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Indian of North Eastern Origin

What does it feel like to share a national life along with those who do not share the same history? If history forms the foundation of our aspirations, looking to a future together is even tougher. Being a North-Easterner in India is more than just belonging to a different sphere within the contemporary national geography. Historical aloofness is the toughest of realities. Our history has shrunk down to an almost academic nonentity. Northeast history makes no sound in the noisy narratives of “mainstream history”. The rigorous interpretation and reinterpretation of history by the contemporary political ideologues is a new national passion. Every vestige of a particular era is brandished as the final proof of what actual India was like. The redefining of India goes on. One wonders that, if the definition of true India and by the same token, a true Indian, is carried out based on the colour and tone of a particular ancient culture, how many ethnic groups in India would actually qualify to be Indians. Even as we wish to get ahead in time, our cultural genes are being taken back in time for validation of their originality in terms of Indianness.

Recently I came to realize that there is now a categorization of Northeast Indians versus Desi Indians. I was more appalled than intrigued by the categorization. The term “desi” in British India times used to be applied to people from the Indian-subcontinent to distinguish them from Westerners. It alluded to being an original inhabitant of the land as opposed to those who came as colonialists. That was sort of the political implication of the term in those days. And it had a tremendous implication in the context of Indian Nationalism that was born against the backdrop of British colonialism. Now semantically, desi means “of the country”. There is also a subtle connotation of “the culture of the land of India”. There may be, perhaps, no ploy to render the Northeast people “non-desi” meaning “not of the land of India”. However, the fact that such a categorization happens so naturally, even without actually thinking it through, bares an underlying mindset that persists among Indians in general.

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Robert Garnett Lyngdoh

The present election atmosphere in Meghalaya has started in a sober mind, except for those persons, who are frantically seeking and searching for a party ticket in contesting the elections. To quote the words of Robert Garnett Lyngdoh, former Home minster of the state, urged upon the electorate to vote in a responsible manner for electing any person, belonging to any political party. Secondly, he said there should not be any fragmentation of votes. Having a jibe at the political parties contesting the polls, the former Congress Home Minister said, political parties talk, that they would want to be in the government, yet they never talk about governance. The people cannot take upon themselves, without direction. There should be a flux in the political system, which result in the formation of a credible team, so that people can vote and trust. 

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Mock Drill on Search and Rescue

The Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority Shillong on observance of International Day for Disaster Reduction today organised ‘Mock Drill on Search and Rescue’ at Shillong Law College in the presence of team from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The mock drill was participated by volunteer from Red Cross Shillong and students from Shillong Law College in order to create awareness on preparedness on disaster occurrence.  During the mock exercise observation were made with regard to the response time, communication flow, coordination and skills were carefully observe by the emergency support functionaries so as to identify the gaps and mistakes for rectification such loopholes in the rescue process. The whole exercise of evacuation, search, and rescue of persons trapped inside the buildings and providing first aid treatment and later shifted through ambulances to hospitals were also displayed. The SDRF officer Willy Nonglang clearly explained the audience regarding the precaution on saving life and initiated the rescue process via dialogue to the rescue teams. He added that such mock drill will help us know better where we can improve in the field of rescuing during such calamities. The drill will help us prepare to face future disasters and he urged all the participants to teach and spread the message of safety to others.

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No Tickets for Tom, Dick and Harry

The Nationalist Congress Party, while flexing its muscles, for the forth coming general elections in Meghalaya describe as an overwhelming response from the public and a lot of enthusiasm is generated. The party would not have any poll alliance. Candidates would be chosen, after a strict and thorough scrutiny. Tickets would be distributed from October 10 itself and the last date is fixed on November 30.  NCP leader Sanbor Shullai, presently representing Laban constituency, said party tickets, would not be given to any Tom, Dick and Harry.

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Amarjit Singh Khiyam WORLD CUP 2017 U-17 CAPTAIN

Amarjit Singh Khiyam from Manipur recently was elected as the captain for the U-17 FIFA World Cup. Young Amarjit was chosen as the captain by his teammates through a process of secret ballot that was engineered by the Portuguese coach Luis Norton de Matos. This will be the first FIFA tournament hosted by the country.

His father Chandra Mani Singh Kiyam a small time farmer and a part time carpenter believed that his son can carry the weight of responsibility in this prestigious sporting event. Born and brought up in Manipur Amarjit’s introduction to the beautiful game came through his uncle when he introduced him to the Chandigarh Football Academy. When the selectors were hunting for players to represent India at the Under-17 World Cup, Amarjit was invited for trials and he caught the eye of everyone. At first he was slotted with the reserve side and made the first team grade after German coach Nicolai Adam was impressed with his abilities in midfield. Young Amarjit, who has represented India in the age group teams on 29 occasions, is the joint most experienced player at the camp alongside Komal Thatal, the only Indian to score against a Brazilian national team. With this responsibility Amarjit is keen on fulfilling his father’s dream of seeing the national jersey for the senior team as well.

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MeCL protest entered third day

The protest by the casual workers of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeCL) entered third day. Over1200 regular casual workers of the MeCL participated in their ongoing peaceful agitation during lunch time. The protest is seen in various parts of Meghalaya including Shillong, Umiam, Kyrdemkulai, Jowai, Khliehriat, Tura, Phulbari, Ampati, Baghmara, Garobadha, Mendipathar, Nongstoin, Mairang and Mawkyrwat. The MeECL workers are protesting against the illegal contract being framed by the management which they have refused to sign as it clashes with many labour laws regarding working conditions, wages, and benefits. 

The worker said the contract does not have provisions for PF, ESI Health Benefit, Bonus, Gratuity, Earned Leave, Overtime etc., which are mandatory in all employment contracts. 

The workers previously have written petitions to the management expressing about their grievances but till date the management continues to counter the workers through legal norms which prompt the workers to go on strike.

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Voice for Change

The voice for a change in the political set up and administration in Meghalaya has started blowing, from people subscribing to the “Voice of Change Movement”, the idea being freely blowing in the wind with no strings attached to particularly with any party contesting the 2018 polls, slated for February.

Under the leadership of Olet Kharsahnoh, the “Voice of Change”, protagonists have started touring and visiting and also meeting people across party affiliations, stressing upon them, that the need of the hour is to change for the better.

The “Voice of Change”, would be covering as many constituencies as possible, across the state, inspite of financial constraints, as the “Voice of Change’ mission is voluntary.

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“IF THE PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT THEN THAT COUNTRY CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL”

Eastern Panorama met with Shri Atul Kothari, General Secretary of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (Trust for the Uplift of Education and Culture) and also former General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and co-convenor of Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti The Nyas, founded on 18 May 2007, works in collaboration with a sister organisation Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti (Campaign Committee for Saving Education), which was also founded byDinanath Batra, a Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the former Director of its Education wing Vidya Bharati. The mission of the Nyas is to find and establish alternatives to the present education system in India by changing its “syllabus, system, methods and policy” .

On the sidelines of National Conference on Revisiting Indology and Sanskrit in India held at NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) by the Department of Linguistics under the able Cordination of the Chairperson Prof Sailendra Kumar Singh , Editor Harsh Jhunjhunwala met Mr. Atul Kothari. The excerpts of the interview are reproduced for the readers. 

Please explain you mission and what changes and why changes?

To change the country we have to change our education. The kind of country and society we want will come form the education we impart. So basic change in education is our first prerogative.

Secondly, Instead of problem we need to discuss the solution. Everybody knows the problem, some may be little more. But I have been seeing since last 40 yrs that all seminars discussions that take place discuss only problems and not the solution.

Thirdly, Mother, Motherland and Mother tounge there is no alternative.

Fourthly, In a country with democracy, if the people are totally dependent on government then that country cannot be successful and education is a field in which the involvement of people from the society, people concerned with education has to be more than that of the government.

In a democratic country, the role of government and that of the society is equal for creating a positive change, so both have to work collectively.

The change in education is that since last 70yrs we have not been able to decide what is the aim of our education? What is the crux of education that we are imparting?

Swami Vivekananada said, “Man making and character building is the primary purpose of education.” The personality and psychological development of a child should be as such that they can decide by themselves whether they want to be a doctor, engineer, industrialist, professor, etc. The proper development is what education should do. So this primary concept should come into our education system. In education our Indian knowledge system is no where to be found. Before five years not only India but the whole world was celebrating Srinivasa Ramanujan’s 25yrs of birth anniversary. During that time there was international conference in Delhi. Though I was not able to go, my friend from mathematics field had visited. He was telling me that mathematicians had come from all over the world including America, Europe, Australia and enquired from him has to why the Indians were not working on Ramanujan when the whole world was? Ramanujan was such a great mathematician. In 2011, when we were celebrating his life, people in our country did not know that Ramanujan belong to the field of mathematics. It is not their fault but the fault of the system. Ramanujan does not exists in our system. There are three hand-written diaries of this great mathematician whose solution no mathematician in the whole world is able to find. Such a great mathematician of our country but not in our system!! So this Indian knowledge, sciences of our own is missing in our education. Today, the world is moving with such great pace and great scientific research is taking place but our syllabus since decades is the same. Then how our children will be able to compete in the world. There should be communication of both. Similarly,the education system that we have has nothing to do with the society. People have done B.A.,M.A.,B.COM., but have u asked people if there is any help in your job? Nothing. Very less useful things in our present education system that will help in a person’s personal life or social life or nation building.