Editor,
So much has been said, written, analysed, dissected and regurgitated in the papers of late. Articles, reports, opinion pieces and the impassioned letters to the editor, all weighing in on the matter at hand. One might think the subject is thoroughly exhausted, yet, here I am, adding my two bit to this…because, evidently, restraint isn’t my strong suit!
Shillong is a city at war with itself…..torn between progress and the romanticised ruins of its past. And nowhere is this contradiction more absurd than in the hand-wringing over the demolition of a school building that, by all credible accounts, was a safety hazard!
Let’s get one thing straight – age alone does not confer value. If something old must be preserved simply because it is old, then let’s all start hoarding moth-eaten clothes and rusted cars. What we’re seeing here is not heritage conservation – it’s heritage fetishisation, where sentimentality trumps common sense. The same people lamenting this demolition didn’t seem to mind when the greater part of Shillong was replaced by cemented Lego structures that look like they were designed and constructed by drunk toddlers!
The city is expanding at an astounding rate, yet when a single school building makes way for something safer and better, we’re expected to weep for the past like jilted lovers. Some argue that the building should have been left alone. Had the structure caved in on students, the same voices now decrying its demolition would have been baying for blood.
And now, the High Court wants a replica…….because apparently, what Shillong really needs is an architectural cosplay of a crumbling building. Imagine if we applied this logic to every piece of urban renewal: “A new bridge? Great idea, but can you make it wobble slightly so we don’t lose the nostalgia of almost dying on the old one?”
‘‘A newly renovated library? Wonderful. But let’s ensure the books still have dog-eared pages, and the occasional missing chapter. And the chairs? Let’s ensure they remain nostalgically creaky, with just the right amount of dust on the arms, to remind us of all the knowledge that has settled there over the years!’’
“Modern classrooms? Fine, but please ensure they maintain that vintage leaky-roof aesthetic where students have to solve equations while dodging raindrops!”
Progress doesn’t work that way. If these heritage warriors were half as vocal about Shillong’s collapsing environment as they are about its collapsing buildings, we might have clean rivers, sensible urban planning and perhaps even parts of the city that don’t flood at the first sign of rain.
If our grandest vision for heritage is simply to press ‘rewind,’ then we’ve already lost the plot. True legacy is not found in bricks and mortar alone, but in the minds we shape, the spaces we build to nurture them and the foresight to know when to let go. Let’s not mistake nostalgia for vision, nor confuse sentimentality with responsibility. If heritage is to mean anything at all, let it be a bridge, not a cage!
Yours etc.,
Ellerine Diengdoh,
Via email
Time to revive the Non-aligned Movement
Editor,
The special article “‘Shock and awe’ rains on the US this time,” by Jagdish Rattanani (ST Feb 25, 2025) made interesting reading. The author has brought to the fore important points on the role of the US leadership in the world which is factual. Incidentally, Jeffry D Sachs, the American Economist and Public Policy analyst, rightly stated in the European Parliament at an event titled, “The Geopolitics of Peace” on February 19, 2025 where he reminded European parliamentarian that, “To be an enemy of United States is dangerous but to be a friend is fatal.” Rephrasing a quote attributed to Henry Kissinger the former U.S. Secretary of State known for his influential role in American policy during the Cold War era, Sachs argued that the US has often acted unilaterally, disregarding the views, concerns, and security interests of other nations. He emphasized that this approach has led to significant instability and conflict, making it dangerous to be an enemy of the U.S. However, he also pointed out that being a friend of the U.S. can be equally perilous, as allies may find themselves entangled in conflicts and facing unintended consequences. The statement reflects Sachs’ critical view of U.S. foreign policy and its impact on global peace and stability.
The author has rightly concluded that “This is a time that makes the Tito-Nehru-Nasser vision of the Non-Aligned Movement look like a very bright idea indeed.” I cannot disagree with his conclusion. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formally established on September 1, 1961, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia during the Cold War era to provide a platform for countries that did not wish to align with either the United States or the Soviet Union.
The founding leaders included former President Josip Broz Tito, former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah and Indonesia’s former President Sukarno. If revived, the NAM could provide a valuable platform for countries to collaborate on these and other pressing global issues, fostering a more inclusive and cooperative international community. Despite the challenges, the NAM continues to exist and holds summits, such as the recent 19th Summit in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2024. The movement still advocates for the interests of developing countries and promotes principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference. In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, there are several reasons why reviving NAM could be beneficial.
1. The current global situation is increasingly characterised by multipolarity, with multiple power centres such as the U.S., China, the European Union, and others. The NAM can play a role in promoting a balanced and multipolar world order.
2. The NAM can serve as a platform for cooperation among developing countries, addressing issues such as poverty, climate change and economic development. This can help amplify the voices of the Global South in international forums.
3. In an era of renewed great power competition, the NAM can provide a space for countries to maintain their neutrality and independence, avoiding entanglement in the rivalries between major powers.
4. The NAM can focus on contemporary global challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, and pandemics. By working together, member states can develop collective strategies to address these issues.
5. Also the NAM can advocate for humanitarian and development goals, promoting peace, security and sustainable development. This can help create a more just and equitable international order.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
VPP creates history
Editor,
History has been created in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council with a nascent party called the Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) winning with 17 seats setting a precedent in the history of regional politics and dynamics. The people have seen, read and spoken their minds that they cannot be taken as gullible voters driven not by emotional or sentimental politics but by pragmatism and dialogue over governance and social issues that have affected many in the past. More importantly is that the VPP does not need coalitions to form the EC in the KHADC. Indeed, the oratory skills of the VPP leadership cannot be taken lightly.
The sad part is Congress which once upon a time took the call in forming the Executive Committee has now been humbled to ZERO with internal rumblings only to benefit the VPP whereas for the UDP and NPP their alliance often dubbed as an ‘unholy relationship’ culminated into just 4 and 5 seats respectively. Let us wait and watch what the coming days unfold and see what transformation and reforms would change the district councils.
Yours etc,.
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar,
Via email