Editor,
The article ‘The politics of deception’ by BanshanFerdyLyngdoh(ST Dec 18, 2020) is a bold, straightforward, and beautifully written piece which every right-thinking indigenous Khasi should read to understand and further question the actual motives of pressure groups. I thank the writer for bringing out an intelligent, properly researched, and well-argued piece.Alternate voices like his are essential for a healthy discourse on important subjects. The world should know that the pressure groups are not mandated to exclusively speak on behalf of the ‘jaidbynriew’.
We are all part of the same ‘jaidbynriew’ but we choose to distance ourselves from those who destroy property or stab faultless shopkeepers at Ïewduh. Are we still entitled to call ourselves ‘Ka jaidbynriew ba Tip Briew Tip Blei’ (a community that knows man and knows God)? With all that’s happening around us, how many members of these pressure groups who sing paeans of martyrs and poets honestly proclaim that they truly ‘Kamai ïa Ka Hok’ (earn livelihood through honest means)?
The trajectory of pressure group movements in the state right from the 1970s was well documented in the article and are now lessons that we should all learn from. We should no longer be gullible or give in easily to populist agitations. It is time to question whether any propagandist movement has a possible outcome or not. And even if it does, how it will affect our lives. The implementation of ILP will definitely have regressive impact on livelihoods as tourism will definitely take a hit. Guest house owners, tourist and taxi drivers, roadside vendors, tour guides, local tourist societies, and the like are the most vulnerable. We have seen and heard how people in Sohra–the most sought-after tourist destination–have suffered this year due to prolonged closure and diminution of tourist footfall.
Pertaining to the other matters of the state, the Honourable Governor’s remark in a recent interview with a reporter of a vernacular Daily was indeed very interesting. He mentioned that in the four months that he’s been here, not a single politician or civil society member that he met spoke about the prospects of the state. As in the past, everyone has joined the chorus of jingoism. I sincerely hope people will be prudent enough to think beyond outdated laws like the ILP, deliberate about other predicaments of the state, and stand up for issues that are more imperative. Blind compliance to antagonistic ideas of half-learned wannabes must come to a grinding halt. We must start questioning to begin an intellectual revolution of sorts.
Yours etc.,
David Thangkhiew
Upper Shillong
Divisive mindset!
Editor,
There is hardly any element of surprise when Subramanian Swamy demands tweaking of the national anthem with special reference to Sindh. While the reason behind the antipathy of the saffron brigade towards Pakistan is obvious; their allergy towards Tagore is barely hidden. This even while paying “lip service” to the poet-philosopher, perhaps due to his impeccable liberal, secular humanitarian all-embracing mindset. Tagore dared to accord a much higher pedestal to humanity over silly patriotism and considered “nationalism” as a great menace troubling Indians! How can an outfit, always eager to play its electoral trump card of communalism rabid Hindutva, Islamophobia and engaged in a vain exercise dividing humanity on the basis of religion and nation, afford to respect accept or even tolerate that ultimate human being named Tagore!
This is the very reason why Kalyan Singh once demanded removal of “Jana Gana Mana” from the status of national anthem as it is nothing but “Tagore’s tribute to the British Raj/George V”. Vested interests are at play to “purify” NCERT text books by attempting to remove the writings of the Nobel laureate from it! If some heavyweight claims that he “took birth” in Visva-Bharati, another demands revision of the national anthem on the pretext that Sindh does not form part of India anymore! Indeed how can the name of a Pakistani region “pollute” the national anthem in “New India”! How can a song celebrating the diversity of Indian civilization and culture be allowed to hold its head high in these chauvinistic times!
It’s high time Swamy and his ilk are enlightened about the fact that “Jana Gana Mana” is actually a great song or poetry, not a mere textbook of geography or general knowledge enumerating the list of Indian provinces! It is Tagore’s tribute to the traditional India and it’s people representing the various cultures and regions embedded in the geography. Indeed Sindh does not exist physically in the Indian map any longer, but how can one ignore the contribution of Sindh towards economic or cultural enrichment of pre-partition India and which is still continuing through its indigenous people ie Sindhi community who are part and parcel of present day India and no less Indian than say a Gujarati or Marathi.
In the same breath shall we discard Surya Sen and his brave Chittagong comrades who had sacrificed their lives for Indian independence just because that area falls in present day Bangladesh? Will we then discard chapters of Mohenjodaro Harappa from history text books just because those ancient Indus valley sites are today located in Pakistan? How can we exorcise Sindh from our national anthem and psyche, the region which forms the very genesis of the word “India” and “Hindustan?”
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee,
Kolkata