Editor
In the article, “A debate on being tribal” by Barnes Mawrie (ST August 7, 2023) the writer made a reference to the friendship between Fr Abel and my grand uncle, Sib Charan Roy. They were certainly friends more at the intellectual and spiritual level and spent time together debating and discussing their respective faiths and other religions as well. Neither of them would claim that their faith was the better one nor try to emphasize that the two denominations were one and the same thing because they are not.
We have several copies of U Nongphira in our family library and on the first page of the papers it is clearly written that the paper was printed at the Ri Khasi Press by Sib Charan Roy. I wonder why it should be printed by Fr. Abel in his press when Jeebon Roy had already established the Press in 1896? If there are copies printed at Fr Abel’s we would like Bah Barnes Mawrie to share them with us.
Yours etc.,
Bijoya Sawian,
Via email
CUET & PG Admission in Meghalaya
Editor,
I write to bring to the attention of the concerned authority that there are many candidates who were not able to attend the CUET PG exam as they were allotted exam centres in faraway places. Subsequently, there was also another round of exams for those who were left out but unfortunately most of them could not download their admit cards.
Currently, admissions are going on in NEHU and in some colleges which offer PG courses and the CUET score is mandatory. As a result many students were left out.
I therefore request the competent authority to take note of the same and help us students out of this predicament else we will lose a year. .
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
SMB and PHED should not play with public health
Editor,
Apropos of the letter captioned, “SMB & PHED, stop supplying muddy water!” by Salil Gewali (ST August 9, 2023) I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for shedding light on the pressing issue of untreated water supply by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and the Shillong Municipality. This letter captured the sentiments of the town’s residents, who have long endured the consequences of being supplied with untreated, muddy water.
It is indeed a matter of shame that the very Departments entrusted with safeguarding public health have become the root causes of public ill-health. Gewali’s letter rightly underscores the vital importance of clean and safe water, not merely as a convenience but as a fundamental human right. If we do not speak up now and let the Shillong Municipality and the PHED tamper with public health, our state would be worse than Bihar. Period.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen,
Name withheld on request
Safe walking space for children around a School in Laitumkhrah
Editor,
Dropping and fetching our children from school should be a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, in the rush of modern day living with parents and care-takers earning a livelihood, children see adults angry and frustrated most of the time. Let me give an example of a genuine case that happened on August 9 at 12:30 pm. I spontaneously decided to fetch a ward from Shillong Public School and had taken a small private vehicle since it was raining heavily. Most care-takers felt and acted likewise.
On reaching the junction and road leading to the main gate of the School and the surrounding government offices, two private cars were parked next to the houses on a very narrow stretch of the road and hence there was a deadlock for two-way traffic. There was no policeman to regulate the deadlock and eventually the cars behind me and I backed up to a corner, to somehow allow one side of the traffic to manoeuvre their way out of the situation.
All this happened in the span of one hour and one can only imagine the agonizing wait and feeling of neglect of a seven year old child, among many others.
When much of the city, with much wider roads are made ‘No Parking Zones,’ would it not serve the interests and safety of young children – who have to jostle for space to walk on this road, along with traffic both ways – to make the already narrow road a No Parking Zone especially during school hours?
This is a humble request to the Headman of the locality, the MLA of the constituency and the Police, who must be aware of the situation, as it affects one of their own very closely.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
(A concerned citizen and educator, with a hope to see incremental changes for the public good)