Editor,
A letter captioned, ‘Defer Offline Exams Please’ (ST Jan 26, 2022) was rudely retorted by three letters of parents and two educationists in Shillong. Looking at the first counter reaction of the world body against Covid, it had created total confusion. When Covid 19 molecule as discovered by scientists was 25 microns, the social distance was calculated on Stokes law of Physics to be 6 feet. A month later the molecule shrunk to 5 microns. The distance was not changed to 30 ft. When the hard hit DGCA had to agree to open up civil aviation, it came up with an inconceivable idea of the middle seat to be left vacant. There was no scientific protest as in wide- bodied aircrafts the middle seat is 3 ft only or less. The distance between the passenger in front and the one behind is not more than 3 feet.
Coming to schools, online classes and exams proved a total flop. Let this be a pointer to many who downplay the role of teachers and honour them only on Teachers’ Day, to change their mindsets. St Margaret’s in Shillong and schools in Shimla and Punjab tried online classes but had quick reversals. Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui in defence of schools reopening last summer said all students of SSLC and HSSLC had received their first jabs. Little does he know that at age 18 many students today are in under-graduate colleges. Why do these anomalies in policy-making crop up? It’s because officials in the Secretariat don’t discuss matters with school authorities and parents.
The web-based news channel T7 took pains to invite Dr Mylliemngap, a senior doctor, a lady Principal ( who was cured of Covid ) and a Headmaster to discuss the issue of reopening schools. It was perhaps inspired by NDTV which discusses school reopening with WHO experts. The three put forward their points and finally all amicably concluded that it is best to put on hold the reopening of schools for the time being.
On Sunday last NDTV being concerned with loss of school years invited parents and heads of some schools to a debate. One mother was concerned about the children’s vaccine which the Govt has put on hold for reasons unknown. She was confused when the WHO rep said there is no fear from Omicron as it is mild and not as severe as Delta.’ A senior principal said that RT-PCR tests are done daily, and affected students are quarantined in rooms in far-off buildings. Are we prepared to do that? Who do we trust with our children’s safety?
Let us also not lose sight of the great divide among elite schools and those where the poor study. In the former a child comes to school in an SUV. In the latter, several students/parents crowd in a bus with no mask or even if worn, the nose is not covered. To compare ourselves to the UK and Vietnam is odious.
Let us instead emulate what the European countries and Japan did during World War 2. Those years were declared zero years. In that case there is none to lose or gain. The life of a child is worth more than all the values that education can buy.
Yours etc.,
W.Passah
Ex H.O.D
St Edmund’s College.
A case of plagiarism!
Editor,
Apropos to the article ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Shillong’ by Wandell Passah (ST Jan 28, 2022) I draw your kind attention to paragraphs 2-9 of the article which have been copied from my published work, ‘Shillong Will Never Forget Netaji’ duly published in your esteemed daily on January 21, 2018) the copy of which is forwarded for your kind perusal. Moreover, very recently I have published a book named, ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose And Shillong’ where this topic is also presented. It would have been appreciated if the author had duly acknowledged that he had excerpted the paragraphs from my write-up published four years ago in the same journal. I had to collect the data for the article with great difficulty and I had myself translated many Bengali versions of Netaji from the book of Prof. Shyamadas Bhattacharjee, my mentor with due acknowledgement.
I request you to publish this letter so that matters are cleared and the public knows that I had written what appeared in the above article way back in 2018.
Yours etc.,
Uma Purkayastha,
Shillong-4
IED blast: Failure of political leadership?
Editor,
The low intensity IED explosion in the heart of Shillong has once again proved that the Meghalaya Home Department’s intelligence gathering mechanism whether HUMINT(Human) and SIGINT(Signals) intelligence still has a long way to catch up. The munition is also becoming the preferred weapon of choice due to the easy availability of raw materials in the market. Command-and-control failures, disorganization of tactical response and loss of real-time intelligence support has plagued the Department and the lack of seriousness of political leaders add to the disarray.
Unemployment, a national security issue combined with COVID is a deadly sandwich which is exploding at the seams and the lack of visionary leadership in the top echelons of the state machinery will put Meghalaya in jeopardy. Insurgency is another area of concern if there is a failure to keep tabs on the socio-economic problems of the people. With the porous borders in the North-eastern region, drugs and weapons are a match made in heaven.
Finally it is never too late to mend the mistakes rather than only reorganizing our bureaucracy. Former Navy SEAL, Jason Redman, author of the book ‘Overcome’ mentioned in a podcast that through accountability and actionable goal-setting the life ambushes which will come either in a minor or major form can be handled effectively.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Away with reservations
Editor,
The issue of reservations for employment in government and for medical, engineering, agricultural/horticultural studies etc., continues to come up in the public domain even today in Meghalaya. It is not that people in our State are not aware of the flaws in the State’s reservations policy introduced since the APHLC Government in 1972-73. This policy has been critiqued for forty years or more and has become the stumbling block for Meghalaya’s youth to grow in competence, efficiency and all round competitiveness. Instead, it has reduced our state to mediocrity. After fifty years of Statehood, Meghalaya is placed second last among the small states in the country. Hence, my only suggestion to the present incumbents is to do away completely with the State Reservation Policy which has brought about damaging effects and regression in the state. I do not endorse the demand of Banrilang Pyngrope and groups from Garo Hills who demand that the Government should alter the present reservation policy. Altering the policy is not going to do us any good; instead it will aggravate the ills already existing. The only positive action that will add to the strength of Meghalaya is to introduce the policy of merit and competition in government employment, appointments, allotment of seats for studies etc..
Yours etc…
Philip Marwein,
Senior Journalist,
Shillong-2.