Y. Longdilong Sangtam
Jotsoma, Kohima
Like the beautiful Helen Keller's quote which says, “Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much”. I want readers to emphasize on the importance of united mindset and how it can change our course of common thinking for better generation of today and tomorrow.
Looking today - it pains me to see the weak individuality mindset of selfishness in Nagas, that only emphasize on 'my' i.e. my properties, my houses, my children, my compound and my road (from the main gate)etc. And so, we sweep, clean, beautify and sweat inside our own boundaries.
But, did you ever?, I ask again ever, pick up a single piece of litter, a wrapper, or perhaps sweet covers outside of your boundaries , with a pitiful and patriotic heart, that this public road is a 'Road' -my locality, my homeland, my Nagaland and is an uncalled duty to keep it tidy and clean. I bet, if you do that ,than be proud because you are just 'one man soldier'-among the lakhs of hypocrite Naga citizens, who feels really cleaned, after cleaning around their homes but dumped and threw litters, wrappers on the roadsides and public areas without even a second thought.
It's shameless that we are hopeless people, without any common civic sense. We blame the government thinking it's their duty to maintain the cleanliness of public properties -like these roads and facilities etc, but a true patriotic call of collective love, respect, and concern at every heart is required and the need of an hour. Noting that no authorities will be sweeping the roads or are given a salary to do so. In this prospective, we the people should be change, from the eldest citizen to a nursery student, must be aware of it and take collective action to 'Stop' this uncivilized trend called 'littering '.
My above points may rather seem cynical but sadly, it’s the reality of the present condition. For example, I have personally seen the same 'Rum Pum' cover lying unattended when I visit my old places (after a long gap of 5/6 years). Seems funny but it pains me a lot, given the realization of why, people avoid our places nevertheless of our rich culture and biodiversity.
Like "ugliness attracts ugliness and beauty attracts beauty" Nagaland has potential to be a real 'Switzerland of East'. Just imagine a clean and beautiful road without even a single piece of plastic or a litter and its impact that will have on a tourist or a visitor. For they, often measure our civic sense and collective unity, by our public cleanliness and sanitation.
At this point we must remember a small island in the far east called Japan, with whom we share physical similarities and mental potentials but they are known in the whole world for cleanliness and with high HDI (i.e. increased- longevity, knowledge and income) but we are hundred years, socially and culturally lacking behind because their policy of development and advancement runs parallel with cleanliness and a peaceful humble environment. But, we Nagas are only filled with so called self pride and that self-dignity, for example any uneducated and unemployed Naga will even refuse to become a barber or a construction worker. It is this narrow mindsets that lead to nothingness but unemployment and divisions in our society and our homeland looking like an 'orphan' (without anyone to care and look after with love).
To tackle and curb this own ironic downfall, we should all wake up and start asking ourselves- what we can do for our state? How can I contribute? instead of complaining in own kitchens (about unfairness ).
Nagas have a long way to go and saluting the various youth leadership in villages of Rengma and Khonoma areas for paving and showing the ways of becoming Green Village, Cleanest village.
As a humble Naga I urge, pray and appeal to all conscience 'Please 'STOP' Littering of Roadsides'.
Make Nagaland more beautiful 'for together we can do so much'.
