Nyanbemo Lotha Naga
Wozhuro Town, Wokha
Yes indeed, we are in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to abiding by the law. We are so used to being stubborn that we often and unconsciously make and follow our own rules. Say something like, what you do is wrong but the same thing becomes right if I do it and vice versa; and problems persists in our society because there is very little or no scope of a common confluence point for our respective rules.
A few instances to drive home the point- I would often see people, specifically the male gender relieving themselves just about in any friendly looking corner, especially in places where it’s written “Do not urinate here” or the likes. Likewise, we often like dumping our garbage where ever the notice ”Do not throw garbage here” is sighted, or most of us can choose to admit that we have at one point of time or the other parked our vehicle exactly where a “No Parking” sign is put up- sometimes even covering the sign board itself. Worst is painting the town red with tobacco because we consider the world to be a big spittoon especially those special places with the notice that reads “Do not spit here”.
If that is not a proof enough then let’s face it, how many of us have the habit of putting on our seat-belt while driving or travelling or how many of us wear helmets while riding a two wheeler- with the understanding that it is for our own safety and not because the law imposed on us without our consent. Sadly for most of us, we lack that basic understanding- because money is more important than life as in the case of our taxis where it is a daunting task to spot the front passenger seat with its seat-belt untouched; for most, if not all, remove the seat-belt lock to accommodate an additional person to be sandwiched in between. The same yardstick applies to most private vehicles too.
Likewise, most riders feel the hairstyle is more important than the head itself and even more appalling are some stupidly cool dudes riding with a headphone INSERT IGNOREed on both ears without a care in the world. For the sake of common sense please go peacefully if you have to, but don’t leave a reason behind to convict someone for your folly. To top it all, most of the laws enforcing agents in uniform are seen flying around without wearing helmets themselves, so who will enforce the rule- an intriguing puzzle indeed.
Bottom line is, it doesn’t take much to understand that a lot of avoidable deaths could be averted if we could just cultivate the habit of wearing seat-belts and helmets respectively. One doesn’t need special abilities to do that, just a few practice over time does the trick very well.
Last but definitely not the least in importance is on how we defy traffic rules so much so that, we don’t feel the least concerned that we are violating a law; and besides almost everyone out there on the road does it at will, led by our own humble law makers of the State- a pretty good example to emulate. No wonder, we end up honking throughout the day as though the decibel of our honking will clear the traffic without an inkling that our honking habits do reflect our level of education and culture as- developed societies around the world honks only in emergency situation; Maybe its emergency everyday for us, but again what emergency? Perhaps, an emergency of our attitude and mindset. Anyway, who gives a damn when our whole Bharat itself is so horny about honking, that it has become part and parcel of our diversity.
My general appeal here to all including self, is to humbly accept the law as a friendly rules for a congenial and a dignified living because we are not alone but living in a community- a diverse community; and until and unless we learn to live according to the established law and order of the land without hassle, we ought to shift to the jungle and live as per our wishes, where we won’t offend anyone with our stubbornness and hardheadedness besides our own self as we will be free from neighbors’. Not a practical idea I know, so let’s just rectify a simple misunderstanding that- it’s simply not cool to break laws, the only cool thing about it is the cool jail floor if caught acting cool in the wrong way. So, to keep it simple and plain, let’s just stop being rebels and come back to civilization. For a start why not introduce ethics and civic sense as part of our curriculum.
