A minimalistic choice
How many vehicles do ministers need on their daily trips from home to office? Is one good enough or do they need a fleet at their disposal? Well, our current Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, likes to keep it elementary. Rymbui is often seen running errands or attending to official obligations using one vehicle. He even experiences the thrill of driving his vehicle at times. Perhaps its because the Home Minister is an uncomplicated and grounded individual. Among the current breed of ministers, Rymbui is a class apart and provides a welcome change from the VIP culture and VIP convoys which are a common sight on the city roads — expensive black SUVs (mostly) tailgated by police escort vehicles. The Jottings team wonders why ministers and VIPs are always in a hurry but citizen-centric activities move at a snail’s pace.
From brown to green
There is a strange silence in the otherwise bustling football ground in Fire Brigade, which now is home to a sizeable amount of grass unblemished by the sportsmen’s feet. Footballers from across the town once thronged the playground which now remains desolate, all thanks to COVID-19. A recent visit by the SJ team to the venue found that grass had started growing beginning from the periphery and encroaching towards the centre. Also a popular venue for shopping carnivals and other events, the now-green playground awaits the footfall of sports enthusiasts as “hope springs eternal in the human breast” (Alexander Pope) that COVID-19 will one day lose its fangs and will be back to the good old days again. Sigh….
Masks only for the haves
Ever since COVID-19 alighted in the sub-continent, masks have actually become part of our wardrobes. Whilst many don the mask to steer clear of COVID-19, some, till date, shun the mask like they do Covid. The scenario in Shillong is peculiar. Here you will seldom see a beggar wearing a mask. Khyndai Lad, in downtown Shillong is dotted with maskless beggars. Mind you, they are not oblivious to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic or the value of masks. For them, its choice between a hard stone and a rock – between buying a mask or buying food to stay alive. Covid has exacerbated poverty. No wonder the beggars don’t much care about wearing a mask to keep themselves and others from harm’s way.
Unheard plight of veggie vendors
It is seven long months since the nationwide lockdown was announced in India. Whilst many businesses in the city, which were hit hard by the sudden lockdown, continue to limp back to normalcy, select vegetable vendors are still condemned to set up shop along Butcher Road from Shani Mandir to Rhino Point. The customers have dwindled as many makeshift shops have sprung up in different areas across the city. Only those passing by Butcher Road stop to pick up vegetables from these vendors. To add to their woes, vehicles are seen obscuring those makeshift stalls. The SJ team spoke to a vendor who bemoaned his fate. He says, “It is getting difficult for me to bring food to my family every day with such meagre sales.” Another vendor echoed, “Due to poor sales, vegetables tend to rot and very often we just have to throw them away at great loss to ourselves.”
Cycling, the new gymnasium!
While vehicles stayed off the roads during the lockdown, the number of bicycle enthusiasts
has grown exponentially. Shillong is witnessing a silent change — more people are taking to cycling than ever before. Cycling has become an important substitute as gyms and other fitness centres had been shut down for close to six months. Keen to stay fit and keeping clear of infection, commuters around the city have turned to bicycles to remain fit and healthy. Riding a bicycle also ensures social distancing which is not practiced among those who are habituated to morning or evening walks as many throng the roads for a stroll. Speaking to the SJ team, one cyclist said, “I’ve bought a cycle. Cycling helps me stay fit and I’m enjoying the morning rides”.