Editor,
Reading Mr Toki Blah’s narration of ‘The Wild Wild West’, took me back fifty years. It was the days of the mighty and the fastest in either saloons or elsewhere. Another moving movie is “The last of the Mohicans”, showing the final exit of Red Indians from the World map. If a movie “The last of Tripura Castle” could be made, it will not only be the block-buster, but a thriller to our nerves with the CAB still simmering to shoot into flame, depending on May 23, 2019. Another movie “Termites hit for a six unto the Bay of Bengal” would be a movie worth its penny. And if actors like John Cena could help, nothing like it. It would do injustice to our beloved comedians of yesteryears if I fail to narrate their power of prophecy of today’s world by their beautiful movies. Charlie Chaplin begging the prison magistrate to kindly let him stay for another year spoke volumes of the food quality and the cosiness of prison cells those good old days. Justice delayed is best described by Oliver Hardy (the man to be hanged) fuming at the hangman with lots of crowd and his weeping friend around (Laurel). He shouted, “Hey you hangman, throw away the cigar, do not waste my time, I have lots of work up there.” Is ‘up there’ heaven or hell, only the convict would know. Poverty-stricken Charlie had to enter the boxing arena to feed his family. His opponent in the ring was a London Boxer. Surprisingly the London boxer though well built with a longer reach and broad chest was dancing behind the referee, when on the sixth round a powerful left jab from the glove filled with pebbles and lead, knocked down his opponent. You can never hide behind someone and this is the drama in real life today. The last is when Terence Hill, the English man was rehearsing the song, “God save the King”, but Spencer his American friend whispered “Why? Is he sick or what?” I like these Americans who have never been under any colonial rule. They debate and criticise the President of the single largest Democracy in the world (enjoying 72% of the Americans) sometime to the point of fisticuffs but at the end it proves a meaningful debate and everybody likes it. If we were more like the Americans, politics in India would be more fruitful and interesting. Let us, therefore shed off all those colonial laws which are no longer applicable in today’s world.
Yours etc.,
- Khyriem,
Shillong 14
Terror bombings on Easter Sunday
Editor,
The terror bombings that ripped through three churches and four luxury hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka have left 359 people dead and 500 others injured. World-wide condemnation has been expressed against the perpetrators. This is nothing more than the usual “ritual”. Almost all such deadly explosions are followed by strong denunciation and the offering of condolences and prayers. But are mere hollow condemnations and condolences enough? How many such cold-blooded blasts have happened at places of worship like churches, mosques, temples, synagogue in the past three years? Could we not find out the core causes leading to the incidents? At least to allow the grand idea of “humanity” to survive? Amidst the technological advances and luxuries of modern life, we are fast getting away from basic realities of life! The frequent terror bombings have made us more worried and apprehensive than ever before. Should this not bring the world leaders – spiritual, political and also thinkers, to one table to find the solution? But that will not happen, and innocent people will continue to die at the hands of such bloodthirsty people.
What an irony that the evils of intolerance, dogmatism and hatred explosively originate from the holy altar of religions! Now the world should fear religious fanatics than humane atheists — as also pointed out by Albert Thyrniang in his article “Is religion a lullaby for violence”. Moreover, if we dig deeper, we shall find that the causes of such bloody hostility lie in the misinterpretation of GOD and the holy books we are following. We have foolishly reduced the “inconceivable” GOD to our size. We have regarded others as “non-believers” if they worship HIM in a different way. We undermine them, we belittle their scriptures, we sniff at their culture and mock their tradition and rituals. Not just that, we even find our own ways to misinterpret their scriptures and thereby defame their whole culture and ethos. This has often become a sort of “hobby” among a certain class of people. They are no less than terror bombers and I say this with conviction. Their works insidiously contribute to bringing “division and hatred” among people, communities and their faiths. Such people literally hurt the heart and soul of people, which is far worse than the “hurt” of those killed in the bomb blasts.
Indoctrination of one’s exclusively practiced religion is doubtlessly one of the prime causes that have driven many to this blind extremism. So much so – they even dedicate the evil acts to the Supreme Almighty and their sacred scriptures!
Why can’t we love our neighbour and follow others? Is it not the most COMMON and FUNDAMENTAL teaching of the holy scriptures of all religions? Let other notions and handed down beliefs that are potentially divisive and disruptive be just set aside. One believes, God will never punish us if we get together and work towards mutual love and brotherhood than being fanatics and hurting others and then hurt oneself. After all we are from one fountain source of His divinity.
Of course, the deeper we go and the more we “understand” His “CREATION”, the more we “laugh” at ourselves. We regret our own stupidity too. For instance – in HIS limitless and infinite number of galaxies (just “one” galaxy spreading out in a span of 150000 -200000 light-years) there consists an infinite number of “earths” having their own religions as ours here. Is not their God and our God same? Should we call them heathens because they don’t follow our religion? Our idea of religious “exclusivism” in the UNIVERSE is not just narrow but it is utterly “childish”. It is exactly like a small kid crying and insisting that her doll is the most expensive and most beautiful on earth! So, the nonsense bickering, hatred and inhuman cruelty that originates from our “religious exclusivism” has only kept us away from the tenets of humanity. Our cruelty arising from extremism just chases away the divinity from within. So, let’s learn first to make peace with other believers and their cultural values. Our paths may be different but the goal is the same. Acknowledging, respecting other faiths, and mingling together in their celebrations doubtlessly awaken our dormant godliness. This will certainly help purify our minds and steady our devotion. No one’s devotion to Him should ever end up in blasts and human degeneration.
Yours etc.
Salil Gewali,
Via email