By Albert Thyrniang
Meghalaya is 50 years old. The 51st birthday was celebrated on January 21 last. The pandemic sobered the party. As the golden jubilee is a year-long celebration, the grand finale early next year could be a gala fanfare if Omicron is arrested. In the run up to the date of the festivity and post the mellowed down function at the JN Complex, citizens made their reflections on the attainment of statehood in 1972. The remote and immediate causes were detailed. History and reminiscences were recalled. Achievements were enumerated. In the meantime negativity too crept in. A serving MLA preferred to display his brazen ‘political drama’ for political survival.
The sentiments of the importance for a vision for the future was also emphasised. Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma is one among those who believe so. His dream for Meghalaya is to be among the top 10 states in country in 10 years’ time. One is not sure as to how many share the Chief Minister’s enthusiasm but it looks like promising the moon without knowing how to get there. His present multiple-party coalition, MDA government has almost come to an end without even a Common Minimum Programme. No priorities were set in black and white, no goal was targeted and hence measured; no tools to assess its achievements. Hence the generic self-certification of ‘having built roads, provided water supply to households, increased children’s immunization, decreased maternal and infant mortality, constructed infrastructure at an unprecedented pace and a large number of new projects in the pipeline’. In the absence of a scale the government can trumpet its ‘successes’ liberally. Supporters will fully agree with it while the opponents take a completely different view. An independent evaluation is impossible. This kind of vague journey will take Meghalaya nowhere close to the top 10 ten among the 28 states.
While making known his lofty ambitions the Chief Minister is unaware of indicators contrary to such a direction. NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index (2021) ranks Meghalaya in the 23rd position, only five places above the bottom. Among the eight (8) North Eastern states Meghalaya is condemned to the 7th position, higher only to Nagaland. The marginal improvement from 25th to 23rd position and from the score of 54 to 60 from the previous status hardly convinces anyone of a big leap in a period of 10 years. In the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) in 2019 Meghalaya recorded a negative trend in the nutrition of women and scored below the national average in health, nutrition and cognitive growth of children in the 0-6 year age group.
The next firm indicator that we won’t be in league with the likes of Kerala in the next decade is the pathetic state of education in our 50 year-old state. As per the Performance Grading Index of last year Meghalaya is one of worst performers in school education. As if our esteem is not yet at the lowest, Meghalaya is at the bottom of the 14 surveyed states in cleanliness by Swachh Survekshan in 2021. The capital city, Shillong, priding itself as the Scotland of the East, has one of the worst garbage collection systems. Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong may differ but live Facebook streams showing Shillong garbage confirm the findings.
Do we have an inkling as to how to get out of the above messes? How do we soar from the bottom to the peak? What is the tangible plan? What are the proposals of the Chief Minister to drastically transform the state? When a government functions so randomly there is no hope for a phenomenal growth. Is the Republic Day statement a mere utterance bereft of any realism? Is it not better to focus on priorities rather than wishing for the skies? When teachers don’t get pay, when law and order is in disarray, when juveniles are involved in illegal activities one is critical of the government’s noble goals.
Another celebration was initiated last month. The Salesian Society in North East inaugurated its year-long centenary of the arrival of the first batch of missionaries on January 13, 1922. The Salesians have hit a 100 not out. Elaborate plans have been chalked out to commemorate the milestone. Eulogies on the past works are being counted. The non-apologetic acclaims of the past are justified but should we rest on the laurels of the pioneers? Should we only sit on the shoulders of giants?
The Salesians have no doubt contributed to school level education in the entire North East. But is there a plan to go beyond? Will history be kind to the ‘Sons’ of Don Bosco? Will they be remembered as contributors to primary and high school education? The veterans dared to open St. Anthony’s College in 1934, the very first in the then entire Salesian world. Has the congregation done enough for higher education in the ‘Seven/Eight Sister states’? Besides St. Anthony’s College, there is only one other college in Meghalaya. Assam two, Nagaland one, Manipur one and Arunachal one completes the number.
In Meghalaya a Don Bosco University was envisaged in 2006/07 but it was dropped. The then government was unfavourable. Pressure groups might have also opposed. But unresponsive attitude of insiders was also responsible for its ultimate shift to Guwahati. There was another opportunity to undo the mistake. In 2017 during the jubilee celebration of a premier institution in Tura then Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma urged the Don Bosco society to set up a university in Garo Hills. The then Don Bosco leadership showed interest but apathetic attitude later saw the offer abandoned. The excuse could have been lack of finance and personnel. Were resources on offer in 1934 when St. Anthony’s College was started? Was the number of students enough? Was infrastructure sufficient? If resources were a deterrence, Don Bosco would done nothing for youth. Hope we do not live to regret the decision.
Most of Don Bosco schools are situated in rural areas. Over a period of time they have served the poorer sections, no doubt. But are they serving the poorest of the poor now? Are these schools serving children whose parents can’t afford fees? Or do orphans get admission in these schools? Are there cases when students have to take drop out of these schools because they can’t cope with the fee structure? Generally, who are the beneficiaries of the Don Bosco education services? Are not the middle class and upper classes? Can the poor ever hope of landing in in St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School or any of the prestigious institutions? Does not merit mean financial worth?
Salesians are well known for youth work. But this declaration could be misleading. Except Don Bosco Institute in Guwahati and Youth Centre in Shillong and a couple of others, youth services as such are very limited. Are we friends of youth today?
In the recent decades innovative interventions, dubbed ‘new frontiers’ have made impacts. Don Bosco Technical India, training in IT domain, social work, collaboration with central and state governments, teacher training, YaR (Youth at Risk) involvements are commendable. But some of these laudable activities have shown signs of slowing down. Don Bosco Technical India is no more the biggest technical organisation in India.
A notable admirable effort was to promote language, media and culture. The credit of developing scripts and pioneering linguistic work goes to the Salesians. Salesians were one of the first to publish literary works (dictionaries and grammars) and religious books in indigenous languages, produce audio-video materials in local languages and promote native cultures. The magnificent Don Bosco Museum in Shillong is a living testimony. But has the contribution reached its zenith? Today, except extraordinary personalities like Fr. UV Jose, writing is uncommon. There are a number of Salesians who are well versed in languages but their knowledge might probably depart with them. The younger generation are not keen in learning another language. It startling to know that in Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh the clergy don’t learn the languages of the people they serve. Of course, in these states there are hundreds of languages. But should not Salesians learn at least one of these languages in their life time?
Don Bosco was a prolific writer on religion, history, law and other varied subjects. The 19th century saint inspired Salesian authors like Fr. Emmanuel Bars, Fr. Balavoin (Balawan), pioneer in Tiwa language, Fr. Elias Khariong and Fr. Sylvanus Sngi Lyngdoh, contributors to Khasi literature and the present rare individuals. But what about the rest of us? Are we unworthy successors of the earlier missionaries? How do we pass on the legacy? Is Don Bosco being kept alive?
The challenges of the state should also be a pressing concern for Don Bosco society and the Church? But is it so? What is the response to Meghalaya’s below par performances in all sectors? An indifferent attitude prevails. The other day someone revealed, “I have started losing faith in the Church. There are just too few conscientious priests left.” What do we do with the current year-long twin celebrations? Merely rejoice and be glad? Or should we introspect?