Editor,
It has been seen that whenever any religious group takes out a procession on the main roads of this city, there is massive traffic jam or traffic is re-routed. This is not how it should be in a secular country like India. Religion is not for demonstration. It is a private affair between God and humans. Bringing religion into the main road is nothing but a show of strength and arrogance by different religious groups. Shillong roads can no longer take this sort of public display of faith. The State Government has to take a call and stop all activities that curtail the smooth flow of life and traffic. Let’s face one thing squarely. No amount of religious fervour can change anything. Humans are as corrupt as they were. Their being part of a church, temple, mosque or gurudwara cannot change their inner soul. It takes much more than religious membership to transform individuals and make them righteous.
Yours etc.,
John M Kharbuki,
Via email
Save our trees
Editor,
Tree lovers and environmentalists in various parts of our country are deeply upset over the repercussions of cutting down trees to widen roads. Authorities don’t think twice about cutting down beautiful trees that might even be a hundred years old. Trees can soften the effects of a nationwide urban explosion, but cities are getting rid of them in unprecedented numbers. Trees are precious gifts given by God. Directly and indirectly all living beings depend on trees for life. Tree cutting is prohibited in Hindu dharma sastras. Only cutting of branches is allowed after performing a simple puja or narrating a mantra. Trees are mercilessly cut for widening roads, making furniture and even for construction. But no one seems to understand that this will lead to the destruction of the earth. Now, for every tree that is brought down, three saplings should be planted on the roadsides in the city. It is observed that the main problem in planting saplings to replace the trees that are cut is lack of space but when land is acquired for a project, why is this not taken into account. One of these symbols of prosperity, as it were, are the number of massive trees flanking the roads, providing much needed shade. Development of a new road formation of a bypass, or widening of an existing road results in rapid development on the stretch, right from the edge of the road. And, thus there is hardly any space to plant saplings. What will happen now? When all the tree parts including roots die completely, people will forget the fallen tree.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad –
Religion not apublic affair
Editor,
Apropos the story, “Where history resides”(ST Feb 24, 2019), the writer Uma Purkayastha has written a brief history of Jitbhoomi, Rilbong, from it’s past till date. However, the information is largely incorrect. Ms Purkayastha had written, “After his death, Manisha Devi stayed in the house with her children and continued with her music school. She disposed of the house in 1927(approx). It was actually April 1923. The weather was excessively hot in Bengal and Tagore, exhausted with the heat decided to come to Shillong to get some respite from the scorching heat…”. According to Purkayastha during his second visit to Shillong in 1923, Tagore stayed at Manisha Devi’s house, “Jitbhoomi.”But according to Tagore’s biographer Prasanta Kumar Paul, Tagore stayed at ‘Jitbhoomi’ by paying a rent of Rs 200 in 1923 (Rabijeeboni, Vol-9 by Prasanta Kumar Paul). During Tagore’s visit to Shillong the owner of Jitbhoomi was not Manisha Devi. Poet Hem Chattopadhay who met Tagore in Jitbhoomi twice in 1923 described in his letter that Jitbhoomi was already delivered from one owner to another. That is Manisha Devi/Dr.Debendranath Chattopadhay was not the owner of Jitbhoomi during 1923 and onwards. Moreover if Jitbhoomi was owned by Manisha Devi during 1923, Tagore would not have rented the house from his own niece, Manisha Devi.
The previous owner of Jitbhoomi, Bimal Chakraborty had informed this writer that his father Dr. Binod Chakraborty purchased Jitbhoomi from Nanibala Chakraborty. Jitbhoomi has a great history. First draft of ‘Red Oleanders’ or ‘Rakta Karobi’ was written here by Nobel laureate Tagore. He had named his first draft as ‘Jokkho Puri’ . Later he named it as Rakto Karobi in Kolkata. Jitbhoomi is the pride of Rilbong locality. It is a heritage house like ‘Brookside’ where the heritage plaque still exists. The plaque was installed by the then Assam Government in 1961 during Tagore’s birth centenary. During Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary Ministry of Culture, New Delhi deputed Dr K K Banerjee Director, Raja Rammohan Roy Library, Kolkata in February 2012 to inspect Brookside and Jitbhoomi .
In October 13, 2018, the Governor of Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy visited Jitbhoomi. Recently on 31st January 2019 the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya had organized the inspection of different heritage sites of Shillong. Jitbhoomi was revisited and inspected by Governor Tathagata Roy and the Minister for Arts and Culture, A.L Hek (ST February 1, 2019). Mr Bimal Chakraborty had recently sold Jitbhoomi. The owners may change but the glory of Jitbhoomi will continue to remain the same. We have already lost ‘Solomon Villa’ where Tagore stayed in 1927. We hope Jitbhoomi will be protected and preserved by all.
Yours etc.,
Malabika Bisharad
Shillong-4