Editor,
As citizens of Meghalaya we have reconciled ourselves to the fact that the Agriculture Minister is no scientist. It is a self-confessed statement by the Minister himself , on the floor of the State Assembly itself, hence no one can be blamed for highlighting the Minister’s self- acclaimed qualification. This same Minister has again through a video clip that has gone literally viral, yet again demonstrated that he is no Historian either. He has virtually claimed that Indian Independence is 150 years old. Mahatma Gandhi had better make way for a new freshly arisen Father of Free India who has just emerged from the hallowed portals of the MDA Cabinet ! Going by NEHU standards nowadays, we should not be surprised that perhaps, someday, some bright research scholar from NEHU History Department will get a PhD by supporting the Agricultural Minister’s historical perspective. Academicians by now should realize that in the New India they should know which side of their political bread is buttered. Otherwise, there’s no chance to rise and become VC of NEHU. Anyway, that’s besides the point.
The moot point is that this same Minister, with the above brilliant academic qualifications has been advised to come up with a major Policy change in our Agricultural sector. Perhaps because of pressure from the farming lobby of his Mawkynrew constituency or whatever, Meghalaya has already decided to dump its Mission Organic and revert back to Mission No Organic. So we go back to history just like a certain person from ancient Indian history who went by the name of Mohamed Bin Tughluq and who arbitrarily decided to shift India’s capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and in the process caused the death of many people.
On August 22, 2022 The Shillong Times decides to drop another political bombshell on its page three with the caption “Organic Farming, Sawkmie defends Govt from charge.” Great! I mean it’s just great. Another great man to defend the indefensible “today it is white , tomorrow it is black” of this MDA Government. Just to remind ourselves , this same MLA from Mawlai had on one fine memorable day, decided to tell the whole world that it was Tirot Singh Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw of the 19th Century who fought against Alexander The Great, who invaded India in 327 BC. Now please don’t ask how this is possible. These are great minds at work or there might be a hidden time machine somewhere in Mawlai Constituency. PT Sawkmie then decides to add another gem of his to this Historical somersault by Tirot Sing and Alexander. He claims that Tirot Sing made the famous quote then by stating “ Better to die a King than serve as a slave”. Great again just great, quotes of the century but wonder is whether Tirot Sing Syiem had ever heard of John Milton and his book Paradise Lost –II where Milton used the same famous words but in an entirely different context when he wrote “ Better be a King in Hell than serve somebody as a slave in Heaven.”
But going back to the topic of organic farming and its merits and demerits, the European Union, FAO, UN and other International bodies with billions of dollars to back up their research and thousands of agricultural scientists to advise them , have all given a strong call for Organic Farming if the world is to save itself from itself. Here in Meghalaya, we have the MDA, its ministers and some odd ball MLA with no place to go but with all the wisdom of their voters to say otherwise. What can one say except It’s great , just great.
Yours etc.,
Justin Kharbuli,
(Student of History)
Via email
Morality vs. procedure of law
Editor,
It is strongly condemnable to learn that the Gujarat Government had released the 11 convicts that gangraped Bilkis Bano and murdered her 7 family on the 75th Independence of our great nation. A viral video was also circulated where it was seen that family members of the convicts greeted them with flowers and sweets. The question is what message are we sending to criminals? Even though the State had followed the rule of law in facilitating their release, the real question is what will happen to the intrinsic value system of our country. It is purely logical to assume that of all criminals convicted, these rapists and murderers over-performed the other criminals in terms of good behaviour or securing good marks regardless of the gravity of the crime they comitted as per the definition given under the Prisoners Act 1984. I wonder what cut off marks were fixed for prisoners to receive such remissions. Even if the state of Gujarat had followed the rule of law judiciously in prematurely releasing these convicts, the real issue is whether ethical or moral values were given any weightage at all.
For instance, in Jessica Lal’s case which is also one of the high-profile cases whereby the son of former union minister without even completing his sentence was released prematurely or in the heinous Delhi Gang rape case where the juvenile was released and the Bilkis Bano rape case only sets precedence for the mighty and powerful to further exploit and circumvent the thin line between procedures of Law and Morality. This case is categorized as rarest of the rare case and everyone working for the upliftment and welfare of women folks are devastated and demotivated to fight for women’s empowerment, justice and upliftment in an environment where women are being oppressed and suppressed- physically, mentally and morally.
The whole purpose of all institutions is to work for the welfare of women in ensuring their security and upliftment. On the contrary here is a high-profile case where convicts are being released under the 1992 Remission Policy. The Gujarat’s Remission Policy 2014 was implemented with an aim to rectify the inadequacies of the 1992 policy. However, the concerned State chose the 1992 policy over the new Policy which is fallacious in nature. It seems that there is no hope in this country for women, when people at the helm of affairs are going full throttle to suppress the weaker gender. Therefore, I strongly condemn the insensitivities of the State of Gujarat towards securing and giving justice to women which only paves way for other criminals to further exploit the system. I strongly condemn and will never accept that this could be the new normal for women in India.
Yours etc.,
Deity Majaw,
Via email