College without a qualified Principal
Editor,
St. Edmund’s College, Shillong recently celebrated 100 years of its existence and has contributed immensely to education in this state. However, the College has been without a regular and a qualified Principal for over 8 months. It seems the management of the College is deliberately not appointing a regular Principal and wants to administer the institution according to its own whims and fancies. In the absence of a regular and qualified Principal the college is unable to provide the right kind of leadership to the students and other stakeholders which is so essential. This is a clear flouting of norms laid down by the prevailing UGC regulations on appointment of College Principals. The toothless state government and NEHU seems to be least bothered with the prevailing status of the college which also shows the quality of education in this state. Moreover, the appointment of Vice-Principals in the College is also contrary to the UGC norms, where it is required that a senior serving faculty should be appointed to this post for a tenure of 2 years. In summary, educational institutions nowadays seem to be administered like business corporations and the regulatory agencies are turning a blind eye to this. I hope that the College does not carry on like this for the next 100 years.
Yours etc.,
D. Swer
Shillong- 22
Tunnel rescue mission
Editor,
Apropos the editorial, “Tunnel Rescue Mission Successful” (ST, November 30, 2023), there are three lessons to be learnt from the Silkyara tunnel episode. First, inadequate investigations prior to the excavation for tunnel should be avoided. The horrifying act of playing with the lives of the workers and with laws of nature must be brought to an end.
Second, the heroic rescue act by rat-hole miners established human supremacy over machines. Our workers deserve more respect from the people in general and more care and security from the government in particular. Students in schools should learn to appreciate the dignity of labour through real stories such as the rescue operation by the rat-hole miners where the skill, endurance, patience and perseverance of labour ultimately made the impossible possible.
Third, the heroic rat-hole miners showcased the wastage of huge human resources and potentials in India. Thousands of rat-hole miners, manual scavengers, ragpickers and gig workers could have become great assets of India in various fields had they got necessary opportunities in their lives. It explains why India sits at the back bench (bench number 132nd) of the Human Development Index.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Time for Meghalaya to rethink land use
Editor,
The special article, “Establish a Wine and Mead SEZ in Meghalaya” ST 28th November 2023 by KN Kumar, Chairman, Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission is excellent. I cannot disagree with him that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya “be immediately pressed into area expansion of various local fruits to ensure an adequate supply of these important flowering plants and fruits.’ The author has correctly articulated that given the favourable land-man-ratio a large tract of wasteland can be converted to a Special Economic Zone. The District Council should allocate such land for SEZ for which it could also benefit through rentals. The Government of Meghalaya which has already taken the initiative to promote home grown wine from Meghalaya should now immediately take action in establishing an exclusive Wine & Mead SEZ. Mr Kumar rightly emphasised that “It’s time to raise a glass to Meghalaya’s unique and promising future”
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
A holiday letter – A grace-filled Christmas
Editor,
Hello December, the last month of the year-the curtain closure of the year. It’s the season to be jolly because the holidays are here again. It’s that time of the year that we are all waiting for – the crisp, cold hands but WARM HEARTS; it’s time to indulge in a little festive food, partake in some carolling, perhaps, and maybe even keep a keen eye out for the arrival of Santa Claus and the array of presents many children, young and old, hope he has with their names on them. Christmas is never good without the children.
But let’s take a pause and reflect on what Christmas is all about? Is it just the Christmas trees, the glitters, the decorations, the presents and all the commercialisations that come along with it? Or is there something else?
Yes, It’s the season where we remember the birth of Jesus Christ- the Saviour, the Messenger of Hope, Love and GRACE.
“AMAZING GRACE Indeed”.
John Newton the renowned poet and writer of this beautiful hymn thinks so highly of Grace that he labels it, “The underserved mercy and favour of God to the world.” As Christmas moves ever closer, grateful choirs will sing how God’s grace is Christmas’ most amazing gift:
“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound/ That saved a wretch like me!/
I once was lost but now am found/ Was blind but now I see.”
Like John Newton, all Christ’s followers journey forward with encouragement from the words of this popular hymn. The gift of grace evokes the Holy Spirit, the faithfulness of God’s love, and Jesus’ guiding light with each step we take and surrounds us with God’s promise to protect us. It highlights our compassionate God’s bountiful love for His unpredictable creation often oblivious to His Grace.
As much grace as God has given to us, is there something we can do for others to show them the love and the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And while many of us count the days until this time of year rolls around again, for others in the community, the season is anything but jolly. Each and every year we hear the pleas from charities and churches about the need for both donations and volunteers to help make the season bright for the less fortunate among us.
Although a small gesture, donating a few non-perishable goods to the local churches or volunteering or making a small donation to a non-profit organization, helping the less fortunate may not seem to have that much of an impact, but if enough of us do it, it can make a big difference to others in our community.
By all means we can enjoy spending time with our friends and family over the course of this festive season but we can’t forget that not everyone has reasons to feel joyful without some assistance. If we can all pitch in, even a little bit, maybe we can make sure another family has a merrier Christmas or a happier holiday and a more prosperous new year.
The countdown is on, but there’s still time to be generous towards others. We’ll be glad we did.
Lastly to quote from Milton’s Masterpiece,
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years/ Bright shining as the sun/ We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise/ Than when we’d first begun.”
The Christmas story is forever the story of grace. And so, I take this time to wish each and everyone A very happy holiday season and a merry Christmas – A time of serious thankfulness to God for His amazing grace: the greatest gift of all
Yours etc.,
Chanmiki Laloo,
Via email