Editor,
Shillong is in the midst of a huge celebration with international music icons straddling the stage even as our own students in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) are on a fast since Wednesday November 6, 2024, to protest the Vice Chancellor’s acts of omission and commission and his not abdicating his post even after a protracted demand from the students’ union – NEHUSU. So while one section of the population rocks and gyrates to loud music another section is withering away in a hunger strike. Other students’ organisations are also supporting the NEHUSU demand and rightly so since this is a case that directly affects the student community. The present VC, PB Shukla has appointed a registrar of his choice and other officials of the University without following due procedure. There are many NGOs and social organisations in Meghalaya but all of them are silent on this critical issue affecting the future of so many of our students now and in the years to come. Why do we take things lying down like this and are held hostage by an indifferent central government which believes it has a complete hold on our lives? Where is the autonomy of Meghalaya as a State when a University in the State is forced to accept a person who does not merit to occupy that position?
Outgoing Governor of Meghalaya, Satyapal Malik once while addressing a gathering at NEHU said, “This Government has appointed Vice Chancellors who are not fit to even be principals of schools.” Although Malik looked at the VC and said, “I am not talking about you,” the message was amply clear. The NEHU VC was sitting right there unmoved. As a teacher of this University, I hold myself equally accountable for not speaking up when the need arose to speak up, for that moment in time never returns and things only get worse. Our collective silence right from the time of the former VC Srivastava has now come full circle. Sadly, it is the students who are bearing the brunt of our conspiratorial silence. When I think about them and consider the fact that it seems like a no-win situation since neither the State Government nor the Governor as Chief Rector are willing to take a stand on behalf of the students, my heart weeps at the utter helplessness we find ourselves in. When will this gridlock end and at what cost?
I appeal to all the people of Meghalaya to stand in solidarity with the NEHUSU and extend your support to the cause of this University. If we continue to bow before insolent might of the Brahminical hegemony we are going to lose whatever little autonomy we have to speak up against all forms of authoritarianism. I am not so sure that we have not already lost most of our freedoms but I dare to hope that we will reclaim those lost spaces by standing together in solidarity with a cause bigger than our petty political differences.
The other day the VPP members led by the MP Ricky Suchiang, a former faculty of NEHU, met the VC. We are not aware of the conversation they had but they appeared with the VC to appeal to the NEHUSU to agree to a discussion. The students got agitated because it took the VPP members to bring the VC out to address the students. As the head of the Institution could he not have come personally before things took a turn for the worse and appealed to students to come to the negotiating table? Why did it take a political party to drag the VC out of his office?
And now the appointment of two Pro-VCs at this juncture does not help the cause. This should have been done immediately after he had joined in 2021. Perhaps the VC wanted to fill these two posts too with his hand-picked people. A University is a place where ideas are churned out for the greater good of society and the world at large. At this rate how can such ideas be seeded and take roots when the mind of students and faculty is perennially agitated.
People of Meghalaya, unite now or forever be doomed. The NEHU affair is a test of our patience which is mistaken for a laid back, couldn’t care less attitude. If we lose this battle, I fear the future that awaits us.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Acute drinking water problems in Mawbah
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the Rangbah Shnong Mawbah the PHE Department and Municipal authorities regarding the water problems faced by most of the households residing in lower Mawbah area near Ganesh Mandir due to poor supply of water from the tank situated at Lower Mawbah beside Bappi shop. This tank was constructed after replacing an old iron tank. But due to faulty construction work or may be due to other reasons, the residents of the area are not getting proper supply of water from this tank. The CPVC pipes installed at the outlet point of this tank are causing difficulty for plumbers to do repair works. Water is seeping out and flows into nearby drains.
The supply pipes connected to CPVC outlet pipes could not fetch water from this tank. The problems cannot be resolved unless the CPVC pipes are removed and replaced by traditional GI pipes and unless the RCC tank is not properly reconstructed.
I therefore request the authorities concerned to kindly take necessary steps in repairing the particular tank in a proper and efficient way so that people of the locality may not face water scarcity in future.
Yours etc.,
T Khan,
Via email