Editor,
The notification barring teachers from active politics to me is another blunder committed by this present MDA government. It was a shock to read on Tuesday, December 14 ,2021 on the front page of this daily that this government had come up with this notification. To me it’s really unfortunate and unacceptable that the Government of Meghalaya should bar its intellectuals/teachers from participating in active politics, especially when the statutory body the UGC, responsible for issuing guidelines to college and university teachers, in fact, encourages teachers to shoulder responsibilities of public office. The big question therefore is: Who then can participate in politics? This notification is a loss not only to the teaching community but for the society at large.
We have witnessed in our state that teachers do shoulder social responsibilities be it in local bodies as well in state politics. These can be considered to be affairs of common interest to all members of society. I would like to state here that the editorial of your daily dated November 6, 2021 recalled the days where the state of Meghalaya was once represented by stalwarts comprising educated leaders like university and college teachers. Here you rightly pointed out that these were “professionals not businessmen.” Since intellectuals are now barred from politics then what kind of politicians will we get in the future, and in which direction is our state headed for?
I would like to point out here that our Chief Minister himself revealed in an important social gathering that he is engaging a renowned professor/teacher from one of the world’s best universities, to provide advisory services to his political party the NPP, on political party management. When many of the leaders of NPP are also teachers of different colleges of our state, the question here is why has the government then come up with this notification. Or is there a hidden agenda behind the notification? And what message is the government sending to the society and whole of humanity with this kind of action?
I think it is time for all citizens of our state, especially the intellectuals and educated to think hard on this issue. Otherwise in future other groups of the educated and intellectuals may be barred from participating in politics and local authorities too.
Yours etc.,
Samborlang Dkhar,
Shillong
Politics In Meghalaya
Editor,
When 12 MLAs left the Congress to join the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) it gave a jolt to the MDA Government. Ms Agatha Sangma the Tura MP perhaps on instructions from her brother the national president of the NPP sought the repeal of the CAA. Earlier perhaps Ms Sangma had supported the CAA with the hope of being appointed Minister of State in the NDA coalition. If that was not enough Ms Sangma was also told to oppose palm oil cultivation in Meghalaya lest it destroys the eco-sensitive zone of Meghalaya and the North East as it did in South East Asia.
Meanwhile, a senior politician confided that Mamata Banerjee’s inability to reconcile with the Congress Party allowed Modi to heave a sigh of relief.
It is common to hear of the AITMC being referred to as the Bengali Party. People here are unable to appreciate our Bengali friends with whom we traded right from the barter system era. The literary persons of Cherrapunjee and our teachers of repute who taught our parents, the medical doctors who served here; BC Roy and his 1.2 MW electricity unit at Beadon Falls etc. Can we not show a little gratitude to them? I still recall those skirmishes that had prompted our teachers to sell off their homes and leave their birthplace to move to Calcutta. Those are sad memories.
Right now we appear to be inclined towards the Party that before 1992 had 40 MPs in the Lok Sabha and which by 2009 became our rulers. We also fail to perceive the religious intolerance practised today because we don’t view the right channels. And also we seem to have forgotten the dreaded CAB now elevated to CAA.
As far as my conviction goes, unless VPP, AITMC and INC come together in 2023, Meghalaya and the whole country will regress and perhaps be far worse than things are at present.
Yours etc.,
J Kharmih
Shillong -1
Mahant a stranger in his own temple?
Editor,
Apropos to the public notice published in your daily dated December 9, 2021 by the Mahant of Narsingh Akhara Temple in Qualapatty, Shillong, informing the authorities that if any unlawful construction is found in the Temple complex, necessary action may be taken against the erring person as he has nothing to do with such illegalities.
It is surprising that the Mahant of the Temple should make such an irresponsible statement. How is it that illegal construction is going on in the complex and he has no knowledge of the same? If it is so he has displayed his incompetence to be the Mahant of the temple. This calls for his immediate removal from his post of Mahant by the superiors of the Narsingh Akhara Temple because the continuance of such a person is not in the interest of the Temple and the people connected to it.
Yours etc.,
Junelson Rangdong,
Shillong- 9