Editor,
I write this as a concerned student of the 5th semester in one of the most prestigious colleges in Shillong. For years, this institution has been admired for its history and academic excellence. For many, getting admitted here was once a matter of pride. But over time, the experience has changed. Students no longer enjoy coming to college the way they once did because the environment has become suffocating.
Our schedule is a major reason for this. Classes run from 9 am in the morning until 4 to 4:30 pm in the evening, with a very short break. The only pause we get is about 30 minutes, and even that feels insufficient. Most of the time, half of it is spent just searching for a place to eat. By the time we finally find something, we are left rushing through our food, often leaving meals unfinished just to make it back to class on time. Saturdays, instead of being a day of rest or catch-up, are packed with lectures. The college seems to think that as students, we have nothing to do outside of class hours. But that is far from the truth.
Assignments, projects, and practical work pile up, yet there is no real time to complete them. For students staying in rented rooms or hostels, the struggle is even greater. Away from home, we manage not only our studies but also our meals, our chores, and the emotional challenges of living independently. And with strict attendance requirements, we have no choice but to attend every class, even if we are mentally or physically exhausted. There is no room to take a break without falling behind.
I understand that teachers, too, are under pressure to complete their syllabus. But cramming everything into such a tight schedule only harms the learning process. Too many flavours in one cup at the same time makes no taste. In the same way, when lessons are rushed without space to reflect or absorb, students gain little real understanding.
Instead of fostering a love for learning, this routine breeds exhaustion and resentment. Assignments are rushed, practicals are done mechanically, and the joy of education disappears. The campus, once vibrant, now feels drained of energy because students come not with excitement but with weariness.
There is no single student body to oppose these matters, so I write here with the hope that the management of this college will reflect on these concerns. True prestige should not come at the cost of students’ well-being. Education should be more than endless hours of lectures. It should prepare us for life, not wear us down before it begins.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
A City’s Despair: From Broken Roads to Systemic Betrayal
Editor,
I am writing to express a profound and shared frustration among the citizens of Shillong. The issue is far greater than the appalling condition of our roads, which, with their gaping potholes and crumbling surfaces, have become a daily public menace. These broken roads are merely the most visible symptom of a deep-seated rot that has paralyzed our city’s progress.
This systemic failure is tragically mirrored in the lives of our youth. Chronic and widespread unemployment has left an entire generation feeling abandoned and without a future, driving many into the devastating spiral of drug abuse. What makes this particularly galling is the government’s approach. Instead of investing in our own talent, valuable public funds—reportedly lakhs of rupees—are being spent on outside consultants, while local graduates, filled with potential and a desire to contribute, are left without jobs. This choice to look outward instead of nurturing our own is a profound betrayal.
Furthermore, the public purse is being plundered to pay for a bloated political apparatus. Public funds are being used to support individuals like parliamentary secretaries, chairmen, and advisors who are perceived to be ignorant of the common person’s plight and detached from the realities on the ground. This abuse of political power to amass personal wealth is an open secret, fuelling a culture of impunity that drains our resources and erodes public trust. The so-called developmental schemes offered to the public are nothing more than short-term eyewash—unsustainable projects designed to garner public applause without addressing the core issues.
When people attempt to seek justice, it seems the system is rigged. It is widely believed that the courts are being corrupted to protect ministers. Even the plethora of pressure groups wrongly labelled “NGOs,” which should be independent voices for change, are seen as mere puppets of political groups, serving vested interests rather than the public good.
Shillong is a city in crisis. Its roads are broken, its youth are suffering, and its governance is in question. We must demand an end to this cycle of neglect, corruption, and political posturing. We deserve a government that is accountable, transparent, and genuinely committed to building a better, more prosperous future for all its citizens.
Yours etc.,
Kynsai Dkhar,
Via email
Step in the right direction
Editor,
The other day I happened to go to PB or Khyndailad and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the roads were free of street vendors who used to hinder the pedestrians. I would like to compliment the Government and the Ministry of Urban Development in particular for having achieved this face-lift of our beloved city. For so long the street vendors have been a nuisance along the PB roads, especially the path leading to Umsohsun. It always seemed like a narrow path where pedestrians dashed against each other while hurrying to their destinations. Today however, the road seems surprisingly very wide, almost like a highway. Rid of street vendors, the location has received a facelift. In the past years we have seen how the authorities have tried in vain to remove these street vendors from this location but all efforts seemed futile Perhaps those efforts were unsuccessful because the authorities did not think of providing an alternative place for these poor vendors many of whom are living from hand to mouth. The present authority however has peacefully implemented the relocation of these vendors because it has provided them a suitable alternative place. The stalls that have been allotted to these vendors in the top floor of MUDA parking lot, look very well arranged and decent. It is evident that the vendors are contented with this permanent arrangement made by the government. Besides, the arrangement is also facilitating customers who do not need to go up and down the road or keep dodging the vehicles plying along. It would be nice however if the department undertakes the task of repairing the broken tiles along the path; put up sitting places all along, provide waste baskets, put up some flower displays, LED display screens etc. It would be better still if the department concerned can realign the electrical and phone cables which are running disorderly crisscrossing the road. Once again kudos to the Government and let us all decide to make our beloved city the pride of our state.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb
Via email