up children single-handedly. It is not an easy situation for the woman at all in this matrilineal society. And to be raped and killed is the worst form of violence against women. Sadly no one is putting up a theatre to remind all of us of the many souls lost in such atrocities. We need to reflect in these atrocities and respond accordingly and also put pressure on courts and governments to speed up justice delivery.
Yours etc.,
Sandraline Mawroh,
Via email