Editor,
Even while we appreciate the State Government’s effort to tap the abundant talent available among the youth in particular and the public in general in our state and to streamline them towards productive ventures for personal as well as for the larger interest of the state through such schemes like PRIME and CM ELEVATE, we deeply regret that the talent to act and perform through theatre has not been given the recognition it deserves. We would like to bring to the attention of the Government that there is a lot of talent in the performing arts like acting, especially among students which is wasted once they have passed out from their respective schools because of the absence of institutions to cultivate and enhance these talents and one of the reasons being the lack of adequate government support.
As of now, theatre is a non- commercial activity in our state, but it is a stepping stone to commercial ventures like movies and commercial advertisements in the State as well as at the national and even international level. Theatre is also a powerful medium to create awareness on issues relating to social, political, health and other fields as well. The FOREVER YOUNG together with the MAITSHAPHRANG had been staging several Street and Stage plays in the past both in Khasi and English. We had performed two Street plays ‘Ka Drama jong ka Phan Nonglait’ and ‘La thaw ne La Pynthaw,’ and two plays, ‘Phi Vote Phi Rai – 1 & 2’, one on Doordarshan Kendra Shillong and another on local cable channels. The other stage plays posted on YouTube are “Papa Shano Phi Don” and Burom Ia Uba Iap” both musical and in Khasi and an English musical play “Juliet and Romeo”. We are ready to stage our next musical play in English titled, ‘After Ayodhya, it’s Conscience and Man’ and an application for financial assistance has been put up to the State Government before a screening for interested artistes can be advertised.
As a group involved in theatre, we are ready to take up the responsibility to nurture this talent to the next level, but the support of the State Government especially in terms of finance is vital because even though theatre is not a profit-making activity for now in our State, the expenditure involved in staging a play is quite high. We are confident that with time theatre production will become more professional and able to generate revenue to sustain itself.
Yours etc.,
Michael N. Syiem
Via email
Blind man’s story touched my heart
Editor,
I recently read Salil Gewali’s letters titled “Blind Man Selling Kwai-Cigarette,” (ST September 3, 2024). It discussed the plight of a poor blind man selling betel nuts and a single packet of cigarettes in a plastic bag. After reading the letter we learned that many people were able to trace his small hut in a village in Mawngap, where he lives with his wife, who is also blind. Their condition is heartbreaking.
Mr. Gewali has done a remarkable job by bringing this blind man’s struggles to light through this daily. However, I find it hard to understand how the local MLA or MDC could have overlooked such a situation in their constituency. Surely, they must have visited this blind man’s rundown hut to seek votes, but why did they never think of helping this deserving couple by providing some form of livelihood or support through government schemes, such as those for people with disabilities?
While there are many poor people like this blind man who struggle daily to survive, what stood out to me is that there are very few people—if any—like Salil Gewali. He is filled with genuine love and compassion for the poor, without any discrimination. He also cares deeply for poverty-stricken farmers, and that shines through his letters to the editor frequently.
Mr. Gewali has inspired readers like me to reach out to those in need and help them in any way possible—unlike some political leaders who only take photos with the poor to gain more votes. Truly, angels walk among us, and I saw one in Salil Gewali. May God bless him with more love and strength in his noble efforts, and may he inspire all of us to open our eyes and hearts to all those in need.
Yours etc.,
Jonathan Albert Khyriem
Shillong-2
More stringent laws needed to deal with rape & molestation
Editor,
Through your esteemed newspaper I would like to draw the attention of the Government of India and other State Governments to consider more stringent laws to curb the ever-increasing cases of molestation and rape some of which see the light of day through the media but many remain unreported and hence the increase in such cases. The prevailing law under the POCSO Acts remains ineffective as thousands of cases are still pending in the different courts of the country and piling dust on the criminal’s files.
Hence more stringent laws are necessary to get quick and instant justice for the victims. It is observed that many probes are conducted which take time and the matter remains unsolved for years and sometimes the criminal goes scot free. Hence the POCSO Act should have more powers to deliver justice to the victims.
Yours etc.,
S L Singhania,
Via email