Editor,
The editorial “Meghalaya Tourism Upended” and the special article “Don’t stain these hills with careless Ink” by Lyzander Sohkhlet (ST June 5th 2025) made interesting readings. News about deaths and murders tends to capture public attention due to several psychological and societal factors. The brain is wired to prioritize survival-related information. Violent events trigger the reticular activating system (RAS), which heightens awareness and focus. People instinctively seek information about threats to protect themselves and their loved ones. The phrase “If it bleeds, it leads” reflects how media outlets prioritize dramatic, shocking stories to attract viewers. High-profile murders often receive weeks of coverage, while other crimes may be ignored. Studies show that murders involving certain demographics receive more media attention than others. Race, socio-economic status, and location can influence how much coverage a murder case gets.
People are naturally curious about extreme events, especially those that challenge their sense of security. True crime stories and murder mysteries are popular because they engage emotions like fear, anger, and empathy. Movies, TV shows, and books have romanticized and dramatized crime, making real-life cases more intriguing. Serial killers and unsolved mysteries often become cultural phenomena.
The responsibility for a murder in a tourist destination can be shared between the state, local authorities, and the community, depending on the circumstances. The state is responsible for ensuring law and order, including policing, investigations, and legal proceedings. If a death occurs due to negligence, such as lack of security measures, the government may be held accountable. In cases where crime rates are high, authorities may face criticism for failing to protect tourists.
Local communities play a role in maintaining a safe environment for visitors. Tourism businesses, such as hotels, tour operators, and guides, are expected to warn tourists about potential risks. If a murder involves local individuals, the community may be pressured to cooperate with investigations. Tourists are also expected to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines. Some destinations have travel advisories warning visitors about crime risks.
A recent homicide (the killing of one person by another) of an Indore tourist is intriguing. The state government assured strict action and the police and other agencies worked overtime in spite of the inclement weather in and around the wettest place on earth. The need of the hour is deductive reasoning, forensic skill and keen observation to solve this homicide. It is premature to fault the police, the government or the community. In fact, the incident shocked the local community, which had never experienced such a case before. It is only when the whereabouts of the missing woman (the spouse of the murdered man) is known then there could be a breakthrough of this homicide. At the moment we do not need “If it bleeds, it leads”. Lyzander Sohkhlet has covered everything in his article so vividly.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
An urgent appeal to the stakeholders in Education
Editor,
It is my earnest appeal to all stakeholders in Meghalaya’s education sector: it is time to act decisively to safeguard the quality of education in our state. The declining academic standards are steadily eroding Shillong’s identity as the educational hub of Northeast India.
The academic demands under the New Education Policy (NEP) have significantly increased. Colleges are now required to offer 40 honours papers instead of the earlier 18. Additionally, institutions must run co-curricular components like skill enhancement courses, ability enhancement courses, vocational training courses and mid-semester internship programs. Under such pressure, it is simply unrealistic and academically dishonest—for any institution to enroll an excessive number of students. If a college continues to do so, it is clearly prioritizing quantity over quality. The time when 200 students could be stuffed into a classroom has long passed. Continuing this practice undermines the goals of the NEP and compromises the learning experience.
Worryingly, some elite institutes well-known for their brand name but predatory in practice are aggressively recruiting large numbers of students, ignoring ethical considerations. If this trend is allowed to flourish, quality education will soon disappear from our state.
We must remember that the education sector, particularly the influx of students from other states, plays an inevitable role in Meghalaya’s economy. Therefore, it is imperative that the Department of Higher and Technical Education strengthens its vigilance. It must ensure that colleges uphold academic standards, provide adequate infrastructure, and appoint qualified faculty. Routine checks should be institutionalized.
No academic institution should be allowed to allot more than 120 students per classroom under any circumstance. Furthermore, the department must actively verify whether internship programs and vocational training courses are being implemented fairly and meaningfully.
Another area of concern is the mechanical forwarding of central government directives especially cultural programs or campaigns without properly studying their relevance to the context of Meghalaya. Some of these initiatives are, frankly, absurd and disconnected from the academic and socio-economic realities of our state. Asking institutions for action-taken reports on irrelevant directives is not governance; it is bureaucratic formality that wastes time and energy.
If we fail to arrest this decline, no external agency will step in to rescue us. The burden of failure will fall entirely on us. It is, therefore, essential that our Education Minister and the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education act with competence, awareness, and a strong sense of responsibility. They must not remain passive or symbolic. The future of education in Meghalaya hangs in the balance and if current trends persist, we may soon drive a nail into its coffin.
Yours etc.,
Mary L. Laloo,
Via email