Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)

2nd time Meghalaya legislator Mayralborn vows to pursue Nongpoh’s pending issues

Correspondent

Nongpoh, March 8: The second-time legislator from the Nongpoh constituency, Mayralborn Syiem has vowed to pursue the pending issues in the constituency.

While talking to the Meghalaya Times, he said that the issues include the Inclusion of the Khasi language in the eighth schedules of the constitution, the inauguration of the Industrial Training Institute at Nongkhrah, a medical college, improvement of the health sector, C&RD Block at Umden, improvement of the road sector as well as the unemployment issues and some other the issues as well.

Syiem said that Ri Bhoi being selected as one of 112 Aspirational Districts in the country, there is a high chance that even the government of India will consider it as most of the Aspirational Districts in the country have got one so far.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Nongpoh constituency for his win in the recently concluded election, Mayralborn Syiem said “I would like to thank the party workers, the people of Nongpoh constituency for their wholehearted support in the recently concluded election, I expressed my gratitude to all those who have supported me and even more to those who have not supported me.

He said that it is not an easy job to fulfil the aspirations of the people, but despite the fact of being in the opposition for the last term, he has tried his best and now he is a part of the ruling government, Syiem hopes that all will go well for the benefit of the people at large.

“I will try to work harder and I urged my people to remember me in their prayers as I try to fulfil their dreams and aspirations’ Syiem said.

He also urged the people to extend their full support for the betterment and all-round development.