Editor,
Through your esteemed newspaper, we strongly appeal to the MPSC to urgently revise the screening test pattern for the Assistant Conservator of Forest (Meghalaya Forest Service). The current Preliminary Examination structure, which allocates 50% weightage to Maths (Arithmetic, Quantitative Aptitude) is deeply flawed and unfit for a post which focuses on forest management, conservation, and environmental stewardship. This pattern disproportionately favours candidates with Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering backgrounds making it inherently biased and unfair to candidates from other science and non-mathematical disciplines.
The current pattern for the Meghalaya Forest Service Preliminary exam is; English – 100. GK and Aptitude – 100. Arithmetic- 100. This clearly tilts the balance. While candidates with a mathematical background can clear the screening test effortlessly, others feel abandoned and helpless, grappling to compete on unequal footing. This not only limits diversity in the recruitment process but also sidelines candidates who may possess superior knowledge and passion for forestry and environmental conservation.
What is particularly disheartening is that MPSC has deviated drastically from the UPSC Preliminary pattern. While UPSC assigns Aptitude as a qualifying paper with only 33% as the benchmark, MPSC gives it undue weightage alongside an additional paper solely dedicated to Arithmetic. The dissimilarity in Preliminary exam patterns makes it exceedingly difficult for Meghalaya students to simultaneously prepare for state and national-level exams. This lack of alignment not only wastes their time and energy but also discourages genuine environmental enthusiasts from competing. For over a decade, Meghalaya has failed to produce an Indian Forest Service officer.
With a very limited number of posts (only five), the competition becomes even more skewed. Mathematics-heavy exam patterns give candidates with a mathematical background an undue advantage, practically securing half the marks needed with minimal effort.
We urge the authorities to adopt a more balanced and inclusive examination pattern, reducing the weightage of Mathematics. This change will not only provide a fair and balanced playing field but also encourage Meghalaya students to compete at both state and national levels without unnecessary and irrelevant obstacles.
We hope that this appeal reaches the concerned authorities and sparks a meaningful change that benefits the youth of Meghalaya and enhances the quality of recruitment for forest services.
Yours etc.,
Daman Dkhar,
Shillong
Hindu avatars not myths
Editor,
As I read through the various articles and opinions on Hindu mythology, I can’t help but feel that the concept of avatars is often misunderstood and misrepresented. The stories of Rama, Krishna, and Buddha are frequently dismissed as mere myths, devoid of any historical significance.
However, I strongly believe that the avatars of Hinduism hold a wealth of historical significance, offering insights into the cultural, social, and spiritual evolution of ancient India. The concept of avatars emerged in ancient India during the Vedic period, and the Vedas contain references to various gods and goddesses who took on human or animal forms to interact with humans.
Archaeological excavations at Ayodhya and Dwarka have uncovered evidence of ancient cities dating back to the 7th century BCE and 2nd century BCE, respectively. The edicts of Ashoka, dating back to the 3rd century BCE, provide historical evidence of the Buddha’s existence.
It’s time to reexamine our understanding of Hindu avatars and recognize their historical significance. By separating the historical facts from the mythological embellishments, we can gain a deeper understanding of these figures and their role in shaping the cultural and spiritual heritage of India.
Yours etc.,
Sudarshan Dasgupta.
Via email
Secularism an imperative
Editor,
There is a line in the song, “The sound of silence”, “And in the naked light, I saw/ Ten thousand people, maybe more/ People talking without speaking/ People hearing without listening”. The practice of “hearing without listening” has unfortunately been followed by many people when it comes to understanding the importance of secularism. They question whether secularism is at all practical and wise for a country’s development and progress, even though every chapter of a history book shows that it is secularism that ensures a country’s all round development.
The Bangladesh economy witnessed the fastest growth among South Asian countries when attacks on minorities had firmly been dealt with by the Hasina administration. Bangladesh went past India’s position in the global hunger index (105) and secured 84th place. It achieved 129th place ahead of India’s 134th in the human development index.
After Sheikh Hasina’s ouster on August 5, there were attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh. What is the result? Its economy is now in bad shape. The managing director of a leading private sector bank, Selim R. F. Hossain said, “The situation has to be fixed promptly. Otherwise, it would be very, very difficult to pick up the economy.” The World Bank and the IMF have brought down their growth forecast for Bangladesh by 1.7 and 2.1 percentage points, respectively.
Those who abhor secularism must learn that secularism and development are synonymous. Its no surprise therefore that this year’s Nobel laureates in economics – Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson – have demonstrated that societies with a poor rule of law and institutions that exploit the population do not generate growth or change for the better.
Some people ridicule secular ideals as “sickular” and humanitarian approaches as utopian. They regard machismo and majoritarianism as panacea. But history teaches us that exactly the very opposite of this is true. Hatred only spelt disaster everywhere. On the other hand, the road to tolerance, harmony, and fraternity took countries to prosperity.
It is not just enough to appreciate or criticise the policies of other countries. We need to imbibe good things in other countries and avoid falling into the traps of some countries’ suicidal actions.
It was because of the liberal attitude of the Britons that made it possible to elect a Hindu as their Prime Minister in their previous government. Hindu and Muslim ministers are there in the present UK cabinet also. This liberal attitude is one of the main reasons behind their scoring high in the human development indices and getting the 15th rank.
This should encourage us to rectify our fault lines. For the first time in India, a Union Cabinet has been formed without a single Muslim minister in it, even though India has the third largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. The second fault line lies in the human development index rank of 134, which indicates that India must improve two most important sectors, namely education and health.
While we must condemn the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, we also need to clean our own backyard. There should be zero tolerance towards hate speeches against minorities, vilification, and lynching of poor workers who belong to minority communities.
Hitler showed the world the danger of pursuing an idea of hatred by killing and persecuting the Jews. Hitler left Germany in tatters. Now, we must embrace the idea of harmony with zero hatred against minorities so that the bad chapter of history may not repeat here and damage our country’s unity and progress.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata