Relics of the past
Years ago, January used to be the month of novelties. New year, new experiences and of course, new calendars, hanging from the walls of almost every room in our houses.
Yes, we are talking about the good, old printed calendars that came with all the 365 days of the year, a list of holidays and a stunning visual of a landscape somewhere in the centre. Back then, it was only normal to be gifted a ‘free calendar’ from different sources — your nearest pharmacy, your go-to bookstore or your newspaper subscription.
Fast forward the intervening years and here we are, staring at our days months and year on the electronic screens of our phones.
As a lot of important activities such as reopening of schools and colleges, end of winter break and a tonne of important holidays coincided in the beginning of the year, people back then would develop a sentimental relationship with the calendar as well, referring to it as the only medium of knowing what lies ahead. And thus when we think about it, we will find ourselves adding more items in this list of ‘relics of past’— analog wrist-watches whose only job was to show time, greetings cards which would lay decorated on tops of our shelves and cases, landline phones that could give us an ache just from long hours of standing and conversing.
Being gifted with free calendars recently, some of the SJ team members could not help but take this really nostalgic trip down the memory lane, where new years and new months felt extra fresh and new. And it got us into thinking: what else remains to be renamed as a ‘relic of the past’?
A break close to home
Taking a break from the wonted day-to-day life may sound a little complicated, but it actually isn’t. Many a time people plan journeys to far-off places for something as simple as a trek, and that of course delivers to them what they sought for. But it could’ve turned out to be more convenient than that.
Intrinsically, Shillong has a number of places close to people’s homes even, which are ideal for a brief getaway and visiting doesn’t require any planning whatsoever.
Some portions of the picturesque Shillong will catch a person unawares with the semblances of places that don’t acquaint itself with the outlook of a society — inducing feelings of seclusion and serenity and being in peace with nature. Those that understand this obscure Shillong, can never really forget what a wonderful place this is to live in. With this the SJ team leaves you on this hunt for such dazzling places in our splendacious Shillong.
Over-priced parking spaces
Inflation has always been a cause for worry for the middle-income groups and the economically weaker sections of society. Shillongites, like all other citizens across the country, have been facing difficulties in the wake of rising prices of essential commodities.
With rising fuel prices, expensive LPG cylinders and costly essential items, they are now facing another issue. The cost of parking fees across the city has been hiked from Rs 10 and Rs 20 in some places to Rs 30 for an hour. Whether it is the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority or the Shillong Cantonment Board, parking spaces are now churning in good money for the contractors who have taken the parking spaces on lease from the authorities.
In Police Bazar, Keating Road and Laitumkhrah Market you have to shell out Rs 30 to park your vehicle for an hour or less. While those driving two-wheelers can park their vehicles anywhere and get away with it, car owners and drivers have to pay everywhere they go.
Paying a fee for parking is alright as long as the money is going to the proper authorities but in most cases those collecting the fee don’t even issue a receipt. You get one if you are lucky. And in some cases you pay the fee only to realise that the money has gone to someone not authorised to collect the fee. With the lack of proper parking space in the Pine City most vehicles have to park along the roadside even in busy commercial areas leading to congestion and no one seems to care. Hope someone will care and do something about it.