Editor,
We should not hold back from doing the right thing, more so, when the situation is getting worse by the day. For numerous reasons, our planet earth is not the same as the one we inherited 50 years ago. We can see a vast difference in the climate now and that of a half-century ago. We have badly messed up with everything mother nature has given us. Even the temperature of Shillong this year touched almost 30-degrees. It is unprecedented. Many warning bells are repeatedly being tolled by the environmental scientists. Frankly speaking, the major changes in our lifestyles and practices are to be blamed. Our occupations, and businesses and their related production units that send the “smoke” up must be stopped forthwith. The “greed of capitalists” alone has in fact pricked the body of the ecology. It has blackened the atmosphere; it has punctured the ozone layers!
Anyway, the good news here. To litter our surroundings is a criminal offence now as pointed by Patrica Mukhim in her “Shillong: Do we care” (ST, Sept 9, 2019). Hope we can heave a sigh of relief. Let that be both in letter and spirit. More than anything we have littered and polluted our water bodies, which is the worst ecological damage. It’s deleterious impacts upon the environment are diverse. In the past three two months, I’ve had hot exchanges with a number of people wanting to dump their garbage in the nearby drains/streams. I tried a lot to convince them. Many were convinced too but some are exceptionally brute. I wonder how we describe this brand of people! What is disgusting is that people throw woods, shoes and heaps of clothes, apart from reeking stuff, into the peacefully flowing streams. This is outrageous; it is a deadly sin. Such folks can’t even imagine think that garbage can cause the blockage to the drains. Their cerebral capacity must be desensitized. They can’t think of anything that happens next due to their own acts. Well, Kiddies Corner and Seven Sets schools deserve a pat on their backs for creating awareness. Other schools should be inspired to follow in their footsteps.
Lastly, here is my sincere request to the concerned authorities, police department and the conscious citizens. Let’s capture those pictures of “criminal offence” of people throwing garbage into the drains/streams etc., on our cell phones. We have taken meaningless selfies, now let’s slyly take snapshots of those who have been defiling the face of mother earth. The public must be active whistle-blowers. Let such incriminating pictures be shared with the Shillong Municipality and the Meghalaya Police Department for further faction. I think it is worthwhile, apart from the fine, if we make strict regulations that the offenders be barred from driving their vehicles and operating bank accounts for a period of 3 months and the like. If similar acts are repeated then they should also be barred from other public facilities. These kinds of punitive measures can be an effective deterrent. If possible, those pictures of the offenders be published in the local dailies batch-wise. One is confident that the Shillong Times can play a lead role and inspire other dailies to carry out this mission. Let such offenders be shamed.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
World Mental Health Day
Editor,
The theme for this year’s World Mental health day on October 10, is “Prevention of Suicide.” The main reason for such a theme is because of the increase in cases of suicides which sadly has risen exponentially and has turned into one of the biggest challenges the world over. It is high time the global community take serious note of this and find immediate steps and execute actions so as to save precious lives which otherwise sadly are self destroyed. In India too the number of suicide cases have exceeded death due to accidents. It is also alarming to note that according to a survey in India, suicide is the leading cause of death among teens and those in their 20s and 30s. Suicides happen irrespective of age and gender and the main factors that lead to such shocking self destroying tendencies is not only mental illness or depression but also personal, economical and social issues which if spotted early and dealt with in a sensitive manner would save so many lives .Government should take necessary steps so that NGOs, mental health practitioners and Institutions are given necessary support so as to make individuals in distress get help. This will, to some extent win the trust of individuals and prevent many from dying of suicide. Educational institutions and welfare organisations can also play a vital role in this matter.
Yours etc.,
M Pradyu, Kumar
On lynching
Editor,
Apropos your editorial, “RSS and lynching” (ST, October 10, 2019), the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the word “lynching” was of foreign origin and was for that reason irrelevant for our purposes. However, we cannot ignore a reality ~ good or bad ~ just because of its foreign origin. Aryans have foreign origin. But can we ever ignore their assimilation into Indian society?
On the other hand, lynching is a shame wherever it may happen in the world. In “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other word would smell as sweet…” Indeed, rose will smell as sweet even if a rose is called golap in Bengali or gulab in Hindi. Following this we can also say, “What’s in a name? That which we call lynching/ By any other word would carry equal shame…”
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata