Editor,
Report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and its observation that the Gyanvapi Mosque at Varanasi had been built over a pre-existing Hindu temple is nothing but confirmation of the glaring truth known to everyone. Even a casual visitor of Kashi Vishwanath Temple just by a cursory look can comprehend the fact that the mosque had been built over a temple. It is however, a matter of great pride that the Hindu community has adopted the correct legal recourse to address the historical injustice committed by invaders involving one of their holiest shrines. The destruction of the Kashi Viswanath temple by the tyrant Mughal has been documented by none other than the court-news writer of Aurangzib- Mohd Saqi & Musta’idd Khan in ‘Maasir- I-Alamgiri’- the chronicle of the reign of Auranzeb which mentions “…news came to the court that according to the emperor’s command, the temple of Biswanath at Benaras has been destroyed. (in 1669 AD)”.
Litigation of the case is expected to continue primarily resting on the Places of Worship Act, 1991 which bars conversion of any place of worship of any religious denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination. Since ASI survey report confirms the true character of the premise surveyed as ‘temple’, and the Places of Worship Act nowhere mentions ‘possession’ (legal or otherwise) as a determining factor to arrive at the ‘character’ of a place, therefore, it is expected that in due course of time the historical injustice involving the Kashi Viswanath Temple will be corrected through judicial pronouncements.
Yours etc.,
D. Bhattacharjee
Shillong- 1
Significance of Republic Day
Editor,
Republic Day, celebrated on January 26 holds wholehearted significance in the heart of every Indian, as it marks the culmination of our hard struggle for independence and the beginning of a new era of hope, equality and justice. There is a special reason behind choosing the date January 26 for implementing the Constitution. Very few people know that Independence Day was celebrated for the first time in the country on 26 January 1930. In fact, on December 31, 1929, a resolution was passed in the Lahore session of Congress under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru. In this proposal it was demanded that if the British Government did not give India the status of Dominion State by 26 January 1930, then India would declare itself completely independent. After this, Independence Day was celebrated for the first time on January 26, 1930 and the tricolor was also hoisted on this day. Since then, the date – January 26 has become very important for the countrymen. When the country became independent on 15 August 1947, Independence Day was officially celebrated on 15 August. But to make January 26 memorable it was chosen to implement the Constitution on this day. This is the reason that even after the Constitution was ready on November 26, 1949, there was a wait of two months and it was implemented on January 26, 1950. On this very day, the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, hoisted the flag with a 21-gun salute and declared India a full-fledged republic. Since then, every year Republic Day is celebrated as a national festival. On this day, the President of the country participates in the program and hoists the flag and is given a 21-gun salute.
Yours etc.,
Pinaki Nandy
Shillong
Why treat AYUSH doctors like 2nd class citizen?
Editor,
The AYUSH Medical Association Of Meghalaya (AMAM) expresses its disappointment with the advertisement dated January 23, 2024 given by the by Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) for the post of medical officer MBBS-74, Dental-8 and Medical Physics 17, whereas the 14 posts for AYUSH doctors was left unadvertised. AYUSH physicians are one of the main pillars in providing medical care in the State of Meghalaya. We have witnessed this during the COVID -19 pandemic where most of the Corona Care Centres were being run by AYUSH physicians of the State. Sadly, the moment the Covid War ended the Government had just dumped the AYUSH doctors in the Swacch Bharat Dustbin.
The last advertisement by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) for AYUSH doctors was in March 2015 almost a decade ago. Since then no post has been created and there have been no job advertisements for AYUSH doctors. With the exception of the National Health Mission (NHM) of course. Thanks to the NHM, over 100 AYUSH doctors are working under NHM on a contractual basis. The question therefore is why so much disparity and partiality by the State Government as if AYUSH doctors are not performing theirs duties. The fact of the matter is that especially in rural areas in the CHC or PHC or in any other Health centre the task of AYUSH physicians is equivalent to that of MBBS doctors except that they have no assistance and have to do everything themselves.
If we talk about a Directorate, the only state in India which does not have a separate Directorate Of AYUSH is Meghalaya. Every other state has a Directorate Of AYUSH. The irony is that recently the State Government clearly mentioned in the appointment letter of Dr Joram Beda, IAS that he is also Director of AYUSH and not as Director of AYUSH Mission. So how is it possible that there is a Director for AYUH without a Directorate? It is high time for the Government to realise that AYUSH doctors are an integral part of the healthcare system.
The Government justification is that it does not have enough AYUSH doctors to have a separate Directorate. The strength of AYUSH doctors in the state is almost 1000 now. There are three systems existing in Meghalaya as of now, namely, Ayurveda (BAMS) Yoga Naturopathy (BNYS) and Homeopathy (BHMS)..Beside a central institute like NEIAH is housed in Meghalaya. AYUSH doctors do not have a Council for registration except for Homeopathy.
The Government justification of lack of manpower can be divided into man and power. The man part is there. It is the power that is missing. If the Government thinks there’s a manpower crunch in AYUSH then it should recruit more doctors so that we can also have Power. Without recruitment how can the Government have manpower? Sadly, most AYUSH doctors working under NHM are about to reach the upper age limit for entering government service.
I therefore urge the Government and the Health Minister to look into this matter urgently and not force us to wear our aprons and sit in front of the Secretariat. It is shameful for us and shameful for the Government too. Our immediate demands are 1)Job recruitment 2)Separate Directorate.
Yours etc.,
Dr B Langstang,
General Secretary, AMAM
Via email
Overnight experts of Jaintia history
Editor,
Following the release of the controversial State Anthem, a number of writers (Bhogtoram Mawroh, Mankular Lamin Gashnga et al) expressed their view points on the historicity and ethnicity of the Jaintias – a tribe whose source of history has been well researched and documented right from the pre-British period. As in the history of other communities, the pre-British history of the Jaintias may be broadly based on literary, archaeological and other allied sources. The literary sources consist of both internal and external accounts. In the external sources we have the Burmese and Chinese accounts etc.
In recent times everyone has become an expert of Jaintia history overnight by quoting colonial sources. Since when have Gordon’s and Rafy’s or for that matter any other colonial ethnographer’s writings been treated as gospel truth? The colonial legacy is too strong and these newspaper articles want to wipe out the history of the Jaintias with one stroke of the Anthem.
This kind of cultural imperialism has to stop. It’s been going on for a very long time and one cannot suppress others.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Omarlin Kyndiah,
Via email