Editor,
The grotesque incident of vandalism of Mother Kali in Barapathar, Shillong on 2nd January 2022 once again reminds us of the intolerance of some people irrespective of caste, creed and religion. We do expect both the print and electronic media to cover this issue and condemn it nationally. This incident reminds me of the Lalvilla, Laitumkhrah incident in the 1979 Kali Puja episode which people have almost forgotten. Now once again a similar incident by the ‘miscreants’ ( as we call them) is being repeated. The acts of vandalism in Bangladesh during last year’s Durga Puja crossed all limits,
We live together in Shillong and amidst the Covid situation people of Meghalaya have shown unity. Such an incident should be condemned by all and the culprits should be punished immediately.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kumar Das.
Shillong – 6
Why the attack on a Hindu deity?
Editor,
How long will religious minorities in Meghalaya live in fear and trepidation? The question of vandalising an idol of a Hindu deity is not the fundamental question here. An idol is probably made from clay and mud probably and can be substituted with a new one. But the foremost question is that it hurts the religious sentiments of Hindu community as a whole.
Is this the act of Dhimmitude ? Hindus in the state have lived ostrich-like since a long time and are incarcerated into cocoons. They have been subjected to endless trepidation for the last forty odd years.
The life of the people of this religious faith is full of hilarious ruins and combustion, down with bottomless perdition and adamantine chain of infernal fire. The sword of Damocles has been hanging over them interminably. A perilous destiny is longing for them and most of the time hell falls apart. They probably feel like the tyrant obsequious courtier of Dionysius of Syracuse fame. The treacherous muse in the form of destiny could not confer preferences to them.
Of course, the time is ripe for expostulation. Not by useless bravado, instead they should raise their objections about the entire episode with the proper authorities as per the law of the land only.
Yours etc.,
Dibakar Purkayastha,
Bangalore -66
Chinese incursions
Editor,
China’s revelation that it has standardised official names for 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh has worsened the already strained relations between India and China. However, the Indian government rejected the renaming of places and declared that the state has always been and will always be an integral part of India. This move comes along with China’s new border law. Eight of the 15 places in ‘’Zangnan”(Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh) are for inhabited areas, four are for mountains, two for rivers and one for a mountain pass. According to India, assigning invented names to places does not alter reality.
It must be noted that this is not the first time China attempted to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. After the Dalai Lama’s visit to the state in 2017 China had assigned Chinese names in Arunachal Pradesh. With the implementation of China’s new border law, India is likely to face more challenges at the northern border. China is likely to come up with more border model villages to be used both for military and civilian purposes. This law will delineate and demarcate territorial boundaries with India and Bhutan. For China, it is a militarised solution to the boundary issue. The law prohibits any party from indulging in any activity in the border area.
The latest move by China comes against the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control(LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Although the two troops de-escalated from a few friction points, they continue to face each other in other stand-off points in eastern Ladakh. Restoration of relations between the two countries is contingent on sensitivity between the two countries and compliance with past agreements. Provocations and threat will only deteriorate the relations.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
CM with a heart for the poor!
Editor,
When “brave” “dynamic” leaders are seen to relentlessly beat their own trumpet, engage in shameless image-building by squandering billions of state money, there also dwells a certain Naveen Patnaik silently serving the electorate with utmost responsibility. When the dreaded Phailin hit the Odisha coast in October 2013, Patnaik literally led from the front and saw to it that the people of the coastal regions were transferred to secured buildings in safe distances and sufficient food products, clothes and medicines lasting a week were stocked. Thanks to Patnaik’s supreme sense of responsibility towards humanity, Odisha saw minimum loss of human lives despite facing severe natural calamity. Thereafter, whenever severe cyclones are about to approach the Odisha coast; the state Government promptly initiates action to minimise loss of lives. Yet, far from advertising his deeds, Patnaik prefers to remain in the background and carries on his Constitutional duties quietly to serve the electorate of the state sincerely.
When starving, exhausted migrant laborers, originally hailing from Bengal/Jharkhand/Bihar, were walking through Odisha while returning from South India following instant lockdown nationwide in March 2020; the Government of Patnaik had rendered yeoman’s service to those hapless lot by picking them up in buses till the border of Odisha along with setting up kitchens on the way so they do not remain hungry! What an application of balm to the poorest of the poor!
In this perspective, when Patnaik comes forward with coffers of his not-so-prosperous state to financially support Missionaries of Charity; it hardly evokes surprise given his magnanimity. What the State has failed to deliver to the poorest, marginalized and illiterate souls of the country, are instead being served by the Christian missionaries with impeccable service in the sphere of education, health in remotest parts of India! When certain mandarins remain obsessed with religious muscle-flexing offering nothing better than “grand” shrines and corridors, the poor and helpless receive their share of human rights and dignity thanks to the missionaries. Yet, far from remaining indebted to the missionaries rendering unfathomable service towards the much-deprived folks, the concerned authorities are scandalously according step-motherly treatment to them by accusing them of initiating “conversions” and maintaining a stunning silence when they get physically assaulted or when Churches are vandalized!
And now arrives the news of blockade in the path of foreign funds reaching the esteemed institution named Missionaries of Charity whose contribution towards the homeless, lepers, destitute, poor is unfathomable to say the least!
However, amidst this dark intolerant scenario, Naveen Patnaik is that rare beacon of hope and sanity by offering funds from the treasury of Odisha to the Missionaries of Charity. What a gesture of responsibility towards those silent workers and their selfless service who are sacrificing their own lucrative careers, comforts by risking their own lives too in this vitiated environment for the sake of the welfare of the downtrodden! None other than Mother Teresa is surely blessing Naveen Patnaik from on high for his exceptional humanity!
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee,
Via email