Editor,
Reading GF Shullai’s letter, ‘Joining politics in order to corrupt’ (ST Jan 5, 2023) reminds me of Psalm 73. Here the Psalmist was jealous of those people who enriched themselves with ill-gotten wealth. He complained to God how they could enjoy themselves while the just and honest people suffer. This is what he said, “they are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace, violence covers them like a garment, their eyes bulge with abundance. They have more than the heart could wish for. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression.” Isn’t this what we see in most of our politicians today? Listen to what God showed the Psalmist .He took him to the sanctuary (House of God) and showed him their end. He saw their end and confessed, “Then I understood what will happen to the wicked. You will put them in slippery places and make them fall to destruction. They are instantly destroyed and go down to a horrible end. They are like a dream that goes away in the morning. When you rouse yourself, O Lord they disappear. I was stupid as an animal. I did not understand you. Yet you hold me by the hand and guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honour. What else have I in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?”
It is a fact that no one fights the election to become corrupt but to win. It is after winning that acquiring wealth seems to be the only objective as it is most enticing and easy to achieve. Hence they use all kinds of unorthodox methods to enrich themselves. Historically the curse of ill-gotten wealth has visited many families to one, two or three generations. Now we notice this even in one generation. The predictions recorded in the Bible are 100% reliable. Unless they repent, the fate of the corrupt is inevitable. I wish we all see the writing on the wall and flee from corrupt practices. There is no joy compared to a sincere and honest life.
Yours etc.,
Torist Mark,
Via email
Secularism: A Heritage to Preserve
Editor,
The Preamble of our Constitution specifically states that India is a Secular, Socialist State. The Supreme Court of India has held that “Secularism” is the basic feature of our Constitution and any State Government which fails to uphold this basic feature has no right to continue. Secularism, as per the Constitution is not anti-religion. Secularism signifies giving equal dignity and respect to all religions. Of course, it goes without saying that the Indian state has no religion of its own, nor for that matter can any religion claim superiority over another religion.
Jawaharlal Nehru once said, “The alliance of religion and politics in the shape of communalism is a most dangerous alliance, and it yields the most abnormal kind of illegitimate brood…the combination of politics and of religion in the narrowest sense of the word, resulting in communal politics is – there can be no doubt-a most dangerous combination that is harmful to the country as a whole”.
Independent India has miserably failed to put an end to the most dangerous combination of politics and religion – the communal politics and ‘the most abnormal kind of illegitimate brood’ continues to wreak havoc in the nation. We have never stopped killings and raping people in the name of caste and religion; we have not conquered the evil of social and economic inequalities even after 75 years of Independence. Anyway, within months of independence, bullets pierced the very heart of our secularism and tolerance – the Mahatma.
On February 12, 1948, in a speech delivered to a crowd of over a million people gathered on the banks of the Ganges to witness the immersion of the Mahatma’s ashes, Nehru said, “Our country gave birth to a mighty soul and he shone like a beacon not only for India but for the whole world. And yet he was done to death by one of our own brothers and compatriots. How did this happen? You might think that it was an act of madness, but that does not explain this tragedy. It could only occur because the seed for it was sown in the poison of hatred and enmity that spread throughout the country and affected so many of our people. Out of that seed grew this poisonous plant. It is the duty of all of us to fight this poison of hatred and ill will.”
Have we fought this poison of hatred and could we eliminate the poisonous plant from the country? We have witnessed the disastrous effects of this poisonous plant. Seventy-five years after independence, it seems that this poisonous plant has spread its roots deep down in the collective psyche of the nation dismantling our secular democracy which has been laboriously built on the foundation of plurality and diversity.
If India as a nation has to march towards progress and all-around development, it can ill afford to endure social and communal hatred any longer. This is the least we can do to protect the image of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the document embodying our Constitution. And that would be the best way to observe the Republic Day this year.
Yours etc.,
Dr Omarlin Kyndiah,
Via email
NPP versus UDP
Editor,
Reference to your news item captioned “ NPP calls UDP bird of fair weather ” (ST January 21, 2023), I was amused to note that NPP mournfully accused their coalition partner UDP to be a bird of fair weather.
But the first Chief Minister advisor of NPP at one time said, “In politics there are no permanent friends and permanent foes.” This phrase is universally practical and I really appreciate it and learnt from it. I hope the NPP too may learn and agree with their Chief advisor’s ethical view.
Yours etc.
Svetlana Wankhar
Shillong-I