Editor,
The letter by PK Dwivedi (Oct 4, 2016) sounds like a rabid attack on Christianity adopted by the Khasi and Jaintia highlanders, not “tribesmen” as the writer wrote, for this word cunningly casts a shadow of savagery. The writer wrote about ‘the nefarious activities of the Welsh Mission” responsible for bringing in a “foreign religion”. Why worry? It should be noted that Christianity originated from the navel of the globe; neither East nor West, strengthened by customs and traditions, therefore universal. On the probe into the loss of indigenous culture due to religion, one must take a global perspective, not a local one in a frogs’ pond.
If the citizens of Scandinavian countries welcome Christianity, although they are known to have their native Nordic religion with gods like Woden and Thor, are they forgetting their own customs and traditions? Are the Irish unfaithful to their customs and traditions by accepting Christianity in place of their old, native Celtic religion? No, they are not turncoats. So the same is with the Khasis and Jaintias. If they have accepted Christianity, Presbyterian or Catholic as their religion – SO BE IT. Nobody can take away a person’s spiritual right to Freedom of Religion. A word of advice – do not step into the sensitive circle of religion. You may unknowingly step into a hornet’s nest! Luckily, the attack is on the Christian religion.
Therefore, to reach maturity, one should not meddle in other people’s affairs. It is far better to mind one’s own business and one’s own community without trying to split and confuse others.
Yours etc.,
Cassandra Syiemlieh
Shillong- 17
On liquor ban !
Editor,
Generally, three arguments have been raised against liquor ban. First, people are to be blamed for social evils not the commodity. Second, such a ban is against liberty and third, government loses a good sum of tax revenues. However, these arguments do not hold water in the prevalent scenario. First, ‘culprits-people-not-commodities’ theory can help a drug mafia to get away with this logic. It can even stop a government from restricting the sale of acid thus giving acid attackers the opportunity to have a field day. The ‘liberty’ argument cannot stand either as liquor makes the addicts forget that someone’s tip of the nose is the limitation of their freedom. Without this fundamental knowledge, liberty is lost in a jungle raj where it is restricted only for the fittest brutes. Finally, ‘revenue’ logic’ appears also to be a lame one as the government expenditure to deal with alcohol-infused crimes, accidents and health issues far outweigh the excise on liquor duties. Given alcohol and drugs catapult crime and accident rates, Bihar government should be lauded for their efforts to make Bihar dry which will go a long way to cut the fuel route of criminal activities. Any political wrong by Bihar government should be criticized but those are entirely other issues.
Thanking you,
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Why target Police Bazar?
Editor,
I would like to ask the Hon’ble Urban Affairs Minister, Ronnie Lyngdoh if only shopkeepers in Police Bazar are using plastic bags and should therefore be punished? What about other areas of the city and the state? If Shillong wants to be plastic free, necessary law has to be enacted and then only the question of punishment arises. It is unfortunate that we target only Police Bazar of all the areas for use of plastic bags.
Yours etc.,
S L Singhania,
Shillong- 1
On Shillong Traffic
Editor,
The roads are getting smaller day by day due to increase of vehicles. The STP are trying heart and soul to ease this congestion and one smart move highly appreciated is the one way system during the morning rush hours along Laitumkhrah and St Edmund’s road. It’s very heartening to see traffic personnel performing their duty non- stop from 7:30 morning till 8 at night, inhaling polluted air day in and day out. There are two identified roads that cause heavy traffic jam all throughout the city. One is the road leading all the way from Upper Shillong to Umshyrpi junction and the other is the MadanrytingNongthymmai-JingkiengFire Brigade highway. The roads all the way to Upper Shillong belong to the government and we all wonder why till date it’s never been widened to solve the ever growing traffic flowing from that end. Secondly, the government should start doing an early survey on the already existing road from Cleve colony penetrating to Laitkor which will bypass the MadanrytingNongthymmai-JingkiengFire Brigade highway. In this case all vehicles plying from Laitkor highway will easily bypass all sorts of endless junctions seen from Madanryting onwards. The bottle- necks which cause traffic jams will be done and dusted once these two suggestions of mine are taken into consideration. Let’s keep the fly- over dream aside for now aside.
Yours etc.,
D. Warshong.
Via emai
