Editor,
It is a great relief to everyone that finally the notorious Crowborough Hotel has seen the light of day with its inauguration under the new avatar Hotel Vivanta, on October 14. This is the first five star hotel in Meghalaya, something we can take pride of. Definitely, it will serve the needs of thousands of tourists who are looking for standard accommodation. The Chief Minister has rightly boasted of his NPP-led Government’s accomplishment. At least, the ghost of this “shame project” has been put to rest once and for all.
However, looking at this from a critical point of view, I am inclined to bring to the notice of the public that the Government’s urgency and decisiveness to complete the hotel, is quite missing in matters of greater importance. For example, I do not see the same sense of urgency on the part of this Government to have a full-fledged medical college and engineering college in the state, let alone all other professional institutions that the state really lacks. When it comes to technical education, had it not been for the contribution of the Catholic Church, the state would have none.
The Crowborough hotel had been delayed by 33 years, but the medical and engineering colleges etc, have been delayed by 50 years and the delay continues. Here is what I see as “misplaced priorities of the government.” What is more important to the youth of Meghalaya, a five star hotel or a medical or engineering college? What could ensure a better future for our youth than to receive professional education? Today our state needs more doctors to fill in so many rural PHCs or CHCs which are presently running haplessly, putting rural health care in shambles. The vicious cycle is that we cannot have more doctors since the state does not even have its own medical college to absorb more local youths who aspire to become doctors.
The availability of professional institutions in the state would ensure that we have trained human resources. This in turn would attract many national and international companies to the state. Why do states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telengana and others attract many foreign companies? It is precisely because these states have an army of professionals who graduate from various institutes of their own states. When it comes to Meghalaya, the picture is so grim and hopeless and the Government does not seem to have the political will to address this life and death issue. Should not the government have converted the Crowborough project into a medical college? There are other fancy projects of the government which are coming up, but all these will never cater to the real needs of the people.
I hope this government begins to open its eyes and see where the priorities of the state lie.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
Shillong Public School
Editor,
It was a warm balmy autumn evening. The warm sunlight filtering through the dappled leaves added a feeling of peace and calmness to the venue of the regal auditorium of the State Central library, named after the torchbearer of Khasi poetry, U Soso Tham. The occasion was a musical play Aladdin to be performed by the students of the Shillong Public School.
What an evening it was. The entire performance had us all mesmerized at the sheer quality and talent that these children exhibited. The program started on time. The parents and a few well-wishers were the only VIPs. Each event occurred seamlessly and the knowledge that it was an outcome of an hour’s practice after school hours for a paltry few weeks made it all the more appreciable. The children didn’t lose any classes for the practice and parents were hardly inconvenienced. Each and every student in the school had a part to play and the sense of participation that this created was an involvement that created a bond unlike any other.
And the simple arrangement of the play into two shows with separate sets of students, ensured that everyone could participate and the children and their parents to boot were spared from having to be occupied for the entire day. This speaks a great deal about the practicality of the Principal and the teachers and highlights the love and affection they have for their wards. It was only too evident that the entire staff right from the top to the bottom be it the security guards or the cleaners were total in their involvement.
Carrying out such a complex exercise with so much elan be it the solo singers, the choirs, the exquisite dancers and the music from fusion, rhythm or the harmony was but a reflection of the hard work put in by the teachers. The pure and raw energy in carrying out their performances and the talent which they showed gave a feeling that the future generation were giving us a glimpse of what can be achieved if given the space and opportunity. The performance was at par with any professional show.
Hats off to you Shillong Public School!
Yours etc.,
Dr. Tridib Kakoty
Via email