Footballer and former MLA Eugeneson Lyngdoh inaugurates NIFT event

Shillong, Mar 17: Former MLA of Mawphlang and Footballer Mr. Eugeneson Lyngdoh, inaugurated Spectrum 2023 organized by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, the pioneering institute in Fashion Education of North East India under the Ministry of Textiles, Nift Shillong on the 17th of March 2023.

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At the function he encouraged everyone gathered to be true to their passion as he was to football. He encouraged the students to keep the flame in their hearts burning as he stood the tests of time with an undying inspiration and look at “the way forward”. Being adjudged as the Indian Player of the Year 2015 by the All India Federation is beyond his wildest dreams. He attributed his success to the inspirations he drew from the people he befriended along the way. Looking back at his life he thanked those who inspired him and asked everyone “How many of you feel you are an inspiration to others?” He added “inspire one another to achieve your dreams and believe in yourself” and declared “SPECTRUM 2023” open.

In his speech, Shankar K Jha the campus Director encouraged active participation and healthy competition as Spectrum 2023 is “an exchange of creative ideas and sporting activities”. With a theme, “Komorebi” (Dancing of lights and shadows) Spectrum witnessed participation from various academic institutions of Shillong to showcase their aptitudes. He encouraged everyone to enjoy the two-day celebration that has lined up an array of events like an abstract art installation, creative writing, COD Mobile, Pictionary, T-shirt painting, slam Poetry, face Painting, singing, battle of the Bands, dancing, table tennis, carom, chess, debate, quick style, antakshari, tug of war, photography, mono acting, Mr & Ms Spectrum. Maj Gen Mr Gagandeep ADG NCC NER Shillong has consented to grace the occasion as chief guest on the valedictory ceremony on the 18th of March 2023. The two-day program will conclude with the NIFT Fashion show

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)