Editor,
Here we are living by the same script yet again – illegal mining claiming more lives of voiceless, poor labourers in illegal mines owned by the ” High Level ” and the same “High Level” controlled government mouthing the same old blatant lies to defend its failures.
Of the many blatant lies the government uses in trying to pull the wool over our eyes is the explanation that “the mining was taking place in remote areas involving 3 – 4 hours walk away from the nearest villages” which make it hard for authorities to detect any illegalities. Basic common sense tells us that illegal coal wherever it may be extracted needs markets and to reach such markets it needs to be transported by trucks that pass through state roads and national highways where there are several check-gates manned by the police and other authorities. Hence, if the police and other relevant authorities do their duties supply could be choked and stopped at these points and without markets, illegal mining would stop automatically. It may also be added that there is no need to use high – tech means like drones or satellites to detect illegal coal mining. Conventional methods if carried out with honesty would be enough. Having said this, as the trust level on all state authorities including the police has vanished, there is a need for central government intervention including the deployment of central police forces to man all the roads leading to coal markets as had similarly happened in Karnataka several years ago where illegal iron ore mining was stopped after the central government intervened.
Another blatant lie of the government and spokesmen of the “High Level” is that coal mining, illegal or otherwise supports the livelihoods of thousands of locals. However, what we see is that whenever coal mining tragedies occur, those who lose their lives or get injured are always the non-local labourers which indicate that there are few, if any locals who are engaged in the dangerous rat hole mining. Besides labourers, we also know that coal mine supervisors and business managers are mostly non-locals. So which locals benefit from coal mining? The answer is common public knowledge – the High level coal mine owners who finance their opulent lifestyles at the expense of human life and the environment which is being demolished day by day.
Hence a simple analysis would explain that coal mining has been responsible for the loss of innumerable livelihoods. Acid laden rivers poison agricultural land and fish sanctuaries downstream thereby snatching the age – old livelihoods of thousands of farmers and fishermen throwing them into poverty. But these people are voiceless and very few know about their struggles.
The forthcoming session of the Assembly is at hand and as always, this session too will be another circus. It is certain that the issue of illegal coal mining will become a ” hot” issue. Opposition members will shout and make many accusations against the government but as always they will fail to put the government on the mat. The ruling members especially those known to be eloquent will wriggle the government out with their marathon sweet talks and distractions and in the process exhaust the extremely short duration of the Assembly. Things will end there.
To conclude, it is evident that the Executive and the Legislature have failed us repeatedly and lost our trust. Our hope now rests on the judiciary which still appears to be functioning for our common good. Hence, our Hon’ble High Court is requested to order a probe by Central Agencies like the Enforcement Directorate or the CBI. We do not trust any government instituted enquiries because we have seen that over the course of 54 years that the many inquiries that governments have instituted became mere exercises to distract and hoodwink us.
Yours etc.,
Samuel Swett,
Shillong – 2
Living with the Absurd
Editor,
Waking up every morning feels like pretending everything is fine, while deep down I know it is not. Only a few days ago, we learnt of 31 deaths linked to illegal coal mining in East Jaintia Hills. For news buffs like me, nothing surprises me anymore. We know why people go underground, we know how long this has been happening, and we know how inquiries usually end. After every tragedy, our leaders speak, committees are formed, some concerned officers are transferred elsewhere, and then life simply goes on as usual.
Yes, we are living in a democratic world. But it seems democracy is no longer ‘demos’ in spirit. At times, it feels abstract and impractical. Too often, it is used to justify authority rather than truly serve the needy. Even the institutions we rely on every day – the offices, the officials we trust most of the time seem guided more by personal convenience than by principles. All I can see is that the system works fine in its own way, just enough to keep us quiet.
Religion, which once helped people survive hardships, now feels hollow and rigid across faiths. Church sermons grow louder every week, yet sceptics are unwelcome. Other faiths are no strangers to this. They speak confidently of ethics and morality, but avoid talking honestly about unemployment, addiction, broken marriages, or the mental exhaustion of young people. In addition, questioning religious authorities and institutions today is often seen as ungodly. As a result, faith today feels more like a display than a support to lean on.
Relationships, on the other hand, perhaps, are where this absurdity hurts the most. We used to have solemn marriages and healthy dating relationships. But now, social media has manipulated and marred expectations. What the West practiced and portrayed, our people began to follow blindly. This is where the loopholes grow. Many women today hesitate to accept proposals, even from good and sensible gentlemen, often balancing career or education concerns. Similarly, men feel pressured to excel in every aspect to earn the love of the woman they fall for. Together, these pressures can make people feel replaceable in relationships. Many marriage-eligible people whom I know, have simply gone quiet after several attempts to build meaningful relationships or to aim for a good marriage. After years of trying, exhaustion finally wins. Cheating in relationships and marriages, unfortunately, is no longer shocking, and has become a frequent topic of gossip.
Even the junction between homes and schools feels completely upside down. Parents now learn to fear their own children, and visibly, teachers fear parents as well. Today, discipline is labelled abuse, and correction is often mistaken for hatred. I can still remember when our parents and family members trusted our teachers to punish us when we were wrong or naughty. At one point, I got a slap with a “dieng-sympat” (cane) on my right calf from one of our school teachers, and it left a mark for days. Because of such discipline, I can confidently say most of my classmates from that time grew into responsible adults with good degrees and respectable professions. Today, authority sometimes struggles to guide even the smallest child in school. As a result, standards in institutions weaken, and children grow up power-mongering instead of learning basic responsibility. This is also one of the reasons why society often feels less truly societal nowadays.
Finally, this is the Absurd piece and which is also one of the most talked-about works in philosophy, The Myth of Sisyphus, spoke about – how good results rarely come even after massive hard work and genuine intention. But long before Camus, the Biblical book Ecclesiastes said it without mercy – “Vanity of vanities” (1:2) and “What is crooked cannot be made straight” (1:15). Today, this truth reflects painfully well in our daily lives. Every day, we keep pushing, praying, and trying, even as our relationships, trust, and meaning often feel strained. I have now realised that the ‘absurd’ is no longer just philosophical, but it has touched our very lives. It has become our honoured guest who eats with us and sleeps beside us inside our homes.
Yours etc.,
Sunrise Pohtam,
Via email
