Editor,
Apropos ‘Woman patient’s death: NEIGRIHMS replies’ (ST Sep 14, 2019), it’s sad to note that an inquiry committee has found a nexus between the HOD, cardiology, NEIGRIHMS and a private vendor. If such a nexus has been found, should not the guilty be placed under suspension till further decisions? Considering that no such action has been taken so far, is it true that such an inquiry has really been conducted as claimed? It’s unfortunate that instead of focusing on Administration(which has been found lacking in several aspects), the NEIGRIHMS director is washing dirty linen in public.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request.
More dangerous than plastics
Editor,
The article by Patricia Mukhim – “Is Education failing us and our Environment?” (ST, 13 Sept, 2019) should be read and re-read by one and all. Our beautiful streams and rivers certainly have a life. They all are exactly like our blood vessels and ceaselessly throbbing heart, kidneys and lungs. Let’s imagine a little seriously as to what will happen if all our blood vessels “continuously” carry impure blood. Will we be able to stay healthy? No, we shall not. We shall surely develop various kinds of fatal sicknesses then finally we shall die. Exactly in the same manner, if we pollute “all” our streams, rivulets, and rivers, they will adversely impact the whole ecosystem. Of course, in the subtle and deeper dimension, all our mountains, hills, streams, brooks, rivers, vegetation are as alive as the organs of our human body. In the deeper level, each of the individual organs is amazingly inter-related, and interdependent too. Now modern science has logically concluded that we human beings, and all our plants, animals, birds and so on are uncannily interconnected and interdependent. There is also an underlying interconnection even in the spiritual level which the Indian ancient sages realized thousands years ago in their intensely deep meditation.
Probably I was not even 10 years old when I felt a sting of pain on noticing people dumping garbage in a gently following river. My inner being immediately pronounced it as an unpardonable sin. It also occurred to me that the river must be an inseparable extension of us all. My intuition was right. I encountered similar ideas in environmental studies and ancient Indian texts much later. What is disgusting is that people “even now” mindlessly dump their garbage in such drains and rivulets. Is this not a big blow to the modern civilization about which we often brag at full throttle? Undoubtedly, dumping hard and soft garbage in the river is far “more dangerous” and more threatening to the environment than the use of plastics. What a disgrace that a person holds an I-phone in one hand and a bucket full of trash in another and throws that in a drain/ rivulet. Is it not the height of insanity? In fact, it should have been a serious criminal offence.
So, keeping in view this blot of modern civilization, I earnestly invite the kind attention of Mr Paul Lyngdoh, MDC and EM (Trade), our environment-conscious Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and others to address this serious issue. The people of Shillong are already beaming with joy and are full of praise for Mr Paul Lyngdoh for banning use of plastics in areas under the KHADC. The “legislation is a must” to deal with such mindless folks who consider the drains and rivers as their dustbins. We already have mountainous hazards caused by this disgusting practice. Therefore, our dynamic leaders and conscious civil societies should come together to fight this evil. The environment should not be choked by the menacing habit of idiotic people. Let’s wake up before the digital civilization goes down the drain.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong -2
Why impose Hindi?
Editor,
The spectre of Hindi language imperialism has once again reared its ugly head and evoking widespread protests across the country. The immediate provocation came from none other than Home Minister Amit Shah himself. He said, “India is a country of many different languages and every language has its own significance. But it is extremely necessary to have one language for the whole country that will be India’s identity in the world. Today, if any single language can do the job of holding the country together with the thread of unity, it is indeed the most widely spoken Hindi.”
It is true that one people, one nation ad one language do really matter in uniting a country and that such country would be greater force as well, but India is composed of different language speaking states, and forcing and coaxing these states into accepting another language has already had its repercussions. So, with such sensitive issues, Amit Shah is courting only controversy.
A little over three months ago in early June, the Narendra Modi government had found itself in the middle of a language storm. The draft education policy had created a perception that Hindi was being made a compulsory language in all non-Hindi speaking states. Such was the intensity of the backlash that the Modi government was forced to tweak the draft to allay the fears.
In a later tweets Shah said that India’s plurality of languages was the biggest strength. But he added that to prevent foreign languages becoming dominant, the framers of the Constitution had unanimously given Hindi the status of official language. Obviously, Shah may be apprehensive of the dominance of English language.
Quick to rebut Shah’s statement, West Bengal Chief Minister responded,” We may learn many languages but we should never forget our mother-language.” Many leaders from the south also responded to Shah’s statement pouring out their anger against the Home Minister’. Thus, controversy once again started and it is snowballing into a greater cohesive protest. Therefore, in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, Amit Shah, our Home Minister must withdraw his statement immediately or he must offer an explanation on the issue to settle the issue.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email