Editor,
The demise of Dr Manmohan Singh is a moment of poignant sorrow and grief for the nation. I express my deep condolences and pray to the almighty for the great soul to rest in peace. He was a towering figure in India’s economic and political history and the architect of the country’s 1991 economic reforms, pulled millions out of poverty, and made the West accept the nuclear-armed nation as an ally by signing a historic deal with the US in 2008 to end India’s nuclear isolation after its 1998 testing of the weapon’s system.He argued that the deal would help meet India’s growing energy needs and sustain its healthy growth rate.
He played a crucial role in India’s economic transformation by implementing key reforms that opened up the economy and alleviated poverty. As prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh took several far-reaching decisions that continue to impact the health of Indian democracy even today. He implemented the Right to Information Act that strengthened and guaranteed the right to seek information from the government, allowing citizens an extraordinary power to hold officials accountable, thereby making the RTI Act a “sunshine law” for democracy. He also brought in a law that guaranteed the right to free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 14, significantly reducing the school dropout rates.
A humanist at heart and with his humility, simplicity and infectious positive spirit he reached out to the powerful and the powerless with the same amplitude. When the current Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was incarcerated in prison for 6 years on corruption charges in the year 1999 Dr Singh had offered scholarships for his children during which Singh served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
With his death, India has been deprived of sage counsel at a time when growth is once again anemic, policy-making has become whimsical, the middle class is feeling weighed down by taxation and religious strife is on the rise.
Yours etc.,
M.Haque. Advocate.
Shillong-6
Dr Manmohan Singh deserves the Bharat Ratna
Editor,
The editorial “A stalwart passes on” (ST December 28, 2024) made interesting reading and one cannot disagree with the editor that late Dr Manmohan Singh “will always be remembered for taking India on a progressive economic trajectory.” It is heartening that the Union Cabinet late night on December 27, 2024 decided that a memorial and mausoleum would be built in his memory. In fact, it will be befitting if the Government of India honours this illustrious son of India posthumously with the Bharat Ratna. I am optimistic that Prime Minister Narendra Modi who instituted a memorial for Narasimha Rao in 2015 and honoured him posthumously in 2024 with the Bharat Ratna will do the same to honour Dr Manmohan Singh keeping in mind his immense economic contribution to the country.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Friendly attack or oneupmanship?
Editor
On December 27, Potternet TV Channel released a video titled “Balei ba phi mane thala ia nga” (Why are you falsely worshipping me?) in a secular public platform to stir up strife and sow discord in the hearts of Christians from various denominations. December 25 is being celebrated as Christmas Day. Santa Claus or Good Friday for instance, are topics of heated debates within the Christian family which were as old as time. Does the pastor mean to say that other Pastors and Priests who proudly and joyfully share the spirit of Christmas are Thawnang/Nongleh Thawnang (busybodies)? Aren’t they fit and qualified to interpret the Word of the Lord? To devoted Christians, the story of the Fall of the Tower of Babel teaches that pride leads to destruction. But to some this is a good political strategy to divide and rule! There are various versions of the Truth and we have no right to condemn others. The Pastor’s actions may seem like a friendly attack to viewers but there’s more to this than meets the eye. If at a human level we can share joy and love with positive intentions during Christmas, why wouldn’t God be pleased? He may have separated our language for a glorious purpose we cannot humanly understand, but He blessed us with one universal language – LOVE. Does the pastor celebrate/attend birthdays? Does the Pastor stay at home on Thursday because it’s mighty THOR’s day? Does he follow the Gregorian Calendar or the Khasi Calendar? There is more to life than following the Bible Verbatim or interpreting it to suit one’s own sets of beliefs. Judging the interpretation of Christmas in the video, it can be interpreted as a Divide and Rule strategy. Now am I at fault? Let Christians enjoy their Christmas. Deeming fellow Christians to be under the influence of Satan just for celebrating Christmas in their own positive manner is a petty low blow. Together we stand strong.
Yours etc.,
Kyntiewborlang Kharakor,
Shillong- 8
CPC should also condemn the KSP!
Editor,
On December 28th, I had read in this daily that the Central Puja Committee(CPC) and the President of the CPC had condemned the action of the Hindu man who chanted Jai Shri Ram in the Church at Mawlynnong village.However, the CPC and the President of the CPC should have condemned the President of the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad(KSP), Satya Ranjan Borah, who recently has been trying to create an issue of the Mawjymbuin Cave, a place sacred for the Khasis, Ka Bri U Hynñiew Trep and Ka Ri Khasi. So, I request the CPC and its President to condemn the President of the KSP.
As far as I am concerned I strongly condemn the President of the KSP.
Yours etc.,
Wallambiang Rani
Upper Shillong
Patronage democracy at its worst
Editor
I am writing to thank Napoleon S Mawphniang for his courageous article, “How the Government of Meghalaya benefits the minority at the cost of the majority?” (ST Dec 21, 2024). At once heart-breaking in its contents, and inspiring, this article is a clarion call to action. Indeed corruption, crony capitalism, and a politics of patronage CAN be overcome — without violence — only by the people, whose survival and legitimate interests are betrayed on a daily basis by their elected “representatives.”
Since these elected representatives have free-will, they are morally culpable. While it is true that the clash between modernity and the indigenous way of life is tearing apart Meghalaya, corruption and immoral actions should not be overlooked by denying free-will. When we explain serious political misconduct by the times we live in, or by influence theories that explain human conduct from the outside — as a result (not cause) of petrified socio-historical forces — we deny free-will.
If it is any consolation, perhaps Meghalaya is not alone in its political woes. Bengal under Mamata Bannerjee does not sound much better.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email