Meghalayan Age or Age of Destruction!

Stalagmite sample from Mawmluh Cave

We are now officially living in the Meghalayan age, and this could also possibly be the “age of destruction” and an example is the Mawmluh Cave, which provided clues for this age, but is now under threat of being destroyed.

Select people are aware around the world that the bedrock for determining the age was laid by Prof. Ashish Sinha from the University of California, US in 2003.

When Prof. Sinha visited Meghalaya he took Stalagmite samples from Mawmluh cave near Sohra (Cherrapunjee) to the US for further studies as part of his research on the Indian Monsoon.

The samples provided the best chemical signatures how 4200 years back the Earth suddenly dried up owing to scant or no rainfall. The study was then carried forward by Prof. Sinha and other collaborating scientists and the results were published in 2012.

 

Mawmluh Cave entrance

Subsequently the International Commission on Stratigraphy named the age as “Meghalayan” after the place where the samples were taken from.

But here is the other part of the story. The Mawmluh Cave which provided vital signatures is under the Mawmluh Cheera Cements Limited and continued mining is destroying the Cave system. Not just Mawmluh, a large number of Caves in Meghalaya are under threat from illegal mining.

Inside Mawmluh Cave

Speaking over the phone from California, Prof. Sinha said, he has seen the  mining that's being carried out and destroying the Cave systems and the ecosystem therein.

“Countries around the world preserve Caves. Some Cave systems in different parts of the world are protected just like National Parks, Archeological sites and historical monuments. Caves are a storehouse of scientific data and a diverse ecosystem,” the scientist said.

He said that some of the different species that are being discovered in the caves could  possibly provide cure for diseases and advance research works. There are more reasons why the policy makers should protect these Caves and the environment.

Prof. Sinha says that across the globe it was found that rainfall pattern has become erratic due to “super-fast” climate change. “Of course there were climate changes through different ages in the present epoch (Greenlandian 11700 years that ended the ice age. Northgrippian, 8300 years ago, chilled the earth again.) But the rate at which climate change is taking place, mainly due to human interfernces now, is a matter of deep concern,” Prof. Sinha said.

Prof. Ashish SInha

In the previous ages, the climate changes were natural, but in Meghalayan age unprecedented human interventions and exploitation of Nature and its resources has accelerated climate change and destruction of the environment like the Mawmluh Cave.

Meanwhile, Prof. Sinha explained how the Stalagmites determined the present age. He said, rainwater dissolves Uranium in rocks and over time these are locked inside Stalagmites.

As Uranium decays, carbon dating Stalagmite samples makes it possible to date them. Then, Oxygen from rainwater found embedded in these stalagmites are analyzed. 

Two Oxygen Isotopes the lighter ¹⁶O and the heavier ¹⁸O are taken into consideration. The ratio of their distribution in the Stalagmites depends on the rainfall over the surface of the caves and therefore the amount of rainfall in a specific age is corelated.

Caves are the best places to get such samples as they remain hidden from the elements and therefore provide pristine samples. “The dating of the Mawmluh Stalagmites and determining the rainfall over the Caves over a period of 4200 years was similarly done,” Prof. Sinha said.

The Paleo-climatologist said the Mawmluh Cave which has helped embed Meghalaya’s name deep into Earth’s history for Epoch’s to come, needs more respect and must be ensured they aren't destroyed. (Eom)

MEGHALAYA CM'S OFFICE GOES GREEN

ST Photo

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s office has gone green with his chamber being made plastic free and all his stationary and letter heads coming from recycled paper.

Sangma a self proclaimed environmentalist earlier today walked six km from his residence at 3^rd Mile Upper Shillong to the State central Library to celebrate the World Environment Day.

“We have to focus on three Rs: Reuse, Recycle and Reduce. I have reduced my carbon footprint by saving at least three litre of petrol by walking today and we are also recycling paper,” he told the gathering which comprised of officials and school students.

He informed that in the past few months he have asked officials to make his chamber plastic free and it was done and now the next target is to get the Secretariat plastic free.

Under the plan all Government offices would be made plastic free, which Sangma said, would encourage others to follow. “We need to set example not just paste posters on such occasion like world environment day,” he said.

Moreover, he informed that all his stationary and letter head from today would come from recycled paper. The paper that goes to waste from the secretariat is being recycled for this purpose.  “I have also asked officials to power my office chamber from renewable energy be it solar or wind. This would be done in the next three months,” Sangma said.

The CM said that the whole of the Secretariat and Government offices and Government schools and colleges in the State would be powered with renewable energy like solar and wind in the near future.

“The Government offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so the power that is generated could be sent back to the grid, which would help maybe light up a village for a day or two,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Government launched the “adopt one tree” programme in which each citizen would be encouraged to adopt a tree and nurture it. “We need to identify the tree that we have nurtured to full growth and the source from where we get our oxygen,” Sangma said.

Under the scheme, 17 lakh saplings would be distributed to people in the State through various departments. Moreover, the State Government has also decided to include in schools syllabus, Environment studies, so that children are drawn to environment protection and mitigation plans from a tender age.

TOUCHING FEET NOT SAME AS HUGGING: RAHUL GANDHI

Congress president, Rahul Gandhi today said that Prime Minister Modi “maintains a distance with poor people and therefore doesn’t hugs them,” even though he may well have touched the feet of poor persons.

“Touching feet and hugging are two different things. Hugging is a physical closeness. It’s a particular distance he (PM) maintains with poor people which he doesn’t maintain with Obama or others,” Rahul said while interacting with the media here in Shillong, Meghalaya's State Capital.

The AICC president was reacting to reports of him wearing an expensive jacket here, while his party attacked the Prime Minister in 2015 for wearing an expensive suit and later dubbed the BJP as a “suit boot ka sarkar.”

“Somebody gave that to me (jacket,)” Rahul said on the controversy, but went on to say that the prime Minister deliberately maintains a distance from the poor and so it is a suit boot ka sarkar.

He further said you will not see a him (PM) hug a poor man talk to a poor person, talk or engage to a person. You will see him with others."   

The AICC president said the BJP Government is waiving off credits of powerful businessmen in the country, but is not taking similar steps for poor farmers. He said that the policy of the BJP indicates it is not for the poor.

Meanwhile, Rahul skirted a question when asked if it was okay for the Congress if the BJP considers withdrawal of criminal cases registered against the members of the majority community in view of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s consideration of withdrawing criminal cases registered against the minority community in the southern state.

GIVE UP SC, ST, OBC STATUS- RAMDAS ATHAWALE SMILES

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale today said he “would look into it” whether wealthy Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Other Backward Castes would be asked to voluntarily “give up” their claim on job and education reservation.

Addressing a press Conference in Shillong, Meghalaya's Capital, Athwale said that he has suggested to the Centre to create reservation within the General category based on their economic status “without disturbing the quota belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs.”

“I have suggested to the Central Government that a Bill in the Parliament is introduced and passed so that there is reservation for the general category based on economic status so that the quota of the SCs, STs and OBCs are maintained. I hope that the Government would respond favourably,” the Union Minister, who is also the founder of the Republican Party of India (Ambedkar,) said.

However, when the Minister was asked if he would similarly suggest to the Centre to also look into the economic status of SCs, STs and OBC and encourage them to give up their claim on job and education reservation, Athwale was initially hesitant to answer, but said that he would look into the suggestion.

Athwale, who is a Dalit leader from Maharashtra, was non-committal if he would set the trend by first giving up claim on job and education reservation under his reserved category.

He further stated that the division between castes in India can be reduced through inter-marriages and therefore the Government has announced the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriage in which an incentive of 2.5 lakh is given.

Under the scheme if one of the spouses is from a Scheduled category and the other is not the incentive can be claimed by the couple within a year of their marriage, after furnishing documents validating the marriage and provided that the annual income of the couple is not over Rs. 5 lakh.

Monk with a Mauser- Doklam

The Doklam standoff between India-China-Bhutan has its symbolic presence here in Shillong in India's Northeastern State, Meghalaya. It’s one of the gleaming witnesses of history involving an expansionist China.

But before we get to it, there were several theories about the Doklam standoff, but truth be told – China is living in an illusory past.

Consider this: China's sole claim over South China Sea is based on assertions that its ancestors from the Ming and Qing dynasties roamed these seas, so the area belongs to China!

To further back this claim, it has shown bits and pieces of ancient Chinese artefacts retrieved from these seas and presented these as “scientific evidences.” The mineral-rich area is close to the coastlines of Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and other countries.

These countries too have countered China’s scientific evidences with their own, to lay claim over this area.  However, by 1947 China conveniently created the infamous Nine Dash Lines to mark vast stretches of the sea as Chinese Territory.

China has similarly dragged the Doklam standoff to 1890, even though recent agreements between India, China and Bhutan clearly emphasizes on status quo in this disputed area.

China disturbed that status quo. It unilaterally took the decision to build a road to connect a watch tower, which it recently built as late as 2007 in the area. Let alone discuss its plan (as a responsible neighbour,) China did not even bother to inform India or Bhutan.

So why did China take this unilateral decision? It's  because China feels no threat from Bhutan or India. Bhutan has virtually no military and India has suffered a humiliating defeat in 1962 at its hands.

Several Nations, including the US and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Hague, couldn’t do much about its unilateral decision to build artificial Islands in South China Sea. So probably according to China, India and Bhutan are just minnows and not worthy of having a dialogue with.

The tone and tenor from China’s propaganda mouthpieces only confirm this attitude about the Communist regime - none can dare question its decisions without facing consequences. The regime can’t take no for an answer either from within (read Tiananmen Square massacre) or outside its Territory.

However, what the present Communist regime in China failed to understand is that unlike the Chinese population, Indians live in a democracy – chaotic perhaps, but nonetheless a questioning and vibrant democracy.

The Government of the day in India is answerable to its people all the time, which the Communist regime does not have to. The Indian Government would have to answer to its people if it compromises the country's security.

China building the road in the Doklam plateau is a serious security threat, as it inches closer towards the Siliguri plains that connects India's northeast. Moreover, China’s strategy to corner Bhutan with such threats is to further enclose India.

Tibet is a classic example of Communist China’s expansionist attitude and blatant distortion of historical records. Coming to Tibet and the Dalai Lama, the Doklam standoff is a new chapter of the 1950's history book.

China has always felt betrayed by India standing for the Dalai Lama. His recent visited to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh and received by Union Home Minister (State) Kiren Rijiju was not to Beijing’s liking. India snubbing its offer to join the One Belt One Road, which would arrogantly pass through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, also hurt the Communist regime’s ego.

China would not like to see an assertive neighbour in its backyard, which India is at this moment, hence the bullying.

Now for some history: If history is what China is interested in, than one of the lonely witnesses of history mentioned earlier has to be seen and importantly understood.

The witness is a Mauser, a semi-automatic pistol, belonging to a Monk. It is encased in a glass box at the Assam Rifles headquarters museum in Laitkor, Shillong. 

It is one of the most attractive artifacts and the grip of the pistol is made of Ivory. The wooden holster or carrying case is embellished with Gold and Silver.

“This was the personal pistol of the Dalai Lama,” an official at Assam Rifles said. To be precise it’s a C96 broomhandle with "Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf A. Neckar" embossed on it indicating the factory where it was manufactured in Germany.

The first question that comes to the mind is: what on earth a Monk, especially the Dalai Lama who received the Nobel for peace, got to do with a weapon.

More questions follow. Did anyone compel a 23-year-old Monk to pick up a pistol, instead of prayer beads? Was a shot fired from it? How was it used - as a weapon of defence or offense? These are some of the uncomfortable questions that the Communist regime in China needs to dig the history books further to answer.

According to history after China invaded Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama’s life was under threat. The CIA provided logistic support to him and together with his security and Cabinet Ministers the Dalai Lama escaped to India.

The Assam Tribune was one of the first Newspapers in India to inform the world about the Dalai Lama's safe passage to India in May 31, 1959.

The Dalai Lama stopped in Bhutan during his fifteen-day arduous journey on foot through the Himalayas to reach India. Therefore, in Bhutan the Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual Guru. These are well-documented history and needs no elaboration.

However, there are small bits of history that needs to be retold and that is probably about his Mauser. It is a German-made pistol manufactured by Mauser Company between 1896 to 1937 and even China’s Chairman Mao Tse Tung, who ordered the attack on India in 1962, carried these weapons.

These pistols were extremely popular and leaders such as Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia and even Indian freedom fighters such as Rajendra Nath Lahiri, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan had these pistols during their time.

But for us living in the present what we need to understand is that the Dalai Lama handed over the pistol to the 5 Assam Rifles, which provided security to him, upon reaching Indian Territory in Tawang. 

Not just his personal pistol, other weapons of his security entourage were also handed over to the Assam Rifles. A handful of people know about this historical event of the Dalai Lama handing over the weapons.

Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama could have very well kept these weapons for his safety and also pursued the path of violence to fight for Tibet’s independence, but he choose the path of peace and reconciliation instead.

People also have this notion that Tibetan Buddhism advocates pacifism, so the Dalai Lama in no way could have kept the pistol or use it to defend his countrymen. Such thinking is utterly out of place and far from the truth.

Tibetan Buddhism advocates nonviolence not pacifism. This also holds true for other religions.  Krishna’s advocacy in the battlefield of the Mahabharata to Arjun is one such example of such teaching.

The Doklam standoff should be also seen in this light too; especially when China intimidates and plans to expand its Territory, be it in Tibet, Aksai Chin, Bhutan or South China Sea.

India’s security lies in having an independent Bhutan, an independent Tibet, an independent maritime route and so like the Dalai Lama, India has picked up the gun for protection of the neighbourhood.

India would put down the gun once it has the safe passage through history, but presently India would perhaps not make the mistake of 1962 by trusting China and foolishly embrace "Hindi-Chini-Bhai-Bhai" only to be stabbed at the back.

India has historically accepted the Dalai Lama with open arms and stood by him and the Tibetans all these years and also endorses his doctrine of peace and understanding and would continue to do so.

India and other aggrieved Nations in South Asia and bordering South China Sea must counterbalance China’s expansionism  with non-violence, but not  pacifism.

As the Communist regime in China threatens to move mountains and seas to have its way, India and other affected Nations must heed to the Dalai Lama's call when he said: “ If someone has a Gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun."India China Standoff Doklam

2017 MAA DURGA ARRIVES ON BOAT (FLOOD) DEPARTS ON HORSE (WAR)

DURGA PUJO 2017

Durga Maa Nowka tey aagomon. Ghatak-e gomon...” Life is a journey. A reminder of our scheduled arrival and departure. In between is Durga Puja – the festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.

The essence of Durga Puja is the celebration of this fight and victory of good over evil – not just in physical terms, but also spiritual. The festival is observed to celebrate Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasura the evil Asura (demon) king.

Interestingly, the arrival of Goddess to earth each year is on a specific mode of transportation, having significance amongst the Hindus.

“Nowka tey aagomon means Durga Maa would arrive on Earth this year on a Wednesday sailing  a boat. This mode of transportation is associated with flood,” the almanac said.

Maa Durga is returning to her heavenly abode after her four-day sojourn to Earth on the Ghatak or Horse – an animal associated with War.

The mode of transportation changes every year according to the almanac. These include Dola, Goj, Ghatak (horse) and Nawka (boat.) Arrival or departure on Ghatak signifies war and drought, whereas on Nawka flood and misery. It’s not known how these beliefs took root amongst, but are taken seriously by many devote Hindus.

Durga or Shakti is also the primordial cosmic feminine energy responsible for creation and destruction.

NCC WILL RESPOND TO NATION'S MANDATE: DG NCC

Director General of the National Cadet Corps, Lt. Gen. Vinod Vashisht on Tuesday said, cadets from the NCC “would rise to the call of the Nation” if their services are required.

Interacting with the media, during his visit here at Shillong in India's northeast, Lt. Gen.  Vashisht said, the objective of the NCC is to mould the youngsters, so that they can be better citizens of the country, however, if need be they can be called in to assist the Nation.

“NCC cadets can rise for any mandate of the Nation. Not just in a war-like situation, but for any situation. The cadets are disciplined and they can take orders,” the NCC Director General said.

He was reacting to queries about the NCC cadets’ role in the event of any full-fledged conflict with China. One of the aims of the NCC is to create a human resource of organized, trained and motivated youth... and be always available for the service of the Nation.

The NCC was raised through an Act of the Parliament, 1948. After the 1962 war with China, NCC training was made compulsory in schools and colleges in 1963, but in 1968 it was again made voluntary. NCC is for students of schools and colleges and there are over 13 lakh active NCC cadets in the country.

Lt. Gen. Vashisht also informed that Youth Exchange Programmes of the NCC with foreign Nations have now been confined to 11 countries. All these exchange programmes are with regional countries and other countries where “India’s National interests lie.”

For example, he said, there is an exchange programme with Russia and one with Kazakhstan. Other exchange programmes are with neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and others.

“The exchange programme with Canada is no longer available. We don’t have a youth exchange programme with China. Perhaps in the future we would have one,” he stated.

Lt. Gen. Vashisht said that efforts are on to broaden the reach of the NCC in the remote corners of the northeastern region. Out of the 108 districts of the region, six still do not have any NCC activity.

In this regard, a unit of the NCC has been opened recently at a remote area bordering Tibet. “We are trying to open more such NCC units in the northeast so that the youths of the region can take benefit,” he informed.

He further informed that the air wing of the NCC in the region would be getting micro-light aircrafts and other new aircrafts for their training. Moreover, the naval units in Sibsagar, Assam would also be getting the necessary assistance for their trainings.

Farrago(ed) narrative of a Rocket Scientist

One of the most abused words in the English language is...? You don’t need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that. Personally, I am exasperated with this abuse. A college punk with flared nostrils admonishes the nerd with a randomly hurled “Rocket Scientist” into the sentence in the college canteen debate.

Then there is the NGO leader with his impeccable trimmed beard to a length where time and space ceases, closing his eyes into a trance, takes a deep breath and drops the Rocket Science bomb to demolish his opponent’s arguments into ruins. Utopia!

Anyone who wants to project himself as intellectual uses it. Anyone who wants to identify himself as smart, cool or chic uses it. Anyone who doesn’t want to be anyone of these afore-mentioned categories uses it.

Even our Aunties use it with a blush and an elbow nudge to the coy adjacent aunty: “You don’t have to be a Rocket Scientist to know how to please him with just Sarsoo de Saaag.”

Or “it’s not Rocket Science Betaaaa...” She rubs in the humiliation-masala with scrunched eyes and nodding her head sideways: “Areehh....NoRocketScience.” In moments like these you almost see a halo, which also sways with the head. 

But, of late another word that has given me cold sweats during unending nights – and you don’t need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that - is “NARRATIVE.” Uhhhh...eeeee...

You switch on the Indian News channels and you will find some TV anchor, a panellist, a WhatsApp Warrior, a Facebook fighter, a columnist all milking the word. Most with a smirk and garlanded with certificates from self-certified intellectuals!

Narrative is yours...Narrative is theirs...Narrative is ours... Narrative is different... “What is the narrative?”...  

I am upset that this narrative would soon enter into the bedrooms and kitchen where one of the aunties, with hands on her hips, ask a trembling Uncle: “SO WHAT IS THE NARRATIVE IN THE KITCHEN TONIGHT, HA!?

Later in the night, the Uncle begging to the aunty in the bedroom: “will the narrative change tonight Pumpkin....eh... pie?”

There is a herd mentality into these usages where my waterhole is being muddied. These are “exasperating farrago of bleats.” Oops! I said it; hope farrago is not the proverbial sacrificial lamb next in line. We have to pray for now.

But no matter what, I will never tire in this life of a narrative of a person who comes close to my understanding of a rocket scientist when he said: “ARE YOU SERIOUS? If you know what I mean you must have also noted the modulation. 

It goes from a high pitched modulation to a soft echoing whisper that caresses your cheek with a Zarda Pan-induced warm breath of a chronic-seducer: Are you S e r i o u s? Are you S e r i o u s? Are you S e r i o u s..........?

Damn it of course I am not stay away... neither are a 100 million Mango-men!