By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 31: In what can be termed collapse of civic sense, a Jiva Care Meghalaya initiative — flowers planted to beautify the streets of Shillong — was robbed of its simple but meaningful efforts.
The initiative, led by Jiva Hospitality founder Jiwat “Bablu” Vaswani, has been widely recognised for transforming Shillong’s public spaces through clean-up drives, plantations, creative waste bins, and landmarks like the “I love Shillong” sign. It was envisioned as an act of civic responsibility, not charity. Yet, the theft of flowers meant for all passersby has revealed an obnoxious disregard for community spirit.
Moved by the thoughtless actions, Vaswani, in a moving post on social media, wrote, “A request from the heart. These flowers are not ours alone — they belong to every soul who walks this path. Please don’t steal them”. “Friends, it pains us to share that many of the flowers we lovingly planted are being stolen. These flowers are like little children — they take time, care, and love to grow. They are meant to bring joy to everyone who passes by, not to be taken away by one person. When a flower is stolen, it’s not just a plant that’s lost — it’s a smile that’s taken away from countless others who could have enjoyed it,” he added.
He added, “We humbly request you to let the flowers bloom where they are, let them spread happiness to all. Please don’t pluck them — instead, enjoy their beauty, breathe their fragrance, and let them brighten the path for every passerby. Together, let’s respect nature and allow these flowers to continue spreading joy.”
This development has put a big question mark on the people of Shillong: Is our civic sense so fragile?
