Editor,
The ethnic identity of the Jaintias has been under question since the 1950s. This time it has been debated in the ongoing Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The MLA of Mawlai initiated the debate during the Short Duration Discussion on the statements made by Cabinet Minister Kyrmen Shylla on the proposed construction of the Railways in Jaintia Hills. Surprisingly while participating in the debate, the Nongkrem Legislator misrepresents the Minister’s statement to advance his agenda, the agenda of ‘cultural assimilation’.
Today, the people of ‘Ka Ri Khadar Dolloi’ have accepted and are proud of the term Jaintia as the generic name for the Bhois, the Biates, the Hadems, the Pnars and the Wars who are the present inhabitants of Jaintia Hills. So don’t start the process of assimilating ethnic identities.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Omarlin Kyndiah,
Via email
Non-tribals at the receiving end?
Editor,
The letter to the editor captioned “Meghalaya and non-tribal” by Mr. Homnath Gautam (ST March 4, 2025) is a vivid depiction of the status of non-tribals in Meghalaya since attainment of statehood. In a democracy, people who are governed by a body or institution should have the right to elect its members and participate in its activities. However, in Meghalaya’s Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), non-tribals have no voting rights and cannot contest elections, yet they are forced to obey laws, pay taxes, and follow regulations imposed by ADCs which is the antithesis to established democratic principles. The core objective behind formation of ADCs was for preserving and protecting the indigenous faith and culture. But since formation of ADCs in 1952, a huge number of tribal people have abandoned their traditional belief system and embraced an alien faith which is a living testimony of failure of ADCs in preserving the unique tradition and culture of Meghalaya. This has raised serious questions about the relevance of ADCs and utility for its existence.
Protection of customs, rituals, value systems and traditions of indigenous tribals is no doubt essential but turning such a mechanism into a tool to exclude non-tribals and deny them the basic democratic rights in the name of protecting tribal culture is undemocratic and against constitutional values.
Yours etc.,
N.K. Kehar
Shillong-3
Is there an LPG crisis in Shillong?
Editor,
It has been 67 days since the last time the residents of Thana road received their cooking gas refill from our agency, Indane-Sunny Gas Agency. The last delivery was on December 27, 2024. The incompetence of the Sunny Gas Agency is staggeringly shocking. Even after repeated requests, I have been met with nothing but empty promises and complete lack of service. We are forced to buy commercial cooking gas cylinders due to the incompetence of this agency. They should shut down their agency since they can’t run it. In other states of India people get their refills within 48 hours of request and here agencies like Sunny Gas Agency sit on it for months. This is unacceptable and the responsible Government Department should take note of this and take necessary action.
Yours etc.,
Akash Purkayastha.
Via email
Trump the vulgar capitalist
Editor
The modern capitalist is vulgar enough to see resources in the heavenly bodies — instead of portents. But Donald Trump takes the cake when it comes to vulgarity. So far, I had thought of him as a foolish man, who, despite his advanced age, wears make-up, and pursues money, power, and women. But after his comments on Gaza and Ukraine, I see him as among the most callous of all human beings ever — not yet a chilling killer like some past US presidents — but chilling enough. I have in mind his views of Gaza and Ukraine. Instead of seeing them as the killing fields they have become, he sees business ventures in both.
Gaza is a graveyard, where little children have died needlessly. Trump sees Gaza as prime real estate. His blonde press secretary calls him “humanitarian” for saying so. He does not understand that people like the Palestinians treasure memories and ancestors more than material wealth. Nor does he understand that right now they are traumatized by tragic memories associated with the rubble that is Gaza. A grieving people, they are unlikely to care for plush real estate. Besides, his disgusting suggestion — that the Palestinians leave Gaza — amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Before Gaza it was Ukraine that became a graveyard. Does Trump care about the trauma, pain, and exhaustion of the courageous Ukrainian people? Besides insulting their heroic leader, Zelenskyy, he is crude enough to see a business venture in Ukraine as well — this time, rare earth metals.
It is useless to try and reform an aging strongman who longs to be a dictator. What needs transformation is the American mindset. Despite the many excellent virtues of the American people — especially their keen awareness of ethics, their love for truth, and their remarkable generosity – their materialism is killing – not just the planet – but the human soul, which degrades itself when it worships mammon.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email