Dr Asangba Tzudir
It is not only ironic but also a struggle in the Naga pursuit of Unity. Ironic because understandably even family members find themselves struggling for unity and the more we create unions and organizations in the name of unity, it somehow creates further division amongst Nagas.
The very nature and functioning of the society that finds rooted prominently in culture and customs then also operates as the template that gives a form to the larger objective of Unity besides other objectives. Within this trajectory, every union and organizations has to survive and which has become a big financial burden today especially in the face of these unions and organizations celebrating landmarks.
As such, the trend of increase in the different kinds of donations and collections has also created a kind of unhealthy competition because of human tendency to compare and contrast within the limitless wants. It is also here that the truth of the objective of unity finds lost while the family budget gets disrupted. For instance, collecting half month’s salary, or worse still, diverting tithe into donation in order to celebrate a jubilee or something similar has become a normal affair.
And we hardly question the logic behind organizing huge programmes with financial dependency largely on its members. It seems like a kind of ‘extortion’ that has become so normalized. And the way in which landmark celebrations are more tilted towards the material outlook and the associated symbolism that, it only generates an unhealthy competition. In the pursuit of imitating others, and in trying to be at par with the rest or be above others, it creates a survival of the fittest situation while ‘pursuing recognition.’
Sadly the existence of so many unions and organisations have not contributed to the larger objective of unity and cohesiveness of the Nagas, rather the opposite wherein the so called transition from tradition to modernity took an ‘undesirable’ shift from ‘communitarian good’ to ‘individualism.’
Now, coming to the issue of the many forms of donations and collections and contributions which includes even demand for diversion of tithes, we need to think about better and innovative ways of generating money and resources and thereby help cut down on donations and contributions. And it is also time for all the various unions and groups and associations etc. etc. to do away with all the unnecessary ‘ritualistic’ practices and celebrations and stay more relevant and thereby evolve with the times rather than staying redundant and non-progressive.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
