Get Involved

Wungnaongam Pou
Research Fellow, University of Delhi

“They are going to solve the problem”. This popular dictum seems to be doing round for quite some-time.I have heard people talk about various problems like economy, health, education, poverty and different other kinds of problems. But we tend to say 'they' are going to solve the problem. Many of us tend to think that someone else is going to solve the problem for us and never want to get involved.  

Now, the word 'they' seems to be very tricky here. At times it is even difficult to understand as to whom we are really referring to. I think every good thing comes with responsibility. Yet many of us take responsibility with a pinch of salt. Responsibility is character quality that needs to be developed. For, it is not a natural characteristic and we have to earn by the sweat of our brow but many of us want to skip this hard part instead of rolling up our sleeves and get ourselves involved.  

Even in the recently concluded state election (Nagaland), speculations wrapped through every media, making almost every house hold a talking point about change and development.In many of the popular Facebook pages and Whatsapp groups, the talk still continues, many even gets in personal fights while trying to assert their own sense of right and wrong. But the larger question is what kind of change are we talking about? Certainly not from bad to worst! I think positive change is something we all long for yet the question of who will bring that change still goes answer, except the promises surfaced in the manifestoes of different political parties.  

Even in the realm of spiritual health, I am sure if not all many want to have good place of worship or a church. But when it comes to responsibility we tend to take a back seat though we know a good church comes with lots of responsibilities. We expect good things to come from the church but never want to get involve in contributing towards the responsibilities of the church. For instance, we want to have a good church 'bulletin', but when it comes to responsibilities like, writing articles, contributing financial needs, reaching to unreached etc., we tend to say, “They will do it!” Likewise, there are numerous other responsibilities like, attending Sunday service,giving tithes, attending meetings (GBM), arranging the sound system, distributing song books, serving refreshment, etc. but many of us tend to think, these are not my job!  

One common tendency we have towards responsibilities is, “They will do it”. I think we expect too much on our leaders and failed to act on our part. I think it’s time we ask, what can I contribute? for the betterment of the society rather expecting on others. So let's get involved, do whatever we can only then I think we can expect to see the change, we want in our society.