On ‘The Shillong Times’ discussion in Khasi
Editor,
The theme ‘To Ngin Iathir’ on the issue of whether the right to marry a person of one’s choice has to be regulated is perhaps the most stimulating and thoughtful discussion from Shillong that I have ever listened to. How time flies when you are enjoying yourself This should be the format of discussions all the time especially during elections. And yes, we need questioning not just being “ñiang kohnguh” (nodding in agreement). All the panelists made really good observations. So well done!
Yours etc.,
Janet Hujon,
Via email
Emergence of a brand new “Hate Politics”
Editor,
Lately, we have seen a sudden shift in the political scenario in Meghalaya, especially in the eastern half of the state. A new brand of politics is emerging or unfolding which in my opinion is a politics inclining towards the ultra-left where ethno-centricism and neo-Marxism are the main focal points. The other day I happened to come across a video where the President of the VPP was giving a speech in one of his election campaigns. He was trying to persuade the crowd by saying that his party is for the downtrodden and the poor whereas the NPP is for wealthy and affluent. After pondering for a while I can clearly see the motive of Ardent. This is a classic case of driving a wedge between the haves and the have nots of the state. This clearly translates to a tactic used commonly by the ultra-left to further extend their influence over the people,
Secondly, being anti-establishment is another strategy of the ultra-left to oppose or challenge the existing power structure and coincidentally here the VPP is challenging the age old traditional institution i.e. The Dorbar Shnong, Thirdly, the criticism of the media for perpetrating fake news against the VPP clearly indicates the haughtiness or egotism of its leaders and this is a major red flag that a political party is against the ‘Fourth Pillar ‘of Democracy. Lastly, the VPP from time to time have been adopting strong arm methods which advocate protests, sit in rallies in order to achieve its political goals. As a citizen, I am deeply concerned about this new political development in our state. Every individual has the right to ascribe to any political ideology they choose to. I’m a Right winger myself, but I will never affiliate with any groups or parties that undermine the democratic value of our state.
Yours etc.,
W. Tariang,
Via email
Wanted alternative venues for rock concerts
Editor,
The JN Stadium is very much in the news these past few days because of the high profile ISL matches and a musical extravaganza. The stadium was built by the Government as a response to the pressing demand by the football lovers and teams as there was no stadium in Shillong. To improve the stadium AstroTurf was laid to enable national and international standard football to be played. Of late, however the JN Stadium is being used for musical extravaganza as a result of which the football turf is damaged although the Government is trying its best with the latest technology to keep it play-worthy.
The craze for the musical extravaganza is growing and music lovers are flocking here as Shillong is now called the ‘Rock Capital’ of India. In such a scenario Shillong needs at least 2-3 more stadia to hold different functions like the musical extravaganza by the International artists etc. Government says that elsewhere in the country such concerts are held in the stadium. That is because those states have a number of stadiums while we have only one in Shillong.
I urge the Government to build at least 2-3 more stadia in Shillong and the suburbs for other purposes like cricket, football and concerts which will not damage the only existing stadium i.e., JN Stadium which was built for the purpose of football activities of repute.
Yours etc.,
SL Singhania,
Via email
Living with honesty and humour
Editor,
After having a cup of tea at a roadside tea shop, I gave the shop owner a ten rupee note. The shop owner was a middle-aged woman fighting hard for survival from heart disease and financial hardship. Since the tea cost five rupees she was to return the change. After searching for a coin she got 2 two-rupee coins and told me to wait a minute so that she could bring one rupee from a nearby shop. I told her to forget about it. But she was determined to return the right change.
I could not tell her that it was a matter of a mere one rupee because honesty is priceless. It does not depend on the value whether it is one rupee or rupees one lakh. So, I said that I would give her one rupee less next time when I have tea at her shop. My intention was to escape from her eatery without hurting her feelings and sentiments.
But her reply reflected not only her sense of humour but also her spiritual inclination that made her remain honest amid poverty life crises. She said with a smile, “I am afraid lest you search for me above!”
Spiritual inclination (not religious dogma) and a sense of humour provide a toiling person with oxygen to survive amid obstacles and challenges.
Every day a middle-aged fish hawker comes riding on a cycle in front of our building. He too has good sense of humour. Our next door neighbour buys fish from him every second day. After buying a fish, my neighbour asked him to piece the fish without discarding the fish fat from the belly.
The hawker said, “I will give you everything I get inside its belly. You will get even a diamond ring if it is there!” His joke reminds me of the story line of Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam.
I felt like seeing a street drama of a modern version of that story where the hawker was like the fisherman who was to find a ring in the belly of the fish. The ring that Dusyanta had given to Sakuntala. My next door neighbour was like the modern Dusyanta. The ring would remind him about his marriage with her.
Some years ago, a political leader taught broom sellers a business trick. He suggested that they should exchange old brooms of customers with new ones by giving them some discount on the price of new brooms. Then they should use materials like piping, wire, and nylon from old brooms to prepare new ones.
Every morning a broom hawker passes through the lane in front of our house with his melodious chants, “phool jharoo.” One day I bought a broom from him and requested him to take my old one for free. To my surprise he declined. I suggested that the materials of the old broom could be used for making a new one. But he said, “Why should I use old materials? In that case, new brooms will not last long.”
Many companies use sub-standard material so that their products don’t last long in order to boost sales. We may think the broom seller is poor because he does not know business tricks. But human greed and dishonesty have been pushing the world into an environmental disaster. Hence honesty is still the best policy in the long run.
While the tea seller shows a sense of humour and honesty, the fish hawker makes his mark with the former and the broom hawker with the latter. The greed of the powerful makes the world ecologically fragile and grumpy. The world will be a happy place if they learn from virtuous people.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
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