Editor,
My attention was drawn to the article “Elections are serious business, not battles of words” by Patricia Mukhim (ST Oct 21). I, not only endorse fully the content and views expressed by the writer but going by the speeches during this current bye elections and the lectures by candidates and different canvassers, including the big guns, in the election platforms as appeared in the media was a pathetic display of competing in oratorial skills. Instead of trying to lecture down the electorate and running down rivals more time should have been given to imparting election knowledge to the electorate on the democratic system of government, parties’ ideology, policies and programmes etc., of the respective parties. Instead the discourse has degenerated to such an extent that election platforms have become a farce and a big hoax. Most of the election speeches, barring a few turned out to be nonsensical, childish, slanderous, defamatory and above all blatant lies. While candidates and their canvassers have the right to criticise their opponents and the political parties they are contesting from but those allegations turned out to be lies which were abhorrent even to the least informed electorate.
Election platforms today have become the place for mud-slinging for throwing rotten eggs, trash and a dehumanizing fora. Courtesy, respect and civilized fellow human considerations are all gone. The politics of one-upmanship through the most devilish means has already caught up with India and Meghalaya. Now the cut throat politics of money power, muscle power, caste and communal power and religious power has come to rule even in Meghalaya which is a so called Christian dominated state. Whither the much wanted clean politics? Who is responsible for this pass ? Where is the conscience of the electorate? Is it dead?
Yours etc..
Philip Marwein,
Sr. Journalist,
Shillong.
If humanity is hurt, God is hurt
Editor,
Religion without compassion might give way to hatred. Compassion with a motive of “self-interest” is completely irreligious. But of late, some of the religions have departed from those basic human values. Love and compassion are for only those who follow their “specific” faith. Almost each of the religions is vying for its exclusive “supremacy”. The dogmatic belief in exclusive supremacy has become a real bone of contention among the existing religions.
In the name of religion, we have polluted our minds. we have corrupted our souls. We have also gone so much astray that God must have now shut his gateway to heaven! Are we not foolish to believe in the twenty-first century — “my God is different from yours” If the sun and moon are the same for Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, by that simple logic, why is the CREATOR of the infinite cosmos not ONE for all? Is the digestive system in the stomach of a Hindu and a Christian different? The alimentary canal secretes the “same” kind of digestive enzymes to digest the food eaten by people of any faith. One divine power is controlling each of us, every part of our organ and cell. It is outrageous that we bear malice and hostility towards others in order to uphold our faiths. Why don’t we try to understand that there are many paths to each “one destination.” One wonders in amazement, why we are so “unscientific” in our approach to the Almighty? Why is there so much bad blood among the different faiths? Truly, our fanaticism and belligerence have become the stumbling block in our understanding of the real teachings of the holy scriptures.
If God-believing people nurture animosity for others, then that religion itself has been wrongly understood or misinterpreted. Who is to blame here? Is there any organization of moral rectitude that will come up to address this glaring faultline?
All should agree that “tolerance to inhumanity” begets more violence. No one has the right to hold humanity to ransom. As believers of GOD, all should shake off narrow dogmatism and malice. All need to follow the path that takes us from hatred to love, ignorance to knowledge. The practice of expressing LOVE and COMPASSION for “all” irrespective of caste, creed, and colour, always ensures communal harmony and peace. Not just that, it is the pathway to DIVINITY. If humanity is hurt, God is hurt.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Whither JRDO Mains results?
Editor,
The Community and Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya called for applications for 28 posts of Junior Rural Development Officers (JRDO) on August 26, 2019. Thereafter the prelims were held on November 2 and 4, 2019. The results were declared on January 17, 2020. A total of 332 candidates cleared the prelims and were called to appear for the main examination which was held on September 4, 2020 at designated examination centres in each district. Now after more than a year has passed since the conduct of the main exams we the candidates are left in the dark as to why the results are not yet declared. For evaluating the answer scripts of a mere 332 candidates, the Department has crossed a milestone of 411 days up to October 20. Some sources claim that the transfer of competent officers has resulted in the delay of declaration of the results. There are other insider sources which say that the answer scripts have not been evaluated at all. What is taking the Department so long to declare the results? The C&RD Department needs to answer!
Yours etc.,
M Lyngdoh- Shillong -2
AN Sangma – Tura
W Lyngdoh – Shillong -3