India’s stance vis-à-vis Israel & Russia disconcerting
Editor
We are told that eight former Indian Navy personnel, who have been in custody in Qatar, since 2022, have been awarded the death sentence. The Canada case, although very different, is comparable. Canada accused India of carrying out an extrajudicial murder of its citizen (of Indian origin) on Canadian soil — a very serious allegation for a very serious crime that breaks all norms of international law. Qatar has accused the former Indian Navy personnel of a far less serious charge — espionage. Canada has not awarded the death sentence to any Indian suspect. But Qatar has. Neither Canada, nor Qatar have provided evidence.
Here is my question. Will India react with as much belligerence and sanctimonious self-defence towards Qatar, as it did towards Canada — a far more humane nation with a far better record of human rights? Will India scold Qatar as it did Canada? If not, we Indians should begin the long arduous process of soul-searching that reveals how blinding our anti-western prejudices can be. This is not to say India should not question Canada. Yes it should. But it should also question its own unequal and unjust responses to different nations of the world.
For example, India’s blind official support of Israel and Mr Putin’s Russia is disconcerting, to say the least. I have read many YouTube posts (from Indians) justifying this by citing the support India has (in the past) received from these two rogue nations. But does this make ethical sense? Is it not narcissistic to remain in a friendship, when the “friend” has turned ugly, violent, and unethical? Should one not stand firm and oppose — if nothing else, for the ethical benefit of the so-called friend? All else failing, should one not walk away?
Non-alignment may have made sense during the Cold War. But not in these times and certainly not in the case of these two rogue nations — Israel and Russia. To sit on the fence when one nation is butchering another can never be ethical. To support the butchering nation is to participate in its crimes — in the case of Russia, its invasion of Ukraine, and in the case of Israel, its disproportionate and inhumane hi-tech war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email
Killer potholes taking a toll on Shillongites
Editor,
Many will agree that the dilapidated condition of the roads in the town has taken a toll on many people in many ways. The growing depth of potholes on the town’s roads are of great concern. Two-wheelers are becoming easy victims. Just six days ago, I noticed a scooty rider and his companion toppling over near Anjalee Petrol Pump, both sustaining some injuries. It was an embarrassing scene, and such incidents are frequently happening across the town. Could anything else underscore the more hazardous nature of Shillong’s roads?
Yes, a video went viral on WhatsApp about two months ago, exposing the disgustingly unsettling reality. On a section of a freshly laid road, the local people were scooping up the asphalt and “unmixed raw sand” using mere fingers from the whole stretch of road! Many claimed that it was from Garo Hills. It’s impossible for me to disagree. While some people were angry and deriding the contractor, others, including children, were laughing with excitement.
I believe that just before the last G20 summit that Shillong town got a facelift, with major parts of the roads being repaired. But those roads are now full of killer potholes. Of course, they might be patched up again after some days. But will they last? And for how long? More precisely, for how many weeks or how many days? One wonders why the service accountability is so low in this state. The public wants to know why the unscrupulous contractors are so endearing to the departments. The citizens cannot see the state being wounded for so long by the corrupt few.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Give people a free choice
Editor,
The continued onslaught about the Cherry blossom festival ending on Sunday is getting over the top. I am a believer in Christ and I want to express my views too on this debatable conundrum!
The “custom” of Christians not working, participating in business or any public act which are entertaining on Sundays arose in Victorian England–no, it does not date back to the time of Christ! Sunday was the only “day off” in those Victorian days for the household servants. The problem was that the servants were going out to bars and theatres on their day off and getting really rowdy, and also it was a problem that no one stayed at home to tend to the needs of the rich house owners–not even to bring them a cold supper!
Thus, it was decreed that Sunday, being so holy, was naturally too holy a day for the servants to have fun. So, everything they enjoyed started being closed on Sundays: no carnivals, no shopping, no movies, no amusements–nothing for the servant classes. Of course, Sunday was still the only day the servants had “off”, but now all they could do was go to church or maybe for a stroll in the park and then come back home and sit around doing sewing and other “Godly” activities. And all was right with the world, since the servants stayed at home to wait on the wealthy people at that Age!
I find the whole idea frustrating and irritating. And ridiculous, since so many people justify it, ALSO to do so by quoting a Jewish law (which Christians are supposed to be relieved from following), and the Jewish law refers to another day of the week entirely (Saturday)! What’s next? Not eating PORK? That’s in the Bible, too, you know!
In Colossians 2:16–17 the apostle Paul declares, “Therefore do not let anyone JUDGE YOU by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day… the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Over the first couple of centuries as church gatherings became more formalized, Saturday and Sunday both became more official meeting days with special significance. Saturday, as the Sabbath wherein God rested from works. It was a common day of rest. Sunday took on a special meaning, especially for Gentile converts, as the day of the Resurrection – not a day of rest, but a day for celebration.
Unfortunately, disputes arose and there was even persecution of Christians against fellow Christians as the admonitions of Paul were ignored. While Scripture calls for unity of the spirit even with differing personal practices, (Rom 14:1-19, Eph 4:1-6), Sabbath day rest and worship was eventually banned by the Council of Laodicea. (Canon 29 to be specific)
We are no longer commanded to cease working on the Sabbath or Sunday. Although many Christians prefer to take Sunday off and spend at least part of it in Church worship and devotions while some Christians indulge in family-leisure time engaging in recreational activities in many forms as long as there is peace and harmony and it causes no Harm to anyone.
If people want to take leisure time on this day (Sunday) of the Cherry Blossom Festival, they have every right to do so. They have their own conscience with Christ.
No Christian should judge, force, or ban another believer from worshiping God in a particular manner or formally on a specific day! So, let’s put a stop to this debate, it’s a choice let people choose freely!
Yours etc.,
Chanmiki Laloo
Via email