At this juncture it would be cruel to inflict the readers with anything even remotely connected to governance and politics or even the all-engaging topic of corruption. These themes are not the flavor of the month. But Amit Paul is. It was an eye-opener to see two articles on Amit Paul from a scholar of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). It was even more engaging to read his scholarly observations about the larger ramifications of the rise of Amit Paul and the unstinted support he has received from all and sundry.

It is difficult to recall an instance when the people of Shillong have stood as one to support and encourage a performer. The last time such solidarity was displayed was when Kargil hero, late Captain Clifford Nongrum's last remains were brought home to Shillong. That was a very sad moment indeed. But it was also a moment of social cohesion when people wept with the warrior's parents as if they had lost their own son and brother. At that time too Meghalaya and Shillong became talking points. We were proud to have a hero who had laid down his life for the country. And we still are!

We continue to be proud of our young achievers in sports, academics and entrepreneurship and of those who struggle against all odds to bring laurels for this State. Torak Kharpran has just done us all proud. But we need to do more than just applaud. Young people who combine the positive elements of youth and a spirited determination deserve our unstinted support and the wherewithal to take them out further to deeper waters. Our business and corporate houses and individual citizens need to pool resources to make this happen.

September 3, 2007 which witnessed the homecoming of our singing phenomenon Amit Paul was a spectacular event for Meghalaya. This modest young man who until a few moons ago was almost rejected by judges Udit Narayan and Alisha Chinai, has now shown them and us how single-minded determination can transform the obstacles of life into exciting opportunities. One of the reasons why people from all strata of society identify so overwhelmingly with Amit is because he comes from a background most of us can identify with. He was not born with the proverbial silver spoon. Having dropped out of senior school Amit could have easily slipped into that underbelly of self-annihilation which seems to be the fate of many kids devoid of a goal. Well, thankfully, Amit had a goal and he pursued it doggedly. I suppose that is thee reward you get for hitching your wagon to a star.

Although Amit Paul studied in one Shillong's elite schools, that is no indicator of affluence or influence. Most parents will give an arm and a limb to see their kids enrolled in the best schools, never mind the cost. They believe in investing in good education in the hope that this will pay off in the long run. Very often it does. Sometimes it does not. Some students drop out of the formal school system because they have other talents which the current educational system does not recognize or accept. Which school would take the risk to help someone with singing talent, pursue that alone without insisting on degrees and then helping such a talent find his/her feet?

Amit's is the classic case of a misfit in the educational paradigm system that we have designed and developed. If he makes it to the Indian Idol crown he gets a gleaming, super-duper vehicle that he would never even have dreamt of owning. He will sign a Rs one-crore singing contract with Sony TV. In short, his life is made. Had he become just a mediocre student he would have wasted away his time in Shillong. Yet, we continue to clone mediocrity by the thousands and leave those clones to find their own support systems in a cruel world where only the best win.

Sometimes people like Amit manage to break the glass ceiling that often seals the fate of those who are defined as 'non-achievers' or 'under-achievers' within the prescribed educational system. Meghalaya is known for its wealth of musical, dancing and acting talent. Yet the State has not even invested in a Centre for the Performing and Creative Arts. Such a centre would have been a vibrant meeting place of the most talented artistes who could be better trained to become world class performers. Each time someone stands out as a performer the State makes a knee-jerk reaction which ultimately ends just as abruptly. If we do not have a policy on mining despite being a mineral rich State, we also have no policy to tap the creative talents of youth.

We have witnessed the improved control and modulation in Amit's voice after he spent time training with some of the best teachers/directors. Why is it that we have so few experts to train singers in Meghalaya? Much of our training is for musical instruments and the definitive goal seems to be to send kids for piano training. This seems almost like a status symbol because only a miniscule number can really afford a piano. Those who play the guitar or other instruments are mostly self-taught. Talent identification and the creation of a talent pool remains the biggest challenge in Meghalaya. Governments do not seem to recognize the importance of this matter. Our educational system really stands exposed.

Another important point which is currently the topic of conversation is that sense of oneness which the Amit fervour has created. For almost three decades Shillong has seen some of the most virulent forms of ethnic assertions and ethnic cleansing. Although this can be attributed to political mobilization by radical political aspirants, the act, as such has never been publicly challenged by the community to which the perpetrators of the wrongdoing belong. On the contrary, the 'otherisation' which is actually a political tool has hurt our social cohesiveness and reduced the opportunities to work together for the greater good of Meghalaya. .

However, it is also true that society goes through a catharsis or a self-evaluation. The wounds we inflict on others often come to haunt us. But as we learn to embrace differences and understand the 'other' the possibility of that wound healing is greater. When wounds don't heal they become cancerous. Cancer cells mutate and cause considerable damage before they finally kill. The wise would prefer to incise these poisonous tumors and subject themselves to radio-active elements, the earlier the better. The process is painful but it also presents the only healing option. This metaphor may sound weird but on closer examination it fits in well with the way our societies have behaved.

Amit Paul has brought a gentle healing touch to a society wasted by needless divisions. We have lived in splendid isolation having little interface with fellow-citizens of other communities. In the bargain we have created ghettos where people of particular communities congregate because they believe in the safety of numbers. In so doing we have lost so much from social interaction. If we blame the Americans of racial profiling and of type-casting the 'enemy', we ourselves have not been too different. The tendency to stereotype the 'other' as being the root of all troubles has been quite a pastime here.

Now we have a God-given opportunity to put the past behind us and start on a fresh slate. Shillong is home to all communities. We need to make these diverse communities feel a sense of ownership of this city so that they maintain its culture of peace and civility and above all its cleanliness. There is enough love and friendship to be passed around. We can be generous in spreading this message of love. Amit has helped us to bond. Today we feel a sense of liberation and can visit places we otherwise would not. This is a great achievement which no amount of social engineering could have done.

Several upcoming leaders have sprung up to spearhead the Amit campaign. These same leaders from various localities of Shillong need to pave the way for cementing human ties. A society that gives due dignity to fellow-humans irrespective of differences is a society that has truly matured and ready to take off into a bright future.

May Amit win this battle and may his humble demeanour teach us a lesson or two in modesty. Source: Shillong Times