A Night of Disco-Braving the Odds of Prohibition

Keduovilie Linyü

In a Christian state, a high profile leader would  struggle with power drunk during Christmas, the youth complaint about the unfulfilled promise and commitment made during electioneering, children rebel against their parents, broken homes and disloyal parents and unloved children, mistresses, playboys, and a street corner gang of teenage delinquents. The youth want and prefer leisure and changed lives. We see it in nightclubs where jaded and frustrated businessmen watch the sensual performers go through their frenzied routine, leaving their audience empty, frustrated and satiated.

Smart young and adolescent dressed in their best sit for the ‘night cocktail’ in the restaurant where liquor is served. This is the daily business of those cabins which sells liquor openly without  license in the heart of capital town. In a decoratively-set cabin, it was packed mostly by youngsters’ and we forget  our life affairs and even ourselves as the people were drunk with wine, music and enjoyed with power drunk. It was a delight that we admire for nobody bothers for  Prohibition whatsoever.

There has been much debate about the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTP), that the Govt. has acted on paper only and now, found to be impossible to implement and enforce it practically throughout the State as someone runs the business of sale of liquor openly for their basic necessities of life, including minimum of food, clothing, shelter and water. Like other business, syndicates are the main suppliers to the whole-sellers who then sell to the retailers and  home business in different colonies  and to the liquor joints in the entire stretch of Kohima Town. There is no effective checking and search for illegal sale of liquor in  the colony. Trucks of liquor enter Kohima every day .

The State government agencies and many social organizations had miserably failed to crack down on illegal bars and liquor outlets owned by the rich, influential persons and politicians. They think everything belong to them who enjoys the choicest food and act like sea creatures having no ruler and they drive over us. There are many illegal liquor joints placing them as food restaurant and ghumty shops in their trade license, displaying mineral water bottles and cold  drinks and run the business of sale of liquor openly. 

What is important to note is that as average Nagas living standard rose during the years, and spiritual decadence is upon them, and for sure the poor did not get poorer. The second-generation politicians and middle level bureaucrats and desperate political party workers blow up at disco-as if the night is theirs, enjoy with unaccounted cash. Their traditions of power without responsibility invite more gangster sons of rich people and politicians as they break every rule in the society.