Editor,
The reflex response to Avner Pariat’s writing, “Should Meghalaya Have a Casino” (ST July 22, 2020.) by S K Sharma has clearly raised a lot of eyebrows. Mr. Sharma’s instantaneous reply only bares his desperate attempt to defend the building of a casino here in Khasi hills for reasons best known to him. Perhaps, he has a big role to play in the casino building but having said that, his outrageous ridiculing and mocking of Avner Pariat’s article was totally uncalled for. Mr. Sharma’s narration was disgusting and unpleasant. The statements he made were insulting and contemptuous and done with an intention to humiliate Mr Pariat. He pokes fun and makes mockery of the whole article but pity nobody enjoyed the joke. He thinks that he knows how to combine his sarcasm and insults with humour but sadly, a downside of humour is that it doesn’t always go down well in other cultures even if they speak the same language.
S.K. Sharma says that “thoh tim” generates income for our people. He did not do his research well. He should have used Google to find out as to how many unemployed locals have been given employment by “thoh tim”. Oh! the curse and sins, the dreams and promises of “thoh tim”. Songs have been sung, poems have been written, jokes have been shared but always about misfortunes and poverty because of teer. Every family here in our land has borne the brunt of this “thoh tim” at one time or the other but will anyone talk about their misfortune and loss because of teer? Nobody will and why? Because it is a shame!
Hence the perception of Sharma about the locals generating income through teer is laughable and ridiculous. Yes, it is true that teer gambling was legalized like he says, some forty years or so ago in the guise of Khasi culture and tradition which in fact it is not so. Arrow shooting is a Khasi traditional sport. It is a game of skills where sportsmen compete by shooting on a target of one ft. in length and four inches in diameter, fastened on a small pole whereas teer gambling in the teer ground is conducted by shooting arrows on a very huge target solely for gambling purpose.
Gambling is taboo in Khasi culture. The ill-gotten money and the spoils of teer gambling by duping the common man is shared in crores daily only by the very few who control the monopoly in the shooting ground. What Government receives as revenue is hogwash.
When teer gambling has already proven to impoverish the local people, the setting up of a casino goes beyond our imagination. Sharma talks about Goa Casinos. Doesn’t he know that the Goa Government had to ban locals from gambling due to the rise in gambling addiction and to save the “local culture.” Here in our state, once there is a casino, all laws, rules and regulations saying that no locals will be allowed will just be babbles. Yes, it is a fact that we do not pay income tax but what about the likes of Sharma? Will he pay income tax on the money from the casino? Does he submit his returns to the income tax dept. for the money he wins from teer? I wonder what document he shows to the Tax Dept to prove that he has won the money from teer? No wonder he advocates all kinds of gambling here in our State.
Recommendations, guidance from ruthless opportunists who are there only to make hay while the sun shines, may not go down well in a society of people belonging to a different culture. Therefore, thank you but no thank you, Mr Sharma, we do not need the likes of you to enlighten and encourage our people to open up gambling places and generate income for the State.
Yours etc.,
Jennifer Lyngdoh,
Via email
Urgent need for judicial reforms
Editor,
The well-known proverb, “justice delayed is justice denied,” reflects the reality of the judicial system in India. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has expressed his concern on the pendency of cases from the Supreme Court to the lower courts while addressing students at the Platinum Jubilee meet of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Law, Andhra University on the occasion of its 76th Foundation Day. People have faith in the judiciary, but they want timely justice. The number of undertrial prisoners awaiting justice for long periods of time in different courts are far too many. Land and property-related disputes take many decades to settle. The need of the hour is to make the delivery of justice speedier and affordable. Fast track courts, timely police investigation without any political pressure, and online hearing will help the disposal of cases. India currently needs comprehensive judicial reforms.
Yours etc.,
Amit Singh Kushwaha,
Satna (M.P.)