Editor,
The editorial in the Shillong Times entitled “Complacent Silence of the Church” on Dec 30, 2023 is a timely reminder of the omissions and complicity of the Church in neglecting the social issues of our society and turning a blind eye to human suffering including the plight of Christians in some parts of the country.
The invitation to more than a hundred Christian leaders for a Christmas event at the Prime Minister’s residence was a missed opportunity. Not a word seems to have been said about the killings and rapes in Manipur, the burning of hundreds of churches, the thousands of refugees in relief camps, the disruption of education and livelihoods, and the trauma inflicted on homeless women and children. We may criticize the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur, but how many church leaders have been there?
Instead the church leaders fell over themselves praising the policies and progress of the country, outdoing each other with superlatives about the Prime Minister and the BJP government. Of course, there are many praiseworthy initiatives, but a discussion balanced with positives and negatives would have been more meaningful. Anyway, while the priests and pastors were singing poems of praise to the political order, it was the Prime Minister who quoted from the Bible and the Pope’s Christmas message.
Even if Manipur was given a go bye, other issues of deep concern could have been raised such as poverty, and the treatment of minorities and SCs and STs. Perhaps this was an inconvenient time to be distracted by the daily sufferings of hunger and humiliation faced by millions of our fellow citizens. Was any petition or memorandum given to the PM? The PM’s Christmas bash seemed mostly a photo-op.
It was the Prime Minister who brought up the topic of poverty, quoting the Pope’s Christmas message that poverty diminishes the dignity of individuals. He talked about the welfare schemes which have benefitted the poor, including poor Christians. The PM cited the example of Jesus in bringing about inclusion and social justice, and said that the Holy Bible emphasizes service to others. These themes should have come from the church leaders themselves.
The vast majority of India’s Christians are from the lowest socio-economic brackets, mostly STs and SCs. Hardly any of them featured in the guest list. Pictures of the gathering shows rows and rows of men, some in resplendent robes. Patriarchy and elitism rule the Church roost. The only woman speaker was Anju Bobby George, a sportsperson.
Not all Christians were impressed by the Christmas party. The United Christian Forum recently issued a report documenting 687 incidents of violence against Christians this year up to November 2023. The report highlighted the annual rise in violence, up from 147 incidents in 2014. In UP there are over a hundred pastors and church members in jail under charges of illegal conversions when celebrating birthdays or conducting Sunday prayers.
Meghalaya, a Christian majority state, is led by Christian politicians, and Christian leaders exert great influence. On Sundays we hear sermons loudly broadcast across the neighborhoods. Hardly does this preaching translate into social action. The Christians in this state are among the poorest people in India. Like in that age old parable, Good Samaritans will have to be found outside the church.
Yours etc.,
Glenn C. Kharkongor,
Via email
Need new bridges, alternative routes
Editor,
The ongoing repairing work of the bridge over the age-old MeECL dam on the Umiam Lake in Ri Bhoi district is causing much inconvenience to the public. While the civil work was long overdue and much needed, this major thoroughfare between Guwahati and Shillong is used for its easy access and lack of any alternative routes. The Mawdiangdiang – Diengpasoh – Umiam route is not a viable option for many as it is lengthy and time-consuming. With flyovers being constructed at a rapid pace in neighboring Guwahati by the state government there, Meghalaya can emulate a few by starting with a second bridge over Umiam Lake instead of depending on the British-era dam alone. The dam needs respite from years of vehicles running over it. The current scenario where vehicles are stopped at one end while allowing passes to the other side and vice-versa has become the order. The unusual sight, however, is the long line of vehicles on either side waiting to cross over the dam to reach their destinations. Such a sight on the highway was last seen when it used to be a double lane. While the highway has gone on to become a four lane one, the uphill ride from Umiam Lake reduces it to a bottleneck. An alternative route is needed from the NEPA Junction to Mawiong up to the Shillong Bypass. This alternative route has to be explored by the State Government and as it is said, if there is a will, there is a way.
Yours etc.
BC Paul
Shillong – 4
How fascism takes roots
Editor,
This is to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Deepa Majumdar for her inspiring letter, “Ethics must guide human actions” (ST, December 29, 2023). She rightly said, “Far better to be ethical without religion than to be religious without ethics.” Fear is the main enemy of empathy and ethics. It can bulldoze human ability to understand another person’s feelings. History witnessed how a fear called anti-Semitism could bulldoze humanity. Now another fear called Islamophobia is taking centre stage for doing the damage.
Apart from fear, inferiority complex is the other culprit. On the psychology of fascism and how people are drawn into fascism, Carl Jung in his famous interview, “Will the souls find peace?” said, “Germans are profoundly troubled with a national inferiority complex, which they try to compensate by megalomania.” Instead of fulfilling the basic needs of the people like food, health, education and social security, giving priority to building big statues, going to the moon and what Deepa Majumdar said, “hi-tech theatrics” are the manifestations of megalomania. This needs to be taken care of by getting our priorities right and more importantly by accepting the existence of poverty instead of having an inferiority complex that insists on covering slum areas during international events and denying the United Nations report on hunger.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata