Thursday, March 28, 2024
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The RSS misreads History

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Editor,

The Shillong Times (Jan 19, 2020) has quoted the RSS chief, Mr Mohan Bhagwat as saying that “this country belongs to Hindus”. This is a false reading of history. The Indo-Europeans (previously referred to as Aryans) came to India about four to five thousand years ago. They are referred to as Ancestral North Indians (ANI) in genetic parlance. When they came to the subcontinent it was already populated by Ancestral South Indians (ASI), who had come several thousand years earlier. The earliest inhabitants in India are the Ancient Ancestral South Indians (AASI) which are represented by the genetically purest tribals in India, who have been historically isolated in the Andamans and thus did not intermarry with other ethnic groups.

The first inhabitants of India are the tribals, notably the Austro-Asiatic tribes such as the Munda and Khasi who came out of Africa about 65-70 thousand years ago. The antiquity of these groups and the timing of their ancient migrations are traced through gene mutations. The Austro-Asiatic languages are considered by linguists to be the oldest language group in the country thus providing linguistic confirmation of the genetic vintage of tribals. It is now being increasingly considered that the Indus Valley Civilization was made up of ASI and AASI individuals who freely intermarried.

Hinduism as a religion was formed only about four thousand years ago and the caste system became rigid about two thousand years ago. This is based on genetic evidence showing that earlier inter-marriage patterns ceased with the hardening of caste divisions, especially among the higher castes.

The tribal religions based on social elements, nature and spirits, dates back to pre-historic times, evidenced by sacred forests, monoliths and ancient rituals. But while the tribals are the first peoples of the subcontinent and their religion is the most primeval, we have never laid claims to the country. India belongs equally to all its citizens, irrespective of origin, ethnicity or religion.

Those who would like a scientific reading of the history of the peopling of India should read “Which of Us are Aryans?” by Romila Thapar, India’s foremost historian and “Early Indians” by Tony Joseph, a prominent journalist.

Yours etc.,

Glenn C. Kharkongor,

Via email

Mawlai rocks while the authorities slumber  

Editor,

Come festivals and locality weeks or odd seasons, and Mawlai becomes the hotbed of various rock and heavy metal groups to enthral the people of the locality. People, especially youths from all walks of life throng such venues to watch the live entertainment. Recently, such event have been organized at the Mawlai Sacred heart campus from 15th – 17th January 2020. For three consecutive nights people danced and screamed in tune with the musical euphoria where full decibel can be heard from distant localities as well.

To the organisers of such fanfare, I would like to pose some questions. Did the organizers seek necessary permission from the District Administration before holding such events? If yes, did the Administration allow them to prolong the event until midnight? As far as our knowledge goes the District Administration usually grants NoC to organizers with the condition that they conclude their programme by 10:00 PM sharp. The liberty of allowing events to continue with ear-blasting music beyond midnight, complete with DJ blasts has become a nightmare for the neighbouring localities; not to mention the faint- hearted ones. They massacre the precious serenity of the night as if they are the only people who live in the city. Similar programmes have been conducted at Mawlai Nongpdeng-Wahumkhrah area in similar fashion last year where neighbours stayed awake through the night while the District Administration turned a blind eye and a deaf ear.

If all other localities are told to conclude their programmes before the 10 PM deadline then the East Khasi Hills District Administration too should enforce the same yardstick everywhere. The public deserves to be rid of such unwanted activities. Will the District Administration act ?

Yours etc.,

Bill Carson Rymbai

Shillong -8

 

Rapists don’t deserve mercy

Editor,

Gender discrimination is the root of many evils. While thwarting the aspiration of women certain men have committed many wrongs in the past. Apart from physical torture, defenceless women undergo endless mental torture. Within the domestic confines innumerable sins are still being committed which mostly go unreported. However, it was the Nirbhaya rape incident in Delhi that was “instrumental” in bringing about a gender awareness renaissance in India. Post the Nirbhaya incident many changes in the laws have been made. The safety and security of women have been prioritized. Policemen across the nation have been sensitized and to a large extent, even road transportation has been made women-friendly.

There were countless protests across the country condemning the six rapists. People from all walks of life too relentlessly pressurized the government that the Nirbhaya convicts must be awarded capital punishment. Media’s contribution to the campaign is immeasurable. Alas, India’s judiciary is so annoyingly slow it has taken over 7 years to pronounce the death sentence.  But even now a veteran advocate, Indira Jaising has made a statement that evoked sharp criticism. Without a thought for the consequences Jaising suggested that the convicts be “forgiven” by the parents o Nirbhaiya in the same manner that Sonia Gandhi forgave her husband Rajiv Gandhi’s killers. This tweet has touched a raw nerve. People’s anger spilled over on social media. The most scathing response came from directly from Nirbhaiya’s  mother – Asha Devi.  A courageous lady, who determinedly fought for justice for so many years, thundered, “Who is Indira Jaising to give me such a suggestion? The whole country wants the convicts to be executed. Just because of people like her, justice is not done with rape victims.” Asha Devi further adds — “Can’t believe how Jaising even dared to suggest such this; I met her many times over the years in Supreme Court, “not once” did she ask for my well-being and today she is speaking for convicts. Such people earn a livelihood by supporting rapists; hence rape incidents don’t stop.”

These comments by Nirbhaya’s mother have undone the years of human rights activism that Indira Jaising claims to have practiced. While Jaising has not offered solace to Nirbhaiya’s mother how could she even suggest that the rapists be pardoned? Then again, here is another bombshell which many of us may have forgotten. There was a shocking proposal in 2015 by Delhi Government to award the Nirbhaya juvenile convicts with Rs 10,000 and a sewing machine?  Who are the leaders spouting such bizarre ideas and what lessons should the citizens draw from this?

I think the public is right and more sensible now to point out the “hard cruelty” with which the gang had sexually tortured Nirbhaya. They had inflicted unspeakable injuries on the young lady and not only killed here but also her dreams. So, given the increasing cases of rapes and subsequent inhuman cruelty and cold-blooded killings, capital punishment is the only answer and the only deterrent.
Yours etc.,

Salil Gewali

Shillong

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