Editor,
In a world invariably overwhelmed by chaos, whether it be ambition, politics, or the endless pursuit of sensory pleasures, Patricia Mukhim’s article “Empathy: It Demands Action” (ST, October 31) offers a moment of quiet illumination. To write such a piece is to respond to an inner call — a call that feels the sighs and sorrows of those grieving around us. Sadly, very few notice such quiet suffering.
Her closing lines really hit home: “Empathy could turn this world into a better, happier place. Let us be more kind, loving and compassionate and walk a few steps with those needing a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. We can heal the world with these small steps. Let’s start small and begin today…” These words in fact carry the weight of wisdom. They remind us that “empathy” is not some optional virtue we can afford to skip, but a necessity. In chasing success, we often forget the simple inevitable truth — what we accumulate fades, but what we offer “endures.”
When we leave this world, we carry nothing of the wealth we once guarded so possessively. Titles, possessions, luxuries — none of this stay with us beyond the final breath. Yet in our pursuit of these things, we often trade away what truly matters. At the end of the day, especially in difficult times, it is “patience, integrity, forgiveness, and compassion” that truly turn out to be the treasures of the soul. Without them, we remain spiritually impoverished.
Yes, if we dive deeper, we’ll only see that empathy quietly undoes what ego builds up. It softens pride, quells anger, and dissolves the illusion of separateness. When we bask in egotism, anger, jealousy, greed, and delusion rise up to rule over the heart and soul. These traits do not bring peace; they throw us into the hole of restlessness and regret. But empathy, when practiced with sincerity, without discrimination or expectation, becomes a healing balm.
More than anything, to live with empathy is to live in “rhythm with the universe.” Nature teaches us this truth more eloquently when we have the patience to observe its ways. Yes, when we walk beside someone in pain, when we listen to them with humility, when we offer comfort without condition, we are not merely helping them but also healing ourselves and cleansing our inner being. It is nature’s quiet design; what we give with humility returns in grace. What we do for others, in the end, helps shape our inner selves into something closer to the divine, something more endearing to the omniscient God.
In times when the world is so badly sickened by intellectual pollution, such pieces become sanctuaries where we can truly find refuge. Thank you so much for the inspiring write-up, Kong Patricia.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Meghalaya’s Sleepwalking Watchman
Editor,
I would like to refer to a news item ” MSPCB flag violations of environmental norms by NHIDCL ( ST – November 1, 2025). In this regard, I would like to state that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board ( MSPCB) always tends to react to environmental violations and even devastations like a sleeping watchman who is jolted from deep slumber only after others have raised loud hues and cries. The latest instance is the MSPCB conducting inspections and issuing directives to the Project Monitoring Committee of the National Highway Infrastructural Development Corporation Limited ( NHIDCL) over environmental violations around the famed Umngot river only after our Hon’ble Lok Sabha MP , Mr. Ricky A.J. Syngkon sought the Central Government’s help by petitioning the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav complaining about severe environmental degradation and pollution of the once – pristine Umngot River due to construction activities of the Shillong – Dawki road project. The pertinent questions here are : Why did MSPCB only conduct its inspection and issue its directives to NHIDCL a day after our Lok Sabha MP took action? What was it doing prior to this? Did it open its eyes only now when environmental devastation around the Umngot River has been going on for several months?.
This is not the only instance that reflects MSPCB’s lackadaisical attitude towards its mandate. It may be recalled that MSPCB used to present rosy pictures about the air quality levels at the Export Promotion Industrial Park, Byrnihat and other places through its data regularly published in newspapers including yours. But, this was abruptly stopped when reports emerged in the national and international press that Byrnihat has now been designated as the world’s most polluted place by IQair, a respected Swiss Air Technology Firm. This raises a question in one’s mind : Were the Air Quality Data published all along misleading? Moreover, it was only soon after Byrnihat became infamous that MSPCB got busy and we came to know that it had started conducting inspections and imposing penalties against polluting Industrial units of Byrnihat.
In conclusion, I would like to thank our Member of Parliament, Ricky A.J Syngkon for taking the issue of environmental devastation of Umngot River seriously and for representing us well in general.
Yours etc.,
Samuel Swett,
Shillong-2.
Whose horn is it anyway
Editor,
Every day, our peaceful neighbourhood gets its daily reminder that time waits for no one, except, perhaps, government officials. At exactly 10 AM and again at 4 PM, a siren wails across our area exclusively, like the rest of Shillong does not need this important air horn which blares for 2 minutes approximately. Yes, I counted it. This supposedly signals the start and end of the working day.
The rest of us freeze mid-bite, mid-chat, or mid-walk like someone yelled “Statue!” We wonder if we should take cover for an incoming (God forbid), stand up for a salute, or just continue chomping on kwai and sha saw (red tea) in respect. By 11 AM, the officials appear, fresh and punctual, by their own standards. By 2 PM, the offices empty out so fast, one could mistake it for a fire drill.
Rumour has it that the siren’s true purpose is motivational, to remind the public that someone, somewhere, might be working for us. Or perhaps, maybe the authorities just enjoy reminding us, the mango citizens, that you can raise your volume on issues all you want, but remember who controls the volume button. Whatever the case, we have accepted it, like the rest of the issues we sweep under the rug, it is our city’s unique alarm clock- two blasts a day to remind us who is in play.
Your’s etc,
Shivani Pde,
Via email
