‘Dkhar’ civil servants have served with dedication
Editor
Thank you for your two courageous editorials in TST, Oct 20, 2023 — “Institutions under Pressure,” and “Lest we forget Meghalaya is still part of India.” Thank you for standing for the truth and for recognizing the hard work of “Dkhar” bureaucrats in Meghalaya — trained professionals who serve the state, engaging in endless thankless tasks (for which they receive little to no gratitude), despite all the odds against them. One cannot help but wonder if they would be treated differently if they were of European origin and white,
In my parents’ generation I saw hardworking and selfless bureaucrats, who served the destitute and disenfranchised, despite all odds (the prejudices they faced for being “Dkhars,” and bullying threats of transfer from petty politicians). Their relationship with the indigenous communities of the Northeast was entirely one way. Although seen as foreigners, they never saw the local people as foreign.
It’s high time we began seeing individuals for who they are, what they accomplish, and how they serve — not for how they look, what languages they speak, or their ethnic identities.
Yours, etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email
Need to readjust our lenses
Editor,
The news report ‘Groups warn of stir; Pauls smell politics” and the special article ‘Lest we forget Meghalaya is still part of India’ (ST October 20,2023) made interesting reading. Having gone through the news item I found that the argument of the Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh very rational on the purpose to hold the Cherry Blossom Festival. “Robibar” as a Khasi puts it, is the first day of the week for half of the world population in 67 countries with a population of 4 billion that includes countries like United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Saudi Arabia and United Arabs Emirates while 160 countries with a population of 3.3 billion considers Monday as the first day of the week. These 160 countries include Germany, France, United Kingdom, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Congo (DR), Kenya and Uganda to name a few. Almost all countries in North and South America start their week on Sunday, while countries in Europe and Oceania overwhelmingly start on Monday. The world’s most populated continents are split: roughly half the countries in Africa and Asia are on team Sunday, the other on team Monday. There are countries starting neither on Sunday nor on Monday: Countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia start their week on Saturday.
Discerners are aware that Sunday came about on March 7, A.D. 321, when Constantine the Great issued the first civil Sunday law, compelling all the people in the Roman Empire, except farmers, to rest on Sunday. This, with five other civil laws decreed by Constantine concerning Sunday, set the legal precedent for all civil Sunday legislation from that time to the present. Sunday worship is not commanded in the Bible. It is Constantine’s edict. But wait here is what Astrology says about Sunday. “Sunday is ruled by the sun, which represents warmth, ego, and your personal truth. This is the perfect day to embrace your individual light, and what really makes you happy. Most people can get a bit anxious on Sunday, since it’s the day before Monday, but it’s highly suggested to kick back and take it easy on this day. The solar energy of the sun is meant to recharge us for the week ahead, not deplete us. Ever heard the term “easy like Sunday morning”? This is precisely why – It’s a day to unwind and get centred for the upcoming week ahead.
The special article by Patricia Mukhim ‘Lest we forget Meghalaya is still part of India’ was excellent and factual. Those who think that Meghalaya is out of India are kidding themselves. Let it be known that according to the Reserve Bank of India out of every Rs 100 in the 2021 Accounts, the State’s Own Tax Revenue is Rs 19.40 paisa and Non-Tax Revenue is Rs 4.90 paisa both these revenues add up to Rs 24.30 paisa. While Rs 42.60 paisa is Central Taxes and Rs 33.10 paisa is Grants-in-aid from the Government of India both these add up to Rs 75.70 paisa. In percentage State’s revenue works out to 24.3 percent while the rest 75.7 percent comes from the Government of India. It is exactly for this reason that the Government of India has in place a ‘steel frame’ to administer India. The administrator may be Kumar or Lyngdoh it does not matter but they have to administer. Ms Mukhim has correctly said that it is advantageous to be on the ruling side. After all it is a win-win situation to be with those who are in power in New Delhi at a time when ideology no longer matters. After all, money is what money does. She has also rightly pointed out that policy is never debated in the Assembly and “it is pointless to blame the bureaucrats” when “politicians cannot think long term” in Meghalaya or even “come up with a white paper on any sector”.
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email