Don’t pollute the academic environment
Editor,
As a concerned parent of a boy studying in class 12, I wish to bring to the attention of the concerned authorities how our children’s studies are affected by deafening noise of Bollywood music emanating from the premises of the Hindu Mission, Lower Mawprem. My son is appearing for his selection exams starting from October 30, 2023 while a daughter of my neighbor studying in class-11 is going to write her half-yearly exam starting on the same day. The SSLC Selection examination of St. Margaret School has started since October 2. Similar kinds of exam schedules have been set by the majority of schools. But to our utter disgust, the loud music blasted by Hindu Mission completely wreaked havoc with the exam preparation of the students since last Friday evening (October 27). On the premises, some of the boys who were dancing were drunk. Later police also came to control the crowd and noise. It was a shameful situation.
It is important to mention that this Hindu Mission regularly organizes one program after another and disturbs the neighboring residents. Another appalling thing is that they organized Bollywood dance competition and auditioned a program right in front of Idols of Maa Durga. Is this the real meaning of Puja? As far as my knowledge of Hindu scriptures are concerned, it is the most sinful act. Can we see people dancing to Bollywood songs in the premises of mosques, gurdwaras and churches which was pointed out by the previous writers through this daily? I have practically no idea how sacrilegious activities and boisterous entertainments have been included by Hindu Puja organizers. They are setting the wrong precedent for our younger generation and misleading them. They are polluting the sanctity of Sanatan Dharma.
I humbly appeal to the Deputy Commissioner and Police Departments to take the necessary action, keeping in mind the future of our young students. The studies of our children should not be disrupted by the noise of mindless organizations involved in godless indulgences. We are more concerned about the future of our kids and their studies.
Yours etc.,
Frustrated parents
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Govt sponsored festivities & perennial deficit budget
Editor,
The decision of the government to spend Rs 9 crores in Shillong Cherry Blossom festival to be organized in Bhoirymbong from 17-19th November 2023 where I am not sure if there is any cherry blossom tree, is shocking and perhaps, avoidable. Personally, I am against government’s involvement in organizing festivities spending public money. Instead, it should be completely outsourced and receive some revenue for the government in return. I hope the Government has past experiences of gaining revenues directly or indirectly and increase in local economy through increase in the footfall of tourists in several previous festivities like cherry blossom festivals, autumn festivals, et al.
It is unjustified for Government that owes Rs. 565 crores to NTPC and therefore its inability to supply uninterrupted power supply during dry seasons, poor roads quality, non-existent street lights across Shillong city and other towns, water crisis in many localities, unable to pay timely salaries to deficit school teachers, poor school infrastructures such as libraries, Wi-Fi and internet connectivity, poor college infrastructures in nooks and corners of the state, to spend Rs. 9 crores of public money on a festivity which does not seem compulsory from any point of view.
The other aspect of this particular Cherry Blossom festival is the lack of sensitivity to conclude it on a Sunday which is considered a sacred and solemn day for majority of the people of the state. It is not fair to say that Meghalaya is a Christian state since India is a secular country as per our constitution; nor am very religious from any angle. However, all previous Governments, not the NPP-led ones, have respected the sentiments of about 75% of populations (about 22.13 lakhs) who are Christians in Meghalaya and has avoided important programs on Sundays, beginning or conclusion, unless it is extremely unavoidable.
Indeed, the United Christian Forum and other organizations have rightly objected to the concluding day of the Cherry Blossom Festival being on a Sunday. It is funny to hear the statement of Deputy CM, Prestone Tynsong that the concluding program will be after the church service, i.e. 3 pm onwards. It shows the lack of understanding on the functioning of the churches on Sundays and the sentiments of Christians. Indeed, respect to religious sentiment of majority of the population is followed by every state across the country within our secular boundaries, be it in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal or Assam. However, of late, our government seems to be importing whatever comes from outside and has forgotten the local ethos and respect for the sentiments of other religions.
Indeed since 2014, there has been an increase in such insentivities. The Government of India had declared in 2014 that 25th December will be celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’ to honour former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which happens to be his birth anniversary as well. There was wide criticism by Christian minorities across the country including in Meghalaya for setting Good Governance Day on the same date as Christmas as well as for declaring this date as a government working day. Could it have been avoided while upholding the stature of Vajpayee ji? Certainly yes, if you have respect for religious minorities and sentiments at the national level. The problem arises when your own elected state government displays such insensitivity, then where do you go to complain?
We are not in USA or Europe. Sensitivity and respect for the sentiments of a large section of Christian population here need not be spelled out but has to be felt from within by any government unless they feel that they don’t need their support at all in future. I am sure people will respond to this insensitivity at an appropriate time.
Yours etc.
Prof. Lakhon Kma,
Shillong-4
Tragic, to say the least!
Editor,
About a month ago we read on various media platforms of the tragic death of two youth, a boy and girl, from around Marbisu village, about 20 Kms or thereabouts from Shillong. Their deaths, as per first hand evidence, was a case of mutual suicide of their own accord. Either way, I wish to convey my heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family of the said deceased!
Incidentally, even as I was dwelling on this lamentable occurrence, my thoughts led me to revisit the recent cable TV telecast in one of the Crime patrol episodes where two young research students during an off day decided to go to an isolated place to vent their feelings for each other but met with violent deaths. They were murdered by two robbers, who robbed them of whatever valuables they had. In the ensuing scuffle the two students were killed by the robbers. After committing the crime the duo waited till darkness before going to a nearby well to wash their blood stained clothes in order to obliterate a tell- tale sign of crime committed. Incidentally, while doing so, two passers-by in a somewhat inebriated condition happened to see the killers, whom they knew. The latter on seeing these curious onlookers threatened them with dire consequences warning the drunks that if they reported to anyone, what they had seen, a similar fate awaited them as well!
The nervous duo were utterly unnerved by the menacing warning and mechanically promised never to utter a single word elsewhere of what they had seen.
Such heinous murder of young scholars had left the police department in a quandary as they had to face a relentless public outcry for not being able to crack the murder case even after several days. Stung by insurmountable public protestations, the police had to explore every conceivable space to bring to book the elusive culprits. One option was by circulating the portraits of the victims in public places noting thereon their names and the precise moment and date of their being murdered. Even after such overarching exercises the police could not get any clue of the murderers, leaving the police authorities and the public distraught. Then one late evening, as luck would have it, one of the alcoholics who had seen the murderers on that specific date as published on the victims’ portraits, spilt the beans to a co-boozer that he knew who the culprits were as they were seen by him and his friend. Thereupon that co-boozer rushed to the police station and briefed the latter of what he had heard. Police immediately swung into action and brought the two eyewitnesses to the police station.
After much cajoling and under duress the latter unwillingly divulged the names of the assassins. Subsequent to this confession, the police could easily arrest the two accused, who,in the end, had admitted to the atrocious crime on the innocent victims for just a few hundred rupees and for which they were charged under relevant sections of Indian Penal Court( IPC) for murder and concealing evidence.
From the foregoing set of circumstances, it may perhaps be advisable for our young and prospective love birds not to venture to any secluded places far from human habitation in order to pour their love for each other given that there are unforeseen circumstances awaiting the innocent. We now have deadly drug abuse, family feuds, rampant unemployment, grinding poverty in India, which is why as per Global Hunger Index, India woefully ranked 111th out of 125 countries, a demonstrable proof of the seriousness of the levels of hunger in our country. Even our arch enemy Pakistan is better placed at 102th position. And wonders never cease as to why our poorer nearest neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have notched up better marks in this respect. Who’s to blame then?
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2