Editor,
Apropos the two letters viz ‘ Idol vandalism ‘ by Anjan Kumar Das and ‘ Why the attack on a Hindu deity’ by Dibakar Purkayastha, the condemnation should be joined in chorus by all who believe in the freedom of religious expression and the rule of the Constitution. In the same way that Christians are hurt when the crucifix was smashed; the St Joseph’s school holding examination for its pupils was hurled with stones or the wife and the daughters of the pastor who died of Covid last year, were thrashed etc., Christians too are morally bound to condemn equivocally the vandalism on their symbols.
That said, my fervent prayer to all is not to seek vengeance at what is happening in our country. As Christians we believe in one verse from the Bible that says, “Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I shall repay (Romans 12:19) It is very important to have such views from both sides of the spectrum. I wish our elected representatives could ay a few words to calm down tempers. Pope Francis is expected to visit India as per our Prime Minister’s invitation, when they met in the G7 conclave in Rome. If Pope Francis could prepone his visit it would be highly appreciated to cure once and for all this cancerous growth of religious hatred and racial overtones. More so this being the beginning of new year 2022.
Yours etc.,
James Kharmih
Shillong 1
Anniversary Blues
Editor,
As Meghalayans this year, this month will find us celebrating the 50th year of statehood. Let’s give credit where it is due and recognize that statehood became a reality because of the efforts put in by our politicians of that era. 50 years down the line I think it is quite befitting to revisit the political arena and the political leadership that has now taken the reins of governance. Any attempt at such an exercise will immediately bring to mind the ingredients of the broth prepared by the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. “Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.” Ugh! The closest word to describe such a menu in modern lingo would be revolting and dear readers that exactly is how one feels about the political leadership of our state today!
Let’s start with the NPP and how they represent us in Parliament. The LS member is a rubber stamp of the BJP while “the less said the better” would be most suitable epitaph for its RS member. The guy still thinks he is the spokesperson of the party; loves to comment on local issues; loves to dish out infantile remarks to the local press but shuns from opening his mouth in Parliament on burning issues affecting the state. He has yet to make his opening remark as an MP. He exemplifies to a “t” the typical behavior of a minnow (called Shillongnai in Khasi) when thrown into a large river. It’s too large for the minnow; he is scared of the bigger fish around him and scurries back to the comfort of the shallows whenever he could.
Then let’s discuss the latest stimulating experiment of this MDA Government. Apparently it has run out of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Deputy Chairman posts and so the experimentation with Advisers to the CM has begun. One look at any typical adviser so far appointed makes one immediately pray to the Almighty for the wellbeing, welfare and sanity of Mr Conrad Sangma, the Chief Minister of our state. It has become quite clear that the State can only learn from the mistakes given by such advisers.
Then how can we forget the Regional parties. Elections are looming and the cry for Regional unity has once again resurfaced. Good, lets vote for them but what have they to offer? One cannot be evasive nor can one hide facts on issues that impact on the interest, welfare and development of the state. Well however generous one would like to be, what they can offer is only that, Unity and nothing else. There is no leadership potential; no plans on how they propose to run the state if they ever come to power; no sense of direction; no vision except that they represent the muted DNA of those stalwarts than brought about the birth of Meghalaya. So thank you but no Thank you!
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
A Himalayan blunder
Editor,
Not paying attention to boundaries while carving out the new State of Meghalaya from Assam was a Himalayan blunder. When an autonomous state was created in 1969, there was the Assam Reorganisation( Meghalaya) act 1969.The autonomous state was formed without deliberation on its boundaries which are defined in section 3 of the Act unilaterally and arbitrarily by the then Union Government and certainly under the instruction of the then Assam Government which did not even wish to invite the Syiems, Lyngdohs, Sirdars, Dallois and the Nokmas who knew every minute detail about their land. Such land extended into the foothills of Assam and the British and the Assamese had encroached into all the fertile plains well-fed by water.( a ploy for revenue collection).
So the map of Prof R.L Singh, ‘A Regional Geography (National Geographical Society of India, Vanarasi ,January 1971) pp.675-95; will tell one that the many juttings into the Garo Hills in the west, the Khasi Hills in the middle and the Jaintia Hills in the East, are not seas or rivers but the fertile plains of our state, Meghalaya. And on this matter there is Part X, Article 244(2) of the Constitution of India that serves as protection for the Scheduled and Tribal areas.
The then Assam Government taking advantage of the backwardness and lack of awareness of these tribal states arbitrarily defined the boundaries of the then Autonomous state of Meghalaya which continued up to the time when the autonomous state was upgraded into a full-fledged state on 21-January-1972 under the North Eastern Areas ( Reorganization) Act,1971.The boundaries remain the same as in the previous Act of 1969.)vide section 5(a) of this Act. Hence the boundary disputes with Assam which remains unresolved till date. The present Governor of Meghalaya, Satya Pal Malik was right when he commented that the boundaries could have been resolved at the time of creation of the new state. The Bodoland Territorial Council was created only after the boundaries were properly earmarked.
This year 2021 revealed the utter desperation of the Assam government to venture into Mizoram and we know the outcome. The Shillong Times of April 11-2019 also wrote on the forceful take-over of the school graveyard( case pending in the Hon.SC)and also the land grab by the Assam Government from a person in Pilangkata for the building of the Chief Minister. The case to this effect filed by the land owner is also pending in the SC.
Only a few days remain for The chief minister of Meghalaya and Assam to seal the boundary deal. That the Assam CM tried to buy time and Meghalaya CM consented and that shady deal in the meeting at Langpih in which the MLA and the MDC of Rambrai ( Langpih falls in their constituency) were not invited, leaves one highly suspicious of any fair outcome. More difficult is the problem as the map by Prof R.L Singh of the National Geographical Society India 1971, may not be in their possession.
Yours etc.,
W.Passah
Nongkrem