MEDOWE KAPFO
Man is the only animal that kills its fellow being for pleasure, unbelievable? Believe it. As man is sportive by nature. He is not contented with merely filling his stomach or covering his body with ferments. He wants something more than that. He needs recreation to satisfy his senses. One of such is hunting since his primitive origin, he has enjoyed killing of other human beings. Though originally his aim of killing could have been to satisfy his hunger it should not be denied that he hunted for pleasure also. He enjoyed seeing others breathing their last. The savage killed to live, the civilized killed to make life worth living. Before, the theory of the survival of the fittest was merely applied to the animal life. For instance, the bigger fish eats the smaller ones; the stronger animals kill the weaker one but today even man is more than qualified to be applied to this theory of survival of the fittest.
According to my owned Compact Reference Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘ballot’ is defined as a way of voting on something secretly, usually by means of paper slips which is today replaced by EVM (Electronic Voting Machines) with the advancing of Science and Technology. The word ‘ballot’ is verb noun as well as abstract noun as far as the rule of linguist goes whereas ‘bullet’ is a small missile fired from a gun solely for killing any moving and living beings for one’s safety or the other. However, if they are compared; both the words are quiet and distantly different and unrelated to each other in its own terms and synonyms but have today become closer and quiet familiar and related to each other in one way or the other way if any sensible citizen peeps into the present political system.
Similarly, like ballots and bullets, there are two very important and vital features to be reminded in formation of a civilized Society. They are non other than VIOLENCE & DEMOCRACY. These two terms are of great importance in building up a strong and desired society. In a Democracy, the people of the country are supposed to have solemnly resolved to constitute themselves into a Democratic Society and to be guided by the law of the land. This is why the rule of law is considered to be the most vital plank of Democracy. As against this, violence is the breach of law. It is the manifestation of lawless or says the law of Jungle. It is intended to impose the will of the one group or individual upon the other group or individual under the threat of physical harm. The two are, therefore, basically opposed to each other. Where one is, the other cannot be. Therefore, in a Democratic set-up, there is no room for lawlessness and when Democratic society falls a prey to lawlessness and violence, democracy is the first casualty. Violence and democracy cannot, therefore, go together.
Abraham Lincoln’s belief in the superiority of the ballot over the bullet is a tragic irony, for he fought a lengthy and bloody civil war over slavery in the Southern states of America, and their threat to secede from the Union. When the surrender of the South resolved these issues, he himself fell a victim to the bullet of an assassin. Nevertheless, it is a real that those contentious issues, one resolved by bullets flying within a nation or between nations, now have alternative methods of resolution at least in Western Europe, where Britain set a model in the evolution of Democratic and Parliamentary Government. Some countries of Western Europe, like Britain does retain hereditary monarchies, but power ultimately rests with the voters. In a Democracy today, no leader wages war for his own aggrandizement (Enhancemen/Enlargement), as he would have to act on the advice of the people as expressed through the legislature and the Executive. Nevertheless, while the ballot has been effective in checking internal misuse of power by elected governments, it cannot be said that it is equally effective in solving problems between nations. However, the evolution bodies as if the UN and the EEC have extended the ballot (or the Democratic Concept) on pan (criticize)-national scale. While the function of such bodies leaves much to be desired, it is a positive gain that there have been local conflagrations but no world wars since 1945. Elsewhere in the world with the possible exception of India and Japan, one party democracies outright dictatorship and other maturations of representation by ballot prevail. The excesses of these systems vindicate (justify/support/claim) Lincoln’s concept of the Sovereign ballot with all its faults and limitations.
As the recent spate of factional violence in Kohima A.G Colony has illustrated, human rights are still in a shambles in our State. We do not value human lives. Fundamental Rights and Direct Principles of State Policy provided by the Constitution exist largely on paper and there is rampant corruption and discrimination all around us. People are kept in Jails without trial for months, sometimes even for years together, while high-profile crimes go unpunished We may go hoarse shouting against the negation of Human rights in some Dictatorships and autocratic rules, but we must look within and see to it that human rights are safeguarded in this bastion of culture in the world. Bullets and nuclear weapons are only means of settling differences between the two parties. Today, bullet has replaced the power of ballot. The very term; of the people, for the people and by the people just exist in the papers.
It is a very strange and confusing that, while on the one hand, every one is clamoring for peace, threats are issued everyday, making it plain to the adversaries that we may face our ready-made black coffins at any time/place. Hardly any sufficient and guaranteed efforts are made towards the creation of a cordial and friendly atmosphere that can ultimately lead all our UGs to peaceful co-existence among all factions and tribes of the state. If we think that peace is really that imperative as we make it out to be in our pronouncements, we shall have to give up this game of AK-47/57 and nuclear weapons of hide and seek paradoxical behavior and work sincerely for the attainment of peace and unity. I would like to remind Gospel Preachers, Hohos, Student Bodies, or Women Bodies that Peace can come, not by solemn preaching or lecturing and advising, but by constant and dedicated efforts from all sides.
You like it or not but I have to say that, We are bound to be understood out that as long as we don’t attain our Sovereignty in full-fledged from the Government of India, we are under the banner of India Democratic Government. And, therefore, the process to Naga Sovereignty by the UG’s on one side and the functioning of Democratic election by the State Politicians on the other side should go in well-balance and adjusting pro and cons with one another in order to reach a final solution of long longed Indo-Naga Political Problem as desired by every children of Naga soil.. The negligence and ignorance on the part of either side will invite a very ultimate disastrous situation of great-dilemma. The performances and behaviors of our UG’s and State Politicians of our present systems will lead us to no where.
‘Who shall live If Naga Dies and Who Shall Die If Nagas Live?’ This statement indicates how closely the fate of an Individual is linked with that of his people to which it belongs. It puts up a great question mark (?). However, some of our politicians and highly ranked self-styled UG’s may prosper and progress in their own Individual capacities with the advantages of their designations, where shall we be If Nagas as a wanting Nation is ruined? The answer is ‘Nowhere’. History of the past few hundreds years of slavery and foreign domination proves the truth of this statement amply. Similarly, if Nagas as a separate wanting Nation survives a crisis, the death or ruination of an individual does not make much difference, because the nation and the Government can look after his dependents and his other interests, which are the part of nation’s interest as a whole. But the Nagas as a wanting separate Nation itself dies; nothing will be left, because the survivors will be helpless slaves.
United we stand, divided we fall. This truism. Modern progress is all due to the result of a united action of men and nations. A family, a nation, and a country cannot make any progress if there is no oneness spirit among its members. Disunited their progress is bound to retard, they are doomed to failure and ultimately they would perish. A united action will bring them success, honour and pride in every respect in every sphere. History is replete with instances where families and nations have floundered on the rocks of disunity, but have progressed by united actions. Achievement of independence was the result of Unity in the rank and file of the Freedom fighters.
