Editor,
Shillong is slowly becoming synonymous with food, from regional cuisines to exquisite fine dining. For those with the sweet tooth, new joints like UNIQUE SWEETS are a welcome addition to the more
traditional Delhi Mistan Bhandar and Palace. Inspired by its growing fame I decided to purchase some sweets and a few pieces of “Dhokla” on July 5th, 2017 from their joint located at Police Bazar. The “Dhokla” turned out to be stale and rancid when I opened them for consumption the same day. When the stale “Dhokla” was shown to the proprietor, he was combative and aggressively dismissed
it as foul play.
The reason for this quibble over such a trivial issue was not influenced by my desire to seek compensation for a few pieces of “Dhokla” but was only meant to apprise the proprietor of the need to
value his brand name and the consumer’s health and safety. However, the reaction of the proprietor was like that of a snarky rich kid rather than an apparently successful young entrepreneur.
Besides, the reason for writing this needless letter to the editor is not simply to express my anguish as a consumer who felt humiliated and unsafe, but to prod the departments of the government invested with the authority, to routinely monitor the quality and hygiene of food served in these joints. I also wish the snarky rich kid grows up to be an ethical entrepreneur interested more in brand-name and goodwill rather than simply money-making.
Yours etc.
Rajesh Dev
Camp: Shillong
History revisited
Editor,
The Khasi lady who was at the receiving end at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) last month has evoked many reactions from the political dispensation to commoners like us. It is not difficult to gauge the quick reactions from the chief minister of Meghalaya, his counterpart in Assam and even the PMO, given the assembly elections due early next year. Their take is more or less centered on the throne that is up for grabs. But there have been many reactions from ordinary people and quite rightly so! However in these emotional outbursts we have tried to fathom only one side of the story leaving aside the other. Undoubtedly North-easterners are facing all sorts of racial abuses in mainland India but why did we stop to notice what we ourselves (North-easterners)have done and are still doing to the non-tribals and mainlanders in our region. Anuran Medhi and Zoukin Tungnung in their column, “An Identity Denial”, (ST July 5, 2017), contended that the employer of Tailin Lyngdoh confronted the DGC staff for treading on a dangerous path because she belonged to the scheduled tribe. This does not hold water in the face of what we get to read, hear and see about the people of this region elsewhere in the country. They even mentioned that the NE people have to deal with various racists and unflattering terms like ‘chinki’, ‘momo’, ‘Chinese’, ‘Nepali’ and if I can add to this list, ‘chowmein’, which the authors missed. But what about the other side? What are we doing or what have we done to the non-tribals and mainlanders? Do we not use racial terms like ‘dkhar’, ‘mynder’, ‘khar-bang,’ ‘khar-iap’etc., against the non-tribals and outsiders in the state? I learnt that all the seven sister states have similar pejorative terms they use against non-tribals and mainlanders in every state of this region. So what are we complaining about here for the last many days? Is it not that when our own is targeted we feet the hurt, whereas when it is meted upon others then it is no pain. My sympathies are with Kong Tailin for what she had gone through but I totally agree with Janet Hujon when she wrote in her letter “The Delhi Debacle”, (ST July 5, 2017), that the takeaway from this episode is some “troubled soul searching”. “Would I have leapt as courageously to the defence of someone belittled in this way?” wrote Hujon. My own takeaway from this episode is that history repeats itself.
Yours etc.
A Lyngdoh
Shillong – 4
Time to recognize Khasi Language
Editor,
Sohra, the world famous place formerly known as Cherrapunjee is the home of standard Khasi dialect. Even the Gorkhas before entering Shillong on their expedition with British Force have of their own volition started to speak the Khasi language with the Sohra people. If we look back at the history, the refined Khasi dialect was spoken by the tribe since 1841. In Khasi some of the Sanskrit as well as Nepali/Gorkha words such as dhoti, balti, mamla, chatni, roti/aata etc were also accepted as common dialects over the past 200 years. If we go through the literary criticism in Khasi since 1920, there were many poets who had given rhythm to enhance the Khasi language but due to illiteracy and other reasons it was not recorded until “Soso Tham’s” collection of poems called “Ki Poetry Khasi” come up in 1925.
When Meghalaya was created in 1972, Mr RS Lyngdoh was the first Khasi to be nominated as member of the Sahitya Akademi. He has vociferously advocated for the recognition of Khasi language. Even the late chief minister of Meghalaya, B.B. Lyngdoh was a staunch advocate for getting the Khasi language recognised by the Sahitya Akademi during his term as Chief Minister. Even Paul Lyngdoh, MLA and former minister has been advocating for the same.
Kolkata University recognised the Khasi language up to the Degree level to be at par with Assamese language in 1919. When the Assamese language got recognition by the Sahitya Akademi and was also placed in the 8th Schedule, the non-inclusion of Khasi language by the Sahitya Akademi reeks of discrimination especially when it has fulfilled all the criteria laid down by the Akademi. The Khasi language is one of the recognised subjects for Honours and Post Graduate teaching in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).Many authors , poets, intellectuals and above all Education Department, Govt. of Meghalaya have time and again advocated for its recognition. We are now awaiting a notification from the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi to rejoice in the aspiration of the masses.
I am optimistic that, if intellectuals and various committees of the State raises their voice for its recognition then it will not take long before the Khasi language is recognised by the Sahitya Akademi. “The Meghalaya Nepali Sahitya Sammelan” is of the opinion that with recognition of Khasi language, Nepali language would also be enriched and there will be mutual co-existence by exchanging views with one another. It has been decided that the Meghalaya Nepali Sahitya Sammelan would take up the matter vigorously with Sahitya Akademi after the concluding function of the ongoing 203rd ‘Bhanu Jayanti’ celebration on July 16, 2017 along with a member of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi and other like-minded persons for inclusion of Khasi language. I also request other intellectuals and organisations to take up the matter with zeal.
Yours etc.,
Dinesh Sharma, Advisor
Meghalaya Nepali Sahitya Sammelan
Shillong-2
