One person can make a difference
Despite strict vigil by Shillong Municipal Board officials and workers down the line, some people still choose to break the law and dump their garbage at the nearest place without any care in the world. Seen in the picture is a man dumping garbage along the Beaver Road. Recently, the lead RJ of 91.5 Radio Mirchi, Nicholas Kharnami, stood like a rock at a place that was turned into a dump yard by garbage criminals. He drew the attention of the passers-by and the Dorbar Shnong Umpling by standing there for hours together with his ‘question mark’ (?) illustrations and questions such as, “Who is responsible for this?”
The SJ team met up with Nicky J (as he is referred to) at the spot between Umpling and Itshyrwat on the way to NEIGRIHMS and asked him what motivates this action on his part. That day — July 13 — Nicky J was at the spot since 5.30 am and was there till 11 am. He sacrificed his sleep and his breakfast because this man is deeply concerned about the environment and the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in and around Shillong city. Nicky J rummaged in the plastic bags dumped at the spot and found amazon.in packaging belonging to someone in Laitumkhrah. Some packets belonged to locals from Umpling while still others were dumped by the BSF personnel who were on posting. This despite BSF having a regular garbage collection system inside the camp in Umpling but most of their personnel live outside the camps in rented accommodation. Nicky J told the SJ team that what is painful is to see even adult diapers being dumped at the site. It is bad enough to see children’s diapers.
The next day, Nicky J was able to bring the Rangbah Shnong and Secretary of Umpling Dorbar Shnong and the owner of the plot where the garbage was dumped and a JCB to pick up all the garbage and clear it. Now a bamboo fence has come up at the place which overlooks a verdant forest from where the sun rises and would have made a lovely viewpoint if someone was imaginative enough. Nicky J has proved time and again that civic action is important even if it means standing alone.
So, whether it is dumping garbage or standing up to the challenge of eradicating the menace, one person can make a difference!
Living it up
Sports and sporting activities have been put in a lull for a painful duration of time. Football fields which once used to bustle with the uproar of spirited players are now mostly barren.
Restrictions on how things go about in sports to thwart COVID are themselves playing spoilsport with the game — cricket, football, combat sports, you name it.
Nonetheless, select non-contact sporting activities have just been permitted in East Khasi Hills but most of the contact sports, besides competition with spectators, are still barred.
With Olympics just around the corner and people still not getting over the adrenaline-pumped UEFA Euro 2020 and the Copa America, sporting enthusiasts are feeling the palpitation telling them to get back at it! But too many stakes are at hand here in professional sports.
On the other hand, people in several parts of the city are still exuberant as this lot (comprising civilians and simply people who love the game) is continuing to keep the sporting spirit alive.
Of late, many have taken to deserted roads to enjoy a brisk game of cricket with simply a bat and ball and two teams willing to sweat it out even though it’s raining cats and dogs.
Whereas, in almost every corner of the city, children are seen dribbling the ball as if there’s no tomorrow.
Where most clamour for normalcy, these people have found a way of living it up by not caring for what exactly ‘normalcy’ implies.
The vaccinated chanawala
Does the name Umesh Sah ring a bell? Probably not. But the words “vaccinated chanawala” of Shillong do remind us of the man who has become some sort of an internet sensation after photos of him carrying a dabba of chanas with the word “vaccinated” pasted on it, was shared on WhatsApp and Facebook last week.
56-year-old Sah, a native of Kanpur, lives in Keating Road and has been feeding chanas to Shillongites for over 30 years.
Having received his second jab on July 8, he carries the final vaccination certificate in his pocket and proudly displays the same to anyone wishing to take a look.
“Everyone should get vaccinated,” he said, admitting that conducting business has definitely become safer these days. “People don’t hesitate to buy chana from me anymore,” he said.
Sah, however, is oblivious to his stardom. Asked if business has improved since he became famous, he said that more people have started to approach him. “Some come for the chana, some to talk to me,” he said, as he turned around to mix some chana for a customer who wanted “extra mircha (chilli)”.