Editor,
I know the Meghalaya ,Assembly General Elections are coming. I have been watching such events for the last 50 years and why should I even try to lie. It’s all there for everyone to see how the elected rich have gotten fantastically richer and how the elector has been fed the crumbs that happen to fall from the high tables of the rich who got rich with our money. So the following story ( its true and I just want to share it with you all ) is about the proletariat’s down to earth way of leveling the odds.
I am a poor retired government babu. My wife and I have never enjoyed a holiday in our lives and so we decided to go for a planned trip to Bangkok , away from home. We have children working there. To cut the story short, there was no one to look after our house if we were to leave it. We were afraid that, if a thief broke into our house, the house would be ransacked and maliciously damaged if he rummages through boxes, cupboards and cabinets and the thief at not finding any money might in his frustration damage stuff we love. Not that there was much of it anyway. So, on humanitarian grounds and keeping with my principle of natural justice for the oppressed, I decided to keep one thousand rupees in cash on the centre table and left a small note for the anticipated thief. It said:
“Dear Mr Thief, I feel really sorry that you have to work so hard at odd hours to earn a livelihood subjecting yourself to so much risks. As it is I am a poor middle class government retiree, and my wife and I live on a meagre pension, which is so grudgingly given. It’s unfortunate that you took the strenuous effort of visiting our humble empty house. Alas to find nothing and I am afraid that you might have wasted your time, energy and effort. So respecting your risky profession, I have set aside Rs 1,000 for you as a working trip gift. There is also a piece of leftover snacks and half a bottle of Old Monk brandy in the fridge just in case you are feeling tired, hungry and thirsty. Just don’t break our furniture.
Mr Thief, if you however wish to expand your harvest and have a risk taking appetite I can share some vital information. You see eight houses down the street is a luxurious mansion where a former youth leader lives. He became a cabinet minister and now lives there. Opposite him is the palatial house of a former PWD contractor now a prominent church leader. On the other side of the street where I live is that huge green apartment block occupied by former cabinet ministers and high ranking officers from the administration, Police and the Judiciary. I think that all these people have money which, even if stolen, they would hesitate to report to the police. This is of course just public information and I wish you all the best and a fruitful harvest. Do Take care.”
A month later, when we returned home, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was Rs.1,00,000 in cash on the centre sitting room table with a hand written note which read: “Thank you my dear retired friend for your invaluable tips. The mission was successfully accomplished and the harvest has been sweetly fruitful. So, as a token of appreciation I leave Rs 1,00,000 for you to express my heartfelt gratitude. In the fridge I have left some chocolates, a kg of dry fruits and two bottles of Black Label. I hope You will continue to share more such lucrative tips in the future. Thank you for such valuable intelligence inputs for better economic development of the downtrodden and the State. God Bless, stay safe and have a Happy Dipavali.
Yours etc.,
Abhijit Das,
Via email
Innovative use of non-biodegradable waste
Editor
Solid waste management is a serious problem for all major towns and cities, municipalities and corporations around the globe. Particularly the plastic pollution pressure has been an acute problem plugging up sewage and drainage system; and due to their long non-biodegradable nature they stay in our ecosystem for a long period of time disturbing the natural biogeochemical cycles. Unfortunately we have become accustomed to use of plastics, synthetic rubbers, aluminium foils and other non-biodegradable solid waste so intimately that they have become a part of our lives. The packaging industry uses these raw materials to produce numerous packets that we need as well as containers and other daily use materials that have occupied essential needs of our modern human life across the globe. Hence, the amount of daily global solid waste generated is alarming and severely polluting our sensitive natural ecosystems, biomes and environment.
But can anyone think about producing wealth from waste; like using discarded thrown away plastics and aluminium foil to produce serious art objects. This impossible achievement was demonstrated by acclaimed science communicator and artist, Dr. Sima Mukhopadhyay from Kolkata. Her meticulous craftsmanship integrated with a great passion for nature has shown us all for the first time how to convert single use plastics, aluminum foils and other solid waste products into intricate art pieces to reduce the plastic use in our society and to recycle them efficiently. She has nicely demonstrated that such waste plastic materials can be used and reused about 2-3 times; and then finally dumped at any designated recycling centre. This is a simple yet highly innovative and superbly eco-friendly concept. It will teach little children to be innovative as well as be sensitive and responsible towards our environment. Thanks to Dr. Mukhopadhyay for her outstanding contribution to both arts and crafts as well to our society with her incredible ideas, sincere hard work and immense passion for the protection of our environment.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Kolkata -45