Khekishe Aye
Zunheboto
I am writing this article not with a judgmental attitude but with an imploring mind. In the process, rather than being diplomatic which is not a common trait for many of us, I intend to be straightforward without any respite. With Christianity, we have become experts in quickly judging and condemning others, whereas the introspective conscience, the innate body mechanism that silently approves or condemns our deeds, has long been lost. Certainly I do not have to rely on history to substantiate my point, but the recent events that have been unfolding one after another right before our eyes tellingly suggest so.
The govt of Nagaland seems to have lost its touch with the people. It has opted for a laissez faire policy in relation to corruption, fraudulent cases, misappropriation, etc. typically emulating the Pilate washing act. On the other hand, the political head of the state, with the full media glare, prioritizes the minor (in terms of urgency) by meeting with an unofficial Prime Minister, attending the World Cup final match, endless road shows and so on. For that matter, even the US President (virtually assumed as the world leader) has his day-offs, and I am not critical if our leaders take a breather. But upon arrival they are expected of dealing with unsettled scores. When they seem to be least bothered about the pivotal and crucial issues however, it is then that they portray themselves as escapists not really wanting to stir up the hornet’s nest. Thus, majoring in minors is not a mere label accorded to the govt of Nagaland on presumption.
Much ink has been spilled on the issue of Prohibition Act that by now we are certainly fatigued and dog-tired. In fact, the inferno is beginning to die down and I don’t want to fan the flame again but the more I read about the Prohibition Act especially from the vantage point of Christians, the more I feel myself completely putting on the Pharisee robe. If what the NBCC writes is what it really believes in, then there is no denying that we are majoring in minors. Well, even a 10 year old kid knows that alcohol kills, it is devil impersonated therefore abominable, and this needs no reminding. But can this guarantee a complete clean slate? How could the NBCC lie that the Prohibition Act has its merit when we know that alcohol is available in almost every paan shop not only in towns but in villages as well? Did the NBCC undertake an empirical study in all the districts prior to the Act and after it was enforced? On what basis were the data taken? I know hundreds of alcoholics who would still testify that they have never been approached or interviewed by anybody in relation to this. It would be of no surprise thus if the statistics as per NBCC are based on speculations and observations which could be fallacious. When rape, murder, violence, robbery, etc. cases are ascending every year and such news are no longer hair raising anymore, who has duped the good old NBCC with a flimsy statistics that all is well with the enforcement of the Act?
Further, how can the NBCC even presume that the Act is partially successful and with a little effort from the govt agencies a total clean state is possible? Are you aware that with the enforcement of the Act, alcohol is now available even in paan shops and even the High School students in uniforms are merrily having a peg before and during classes? Can you prove that this is not the creation of the Act? For God’s sake, can the church please admit the fact that rather than healing an individual, a family or society, the Act itself has had an adverse effect on the people. Dry or not, a drunkard is a drunkard and he would gladly sacrifice his children’s school fees for a bottle even if it should worth Rs.1000. Stringent laws would never secure a utopian concept of dryness, the bottle will always be there for the taking.
Search within your people, one thing that stands out uniquely is the die-hard attitude. Come what may, we may not lack heroes who would by various ways procure cases of banned substances not only for living but importantly, for a sheer thrill. It is this spirit of heroism that has made me think that Prohibition Act will be met with little or no success at all. Haven’t you learned from the Chinese that they were invaded by external forces for umpteen times after the Great Wall of China was built? If we are genuinely concerned about healing and protecting our society, it has nothing to do with fortifying our state with laws and regulations, nor subjecting the errant individual to severe punishment. Perhaps initiating programs and reaching out to the alcoholics, counting them as co-equals, befriending and enabling them to come out of their mess should be the new vista that the church ought to tread. I know we preach these almost every Sunday, but real and genuine concern will always have to be this way. And what better platform do we have than the church to apply such into practice? As I see it, this is the point which we have to major in and not the aggressive option.
Still further, going by the conviction of the NBCC, it seems as though alcohol is the only evil that is breaking up our society. What is the voice of the church when scams and corruption are occurred at the govt level year after year? Or when murder and rape cases are on the rise? Is publishing articles in newspapers saying ‘the church condemns’ enough? What about concern for others- their rights, freedom, welfare, etc? When egoistic and shortsighted leaders of NSF, as a result of denying them entry, imposed an economic blockade on Manipur, the church decided to remain silent after a routine appeal. When scores of Nagas at the initiative of the pathetic Naga Hoho gave a thumbs down to Meiteis, where was the egalitarian Christian teaching and admonishing which you were supposed to do so? These are some of the many instances why I am saying that we corporately are majoring in minors. Let us not fake, nor be driven by emotions but face reality. If we are keen on making Nagaland a dry state yet remain indifferent to other major social issues, it is not a matter of saving lives but our prestige and power play. It is something like “we cannot afford to back out now after having initiated something good”. If the church rather makes an all-out effort against all the real issues confronting us, much as it is committed to the Prohibition Act, I believe we shall one day see our society elevated to a much higher level than today.
For the moment, let it be reminded that alcoholism is a choice. No one can interfere in my choice of food, dress, or the like except by way of comments or suggestions. Let us stop faking and be very practical, by what authority and on whose can we impose a rule on a person to change his/her habit? The only thing one could do to an alcoholic is to empathize with him/her and be an enabler for a change of habit. We have to learn the hard way whether one likes it or not. Spiritual growth does not come by living a hermit-like life, my Bible does not teach me that. If the apple in the garden of Eden was the source of evil, why did God not uproot it at once so as not to let Adam and Eve fall? Whether to do good or evil is within me and I have to make a choice. Therefore the problem is not the bottle but ME. My faith will be measured according to choices I make, not by a clean environment. And as long as we play by our rules rather than by God’s, we shall continue to top the list of majoring in minors.
