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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.