Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, General Secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council. (Morung Photo)
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | September 16
Tracing the root cause of corruption in the state to the time Nagas gave up daos and spades, Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, articulates that it has now permeated into the living system, further resulting into electoral corruption.
In an exclusive interview with The Morung Express, the General Secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) emphasizes on the need to go back to the Naga work culture in order to revive what Nagas were once known for- ‘Dignity of Labour.’
“We have become a very selfish group of people. I think we have this attitude that all of us should get a free breakfast when there is no such thing as free breakfast. We say we are hardworking but it all began when we became lazy, and gave up our daos and spades,” he puts across.
According to Rev Keyho, the Naga people in comparing themselves with other people, neighbours and communities, “we think we should be doing better than them and in the process, we forget our ethics of behaviour and living.” Having witnessed parents and grandparents who worked hard, and sweated for whatever things they have or want to have, he regrets that today’s generation only talk about ‘dignity of labour and work’ without action. The whole concept of dignity of labour has been misinterpreted, he states.
‘False propaganda becomes the order of the day during elections’
With barely half a year left for the state general elections, he further comments in the context of the Clean Election Movement launched by the NBCC that it is an “uphill battle” and not easy because it did not just happen yesterday. With corruption having taken a deep root, he laments that “it has become a normal practice, which is very unfortunate.”
“It is a very sad commentary that we are in this kind of situation,” he added.
With our people influenced so much by what is happening outside, he notes that, “they know our frame of mind…money power and muscle power works and false propaganda become the order of the day during elections.”
“People outside are able to read our minds, for that matter even political parties, and they not only come with party manifesto but power, influence, false promises and things like that,” he observes.
“When elections come they will be pretend as if all our problems will be solved in few months’ time. So much is promised, and yet little is fulfilled,” he goes on to say.
Towards this end, he points out that “voices against the prevailing situation are not strong enough to overrule or overcome things that are happening.” Clean election, he however affirms has no other agenda than ‘clean right and vote right’ while asserting that “five years can change your future and my future.”
Stating that Nagas have become very impatient, and are just looking for momentary gratification, he says, “we suffer for 5 years, and another 10 years, 15 years and the vicious cycle continues.”
“We cannot allow our children and our younger generation to inherit this kind of situation. It is not a good gift to the generation of our children,” he asserts.
Further expressing that “I think the message is that we must allow God-fearing, honest, visionary leaders,” he however poses, “the question is: where are the God-fearing, honest, visionary politicians?”
While this question can reap answers like “if I look for one, I don’t find one,” he insists that “we can create one.”
‘It is also in the hands of the voters’
Strongly advocating that looking at something that is wrong and not doing anything is a ‘greater wrong,’ he reiterates that, “we must work hard to elect God-fearing, honest politicians who can lead us.” And this, he says, is also in the hands of the voters.
Urging for the need to teach young people, especially those in their late teens that they should not let people misuse their precious and God-given right, he emphasizes, “keep only one voter card, say no to proxy voting, each and every one of us must say, ‘I will not sell my vote.’” Affirming that “our people must learn to vote for our future,” he expresses that “the moment our election votes are counted, the next day is our future.”
However, in the meantime, Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho is aware that it’s going to be a long journey. “I don’t know if we’ll ever see the light at the end of the tunnel but we must continue to chase the light of hope. It may not be for me or for you but certainly for my children, for your children.”
He often tells his colleagues—”Let us not be discouraged” even as he explains this by articulating that the moment we give up, we lose our voice. From a Christian biblical point of view, he goes on to say, “we take this responsibility, maybe we have not been strong enough but we must use the pulpit to address the issue of corruption.”
“Sometimes we get tired of talking about the same thing, and we must keep receiving the punches. We may be knocked down but we can rise up again”, he says. Pronouncing that “I will not give up the hope for my children”, he elucidates that “the moment we give up hope, chaos will take over and our children will blame us. We cannot give them this world, this situation.”
Every political party, he further asserts, “should also have the courage to practice clean election in principle and they should play politics with the future of children in mind and not to harvest in the next five years.”
“Honesty is something they should also propagate in their election manifesto,” he adds to this.
“Let us hope and pray that each election we will gain our ground slowly but surely and inculcate principles not only during the election season but in the hearts and minds and ethics of children because they are our hope,” he conveys.
With this concern in mind, he also points out that 10-15 years from now, these children will be voting and impresses upon that children at the primary and middle school level should be taught that selling their birth right is wrong, proxy voting is wrong and that, it is not only wrong but is a sin against God.
