NPP probable winner in Shillong Parliamentary polls
Editor,
The editorial “Unending political churning” (ST 14th October 2023) made very interesting reading. Politics churns on and in the case of 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency given the shifting of votes between 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The position of UDP has gone up by 148 percent in 2019 when compared with 2014 Lok Sabha polls while its position in 2023 has increased marginally by 1.33 percent when compared with 2019. The position of the Indian National Congress went up by 97.41% in 2019 over 2014 but in 2023 given the poor performance in the State Assembly the strength of INC has come down by 62.67% when compared with the election in 2019.
If the recent State Legislative Assembly in 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency is any indicator, the main contender in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election to the 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency will naturally be the National People’s Party versus the United Democratic Party. This is what the data indicates. However, I am in sync with the editorial that “Parliamentary elections are a different ball game. So, it is a game of wait and watch!” It may be noted that any party contesting the 18th Lok Sabha elections from 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency would require 4 lakh votes to be declared a winner. And if there are more players one could sweep the poll with 3 lakh votes. Finally, much will depend on the political experience and stature of the candidate. After all it is an election to the Lok Sabha where the voters of Meghalaya have never sent any Tom, Dick or Harry.
Yours etc.,
V K Lyngdoh,
Via email
Sudden implementation of NEP may open up Pandora’s box
Editor,
While welcoming NEP 2020 mainly because it is an outcome of extensive brainstorming and deliberation, its implementation requires physical and mental preparation. NEP 2020 is exclusively intended to improve the education system in the country. It aims to nurture every aspect of a student’s intellectual ability, including their thinking, feelings, and physical well-being. It insists on teaching in a way that boosts critical thinking rather than “rote learning”, which is highly commendable. Another unique feature of NEP is use of the mother tongue for teaching, which helps students grasp and remember concepts more clearly. Needless to say, learning in the mother tongue quickly lubricates the cerebral nerves of a tender child who can’t afford to go to a private school. Very importantly, this policy also seeks to extend educational opportunities to everyone, bridging societal and financial disparities.
However, with the huge gap between what our students are being taught in schools now and what NEP proposes, the state’s education administration should exercise all caution before its implementation. Is NEHU not under fire now with the Academic Council opposing the NEP?
At the school level the “sudden change” from the current MBOSE curriculum to the NEP curriculum might open up a Pandora’s box. What if we force a person to climb the icy mountains without providing proper “training” and necessary equipment? The person may die on the way. Pragmatically speaking, with October already upon us and February 2024 lurking around, the urgency of integrating the NEP at the school level might make us regret our haste. My view is that it is wise to have a “transition period” of at least one or two years. We need to ensure that all prerequisites and infrastructural needs are in place. Equally important is that the textbooks are suitably selected. All books published by NCERT may not resonate with the students and cultural heritage of the state. So, a certain number of books should be “customized and localized”.
Please also recall MBOSE’s turbulent history. Some curriculum revisions and text-book errors has raised a storm of criticism against the board in the past Should the academic wings, MBOSE and DERT, be again singled out as scapegoats, receiving brickbats from the public? Should we not find better courses to avoid it? The battle-cry against NEP will only lead to academic confusion and administrative chaos at this juncture. Who will be at the receiving end? The student community and all teaching fraternity! So, why haste, if a year or two can help us to equip ourselves better to jell well with the NEP? With the sharp increase in school dropouts, the academic catastrophe must be avoided. Nothing is worse than remorse.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewal
Shillong
Unmasking the double standards: Israeli Zionist atrocities & the case for humanity
Editor,
In the contemporary world, which places great importance on principles such as justice, equality, and human rights, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents a complex and paradoxical situation. This ongoing conflict has given rise to profound questions regarding justice, fairness, and the broader implications for humanity. At the heart of this debate lies the policies and practices of the Israeli Zionist regime, which have been labeled by some as apartheid and by others as legitimate security measures. It is crucial to approach this issue from a humanitarian perspective in order to comprehend the consequences of these actions on the Palestinian people and to recognize the necessity of reevaluating our support for the Israeli regime.
The term “apartheid” carries significant historical weight, as it is closely associated with the system of racial segregation that existed in South Africa. When applied to the Israeli context, it raises concerns about the unequal treatment and discrimination faced by Palestinians. Critics of Israeli policies point to the construction of the separation wall, the restrictions on movement, and the disparities in resource allocation, which effectively divide the region into distinct zones, often leaving Palestinians at a significant disadvantage.
From a humanitarian standpoint, the impact on ordinary Palestinians is particularly distressing. Families are torn apart, homes are demolished, and access to basic services become a luxury. The blockade of Gaza has transformed it into an open-air prison, with residents enduring daily hardships, including limited access to clean water, food, and medical supplies. Humanitarian organizations have meticulously documented the suffering experienced by Palestinian civilians, and these accounts paint a somber picture of the collective trauma endured by an entire population.
It is of utmost importance to address the double standards that surround the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to reconsider our support for the Israeli regime. The ongoing violations of human rights and the immense suffering endured by the Palestinian people necessitate a response from the international community. As a global society, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, equality, and human rights for all individuals, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.
Yours etc.,
Wasim Siddiqui,
Shillong- 2
Elusive peace in the Middle East
Editor
A lingering image comes to mind of the White House lawn on September 13, 1993 showing the handshake between Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization, Chairman, Yasser Arafat. Fast forward to 2023 and the image has no meaning except that of a photo-ops to capture the headlines. Israel and Palestine have nose-dived into conflict many times since the time of Abraham and a critical piece of the puzzle is the ‘Dome of Rock’ which two brothers have been fighting over. Indeed, the Israeli security services such as the Mossad and Shin Bet failed in their operational objectives to thwart the attacks but to understand the Hamas we have to revisit the annals of history within Hezbollah and how the Iranians can play a proxy role ever since the death of Qasem Soleimani, a commander of Quds Force. Coming to the role of the UN Security Council, it has never been able to develop a spine of its own to bring peace and the 2003 Iraq war became a festering wound giving birth to the Islamic State(ISIS) today. The role of the international community today from India to the United States or any country for that matter should be to lay stress on negotiation as the prime driver in order to counter the forces of lobbyists or the military industrial complexes. As for now the elusive peace of the Middle East seems distant and the book, Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco shows how war can destroy the very fabric of humanity.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10