Editor,
A shocking piece of news from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh sparked widespread outrage just days ago. A woman aged forty lost her life in a manner too painful to put into words. Her attacker was not a hardened criminal, but a boy of fourteen from Class 8, a child too young to understand the consequences of his own actions. Armed with a sickle and a stick, he inflicted grievous injuries when the woman resisted his brutal sexual assault.
The woman was later found in critical condition and rushed to the nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The brutality of the attack has deeply shaken the local community and sparked widespread uproar. What does it mean when a child, still of an age to call her “mother,” turns into her sexual assaulter and killer? I strongly feel that this is not merely a crime, it is a collapse of our moral conscience.
An elderly gentleman commented, “The woman died not just of wounds, but of a society’s silence on the rampant outrageous stuff in mobile phones in the form of reels and videos on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, which our school children are exposed to.” He aptly pointed out how we’ve turned a blind eye to what’s creeping into young minds these days.
Another heartbreaking tale came to light from Ghasera village in Haryana. It was brought to the notice of the local police just over a week ago. A girl of fifteen, now seven months pregnant, was repeatedly raped by a boy of the same age, fourteen. How do we process such incidents in rapid succession? Are they not incidents that should make us more serious and more decisive? Are they not symptoms of a deeper malaise, a moral fever that burns quietly beneath the surface of our modern lives?
We must ask, what are we feeding the minds of our children? When mobile phones open up gateways to “insane vulgarity,” and entertainment plays up outrageous aggression, can sex education from class 6, as many claim is a must, cleanse their minds and thoughts? Let’s not be hypocritical. Let us not be deluded. It is the question of our younger generation. It is the question of the death of their tenderness and the rise of their bestiality!
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
A Ray of Hope Amid Rising Cancer Cases
Editor,
At a time when cancer has become a painful reality for countless families, the recent report in The Shillong Times (Nov 11, 2025), “Research unlocks anticancer properties of endangered M’laya plant”, comes as a heartening ray of hope.
The discovery by researchers from Nagaland University and Assam Down Town University that Goniothalamus simonsii—an endangered plant found in our Meghalaya’s forests—contains strong anticancer properties offers both scientific promise and emotional comfort. For those who have seen loved ones suffer from this dreaded disease, such news feels like a gentle reassurance that nature still holds the power to heal.
This finding is not only about medicine but also about rediscovering the value of our land and traditions. For generations, local communities have trusted the curative powers of plants. It is inspiring to see science now confirming that ancient wisdom. Yet, it is deeply worrying that this very plant is on the brink of extinction.
We must realise that conserving our natural wealth is not just about protecting trees — it is about protecting life itself. Meghalaya’s forests are living pharmacies, silently holding cures that humanity may need tomorrow. Let us protect them with awareness and gratitude.
Yours etc.,
Jairaj,
Via email
Issue with the LDA, District Selection Committee (DSC) Exam
Editor,
This piece of writing is specifically related to the LDA cum Typist exam conducted by the District Selection Committee (DSC) on November 8, 2025 where I was allotted an examination centre in one of the schools in Shillong (I don’t want to mention the name of the school as it will bring bad repute to the school), where to our utter surprise we were not allowed to take along with us the question booklet; at least in my room. I really don’t know if the same procedure was followed in other rooms of the same school, as other aspirants in other examination centres were allowed to take along with them the question booklet. At the end of the examination, I could see several policemen and Executive Magistrates at the campus of the test centre. I don’t know what the reason for that was as there was a sudden rush of these officials to enter the premises of the school campus.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
