Editor,
In many developed countries, especially in Western Europe, people have eradicated the early widespread of dynastic politics for decades. In the Indian situation, the people in the recent past rejected political dynasties from the country’s political arena. This kind of politics, played by many politicians, negatively impacted society.
Roland Mendoza revealed in a study that “dynasty-ruled constituencies” typically had more significant income disparity and poverty levels. Another survey by R. Tusalem and others emphasizes the predominance of “family-based politics,” which justifies the exploitation of public funds. Consequently, there is a mismanagement of funds allocated for health, education, employment, infrastructure, and overall economic development.
If we agree, Meghalaya has created a few decades of what we refer to as “dynastic politics.” In such cases, this politics captures the electorate and locks out potential leaders of the “non-dynasts” class from public office. In today’s era of the West and India, the people experienced such destructive political interference, which led to its eradication. Although the West designs many harmful strategies for others, at the same time, we cannot ignore some of their best democratic values, which replaced the early political dynasties with people-centered politics. We anticipate that the state’s people will follow their democratic procedure and our country’s electoral reform as examples of hope for a better Meghalaya while casting their votes in the upcoming election.
Yours etc.,
Batskhem Mawlein
Via email
Gun violence in America
Editor,
In the USA, there is no guarantee that the person who left home will return safely in the evening. Thanks to the easy accessibility of guns any adult citizen above the age of 21 can purchase firearms. Therefore, a sense of doom prevails in this advanced country. It is the country with the largest civilian gun ownership in the world. It has been found that there are more firearms with the citizens than the total population. The law here never considers that adults may go insane and fire that gun on the innocent at some point in time. It seems the court of law still does not admit that parents’ pistols can also be used as playthings by their kids. Moreover, since the arms sales involve a trillion-dollar business, the leaders only whimper, not scream, against the increasing gun-shooting violence.
The most gruesome gun attack recently happened at a dance studio in Monterey Park, one of the thickly populated suburbs of Asian Americans in Los Angeles, killing 11 people and leaving nine others injured. A 72-year-old man indiscriminately fired at the people in the dance hall. The perpetrator, Huu Can Tran, was found dead some distance away from Monterey Park due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The gun attack at Monterey Park was a fatal one since May 2022, when a shooter, an “18-year-old boy”, fired at 19 school students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. The incident plunged the entire country into grief. What is most appalling is the countless gun shooting incidents that occur across the USA yearly while the National Rifle Association harps that Americans need to “buy” more and more guns for “self-defense”. A trick of the trade at the cost of one’s life!
So what drives Americans to fire shots at the innocent? Will the mass demonstrations and candlelight protests bring an end to this vicious shooting culture? No, not at all. Why is there no total ban on a gun-buying spree where people can purchase firearms as they buy cakes from a bakery shop? One finds America the most naïve country to think adults can’t behave like a savage! Racial hatred, particularly white supremacy, is another menace in the US that led to brutal gun violence resulting in horrific bloodshed. What about the January 6, 2023 incident in Virginia where a “6-year-old child” shot his teacher and wounded her in the classroom? Should teachers also carry a pistol for their defense in school? There are more questions than answers.
The leaders, including from previous governments, are to blame for the rise in gun violence in the country. The most horrendous Las Vegas shooting that killed 60 people and wounded at least 413, and the Orlando nightclub shooting, which left 49 people dead, failed to touch the conscience of the leaders who continue to promote gun sales. They are only good at expressing their hollow condolence messages as routine affairs.
One wonders how many more bloody massacres should happen before political leaders take gun violence with absolute seriousness. Their lackadaisical attitude is more unpardonable than barbaric gun shooters. Until the gun craze is checked, humanity will remain defenseless in America.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Women in politics
Editor,
Today India feels proud of the power and position enjoyed by its women. They have worked hard against heavy odds to achieve their present position and so richly deserve what they have achieved. Today Indian women hold high positions in every walk of life- from education to entrepreneurship; from business to bureaucracy and from administration to the armed forces. However, women are still under-represented in Parliament and state assemblies. Indian women have come a long way in politics. But key reforms (viz 33 percent reservation for women in parliament and state assemblies) that could see them improve their position remain undone because of the male feudal mentality. The Women’s Reservation Bill or The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill has been in parliament for over two decades. Male politicians with feudal attitudes had and will do their worst to prevent the Bill from being enacted
Hence according to Global Gender Gap Report, 2021, India has declined on the political empowerment index by 13.5 percentage points, and a decline in the number of women ministers, from 23.1% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2021.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Omarlin Kyndiah,
Via email