Letter from the Editor

Sunday, 05 July 2009 09:56

July, 2009

Dr K k Jhunjhunwala

It is a world of deception and deceit dear readers. People of today have abandoned the principles of hard work and sincerity and have opted for countless vices in pursuance of the proverbial ‘fast buck’. Meghalaya recently saw two instances of this. One is the subject of our cover story through which we are attempting to generate awareness about many bogus financial institutions which have been running rampant and cheating countless people for some time now in the state. These scoundrels prey on the hapless people on the pretext of granting loans at very minimal rates of interest. In time it is revealed that the only monetary transactions that are taking place through these loans are by way of slowly draining the resources of the applicants’ resources through various transaction fees and bribes paid to these con men.

Another disturbing case which has come to the limelight has to do with the prestigious Shillong Club wherein the Managing Committee of the Club is allegedly trying to manipulate the Club’s members and also its rules and regulations to further their own interests. Money is important, but not to the extent that we deliberately dupe other people and use them to fill our own coffers. Not at the loss of morals and ethics.

Speaking of loss, in this issue we look into the plight of the people of the river island of Majuli who are slowly losing their beloved island to the ravages of the mighty Brahmaputra River. This is an even greater loss for the region as a whole as the island is the seat of Vaishnavite culture. The island, home to many sataras where many priceless manuscripts and works of art could be completely inundated in a matter of years.

However, not all loss is a bad thing. Sometimes the loss of a few works out towards the betterment of many. For instance, the loss of leadership of the Black Widow faction of the DHJ, a militant organisation operating in the North Cachar Hills of Assam bodes well for the people in the area. In a widely welcomed turn of events, the group’s founding leader Jewel Garlossa was recently nabbed by authorities from Bengalaru. One of our contributors Dr. Bibhu Prasad Routray has written a very interesting piece that studies the significance of this high profile arrest.

The region is also poised to gain a lot in the sphere of development. One of our elected representatives to the Lok Sabha and DoNER minister Mr. B. K. Handique has started making waves in the political arena. He recently announced the 100 day agenda of the DoNER ministry, an agenda which, if adhered to, will bring much awaited development to the region as a whole.

We have also made a mark in the world of sports. In this issue, we feature three outstanding pugilists who have brought international fame to the country. These young men have had to endure much hardship on their way to world dominance and we feel that these trials have only made them stronger and better equipped to face life and its challenges head on. Kudos to them.

Our July issue is packed to the brim with everything under the sun including our new sections on music and computers which will be regular parts of the publication from now on. We hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed pursuing these stories and bringing them to their present state.

Happy reading.