By Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh
Lou Majaw was in his fourth year of celebrating Bob Dylan’s day, thematically as the celebration of songs and poetry, when the war in Vietnam came to an end on 30 April 1975. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, but the ravages and cruelties of the war are still being felt by the Vietnamese people to this today.
Local Reportage on Vietnam War: The reportage about the war in Vietnam was also shared in local vernacular newspaper here in the State of Meghalaya, especially in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region. This period and throughout the cold war era, it was characterised by the demonization of communist regime, portraying communism as an evil and godless philosophy. Meghalaya being a Christian dominated State with a majority belonging to the Protestant tradition, experienced this demonization prominently.
The US military campaign in Vietnam or Vietnam war which lasted for nearly two decades (1955-1975) was part of the overall cold war confrontation and the American campaign against the spread of communism. Not just news about the war that were reported, but informed opinions were freely expressed in the editorial, columns and letters in vernacular newspaper like U Nongsain Hima. on the futility of war, the genocidal killings of innocent, dialogue and diplomacy.
Some of the extracts are presented here- “On 23 August 1967, Stephen Lyngdoh penned a balanced opinion in his column Vietnam, whereby he pungently remarked that France, USA and China must be held responsible for the horrible situation in Vietnam. France left desolate the soils of Vietnam and America’s intervention to prevent the spread of communism in South East Asia had terribly failed, while China did not give lukewarm support, but material and men (human resources). South Vietnam seemed to be under the safe hands of Marshal Ky, with assistance from America, who was the stooge of the west. Ho Chin Minh’s mistakes were no less and if Ho Chin Minh was guilty, Johnson, Truman and others are equally responsible for their acts whether collectively, and otherwise. He further pointed whether the USA can repair the damage done to Vietnam if it has to leave or will North Vietnam be able to guarantee the safety of women, children and the sick?”
In the editorial published on 10 February 1968, the editor, U Nongsain Hima wrote that dialogue and diplomacy are necessary. In war, no one can tell who is strong and who is weak; nothing can be achieved through bombings, and it is futile to think that one power can be suppressed by the use of force by another. Nothing can be achieved through war except greater loss to the people of Vietnam, who are killed, and the suffering of the American public, who have to bear the increased taxes to support the financing of the war. As the world is watching, it is important for all parties to sit across the table and resolve this crisis, including the immediate cessation of the war.
The local reportage, which included editorials, letters and columns about the Vietnam War, reflect the level of awareness and the maturity of public opinion in this region. It indicates how well-informed the people were about international events and demonstrates their capacity to engage thoughtfully with complex geopolitical issues. The presence of such informed discussions also highlights the region’s exposure to global affairs and the development of a critical outlook among its readership.
A Nation Divided and Generation Lost: The socio-political and economic situation in the United States of America during the military intervention in Vietnam had been aptly described by the Stanford University’s paper entitled “American and the Vietnam War,” that the end result of the war “is a nation divided and generation lost”. U Nongsain Hima of April 3, 1968, also reported that the division in American society further deepened after Lyndon B. Johnson took over the presidency and decided to intensify military actions in Vietnam. The public outcry turned against President Johnson and ultimately forced him to withdraw from the presidential race. The more the Presidents of America sought to crush communism in Vietnam, the greater the backlash at home; in equal measure, students across America took to the streets to protest against President Nixon and called for an end to the war. Scores of newspapers, radio, and television programs were highly critical of President Nixon’s war strategy, including the decision to drop mines in North Vietnam (U Nongsain Hima, May 13, 1972).
Today, American society is as divided as it was during the Vietnam war and the United States is going through a period of intense social, political and cultural polarization. Issues such as racial justice, immigration, gender rights, and LGBTQ+ rights have created polarized debates and movements.
Bob Dylan’s Song (s) and the Vietnam War: Artists, songwriters, and singers have historically played a significant role in shaping public opinion against war, violence, racial killings and injustices. Their music and activism serve as powerful tools for raising awareness, inspiring change, mobilizing communities and enabling them to speak truth to power.
During the Vietnam war era, many American artists used their platforms to protest against the military intervention which had led to bloody conflict resulting in deaths and untold miseries. These artists strongly advocated for peace and prominent among them was Bob Dylan, an influential American singer-songwriter. Dylan’s songs became anthems of the anti-war movement, capturing the sentiments of a generation disillusioned with violence and conflict. His lyrical storytelling highlighted social injustices, promoted peace and challenged US government policies, especially in Vietnam.
Bob Dylan had written several anti-war and pro civil rights songs, but the anti-war song which figured prominently in the University of Alabama’s web page is the “Masters of War”, which was adapted by Bob Dylan to protest against the Vietnam war. This anti-war song is still being used today to protest against ongoing wars. According to the University of Alabama web page, “Dylan borrowed the arrangement for “Masters of War” from the song “Nottamun Town” recorded by folksinger Jean Ritchie. Dylan changed the lyrics and made it his own, although the lyrics were different from most of his other songs. He was more direct in “Masters of War” with the message he wanted to convey which was that the people with power in the government are at fault for the atrocities of war and all the unnecessary spilling of blood…Every line in this song is about how terrible these “masters of war” are and how Dylan can see through them; he knows what they are doing and he hopes that they die and that Jesus doesn’t forgive everything they have done…His other songs like “Blowin in the wind” and “Times they are a-changin” became the rallying cries for change and reflected the hopes and aspirations of countless individuals”.
War-mongering in India: Post the Pahalgam massacre, social media platforms in India were rife with war mongers who were hell bent in their resolve to annihilate Pakistan and wanted the Government of India to declare outright war against the enemy state of Pakistan. The war mongers were so disrespectful towards India’s Foreign Secretary and Major Qureshi, who are the public faces of the army’s operation against the terrorists.
While the merciless and barbaric killings of innocent tourists in Pahalgam were deplorable acts, and they have no place in a civilized society, the racial and religious profiling committed before killing those innocent tourists was abhorrent. It could have sparked another wave of communal strife, plunging the entire nation into darkness. We empathize with the families of the victims and firmly stand behind the defence and law enforcement agencies, who are leaving no stone unturned in their concerted efforts to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. However, war is not the solution and therefore, citizens and civil society groups across the border have called on both governments to de-escalate tensions, urging immediate dialogue and justice in the context of renewed hostilities.
Celebration of Songs and Poetry: Lou Majaw’s effort to keep songs and poetry alive is worthy of appreciation and his commitment to make these hills alive with Dylan’s songs and music has earned him greater respect as the years passed by. This year the “Celebration of Songs and Poetry” has entered its 54th year and Lou Majaw will continue to enthral the captivating music lovers of Shillong with his musical ingenuity.
Although Lou Majaw never considers himself a fan of Bob Dylan, the celebration of his birthday and honouring his songs and poetry, shows his deep respect for the artist whose lyrical magic has drawn many towards him. As we join Lou Majaw in this celebration and in these hard times when war mongers abound, we must also remind ourselves of the words of Salman Rushdie: “A poem cannot stop a bullet. A novel cannot defuse a bomb. But we are not helpless. We can sing the truth and name the liars.”