Dr Asangba Tzudir
The title may seem to present a not so scenic case of a land filled with street beggars, like a new sobriquet to be added to the “land of festivals.” But the roadside beggars may be comparatively less and therefore, Nagaland cannot qualify to earn the title as a ‘land of beggars.’ Not that it is a title to be pursued after but a deeper reflection attests to the fact that the above statement does hold some water. Earlier this year, the Advisor for Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Zhaleo Rio claimed that, “we have very expensive beggars” in Nagaland though he did not elaborate much on who the “expensive beggars” are.
However, it is the “expensive beggars” that makes Nagaland a ‘land of beggars’ even as the state of Nagaland continue to reel under the gloat of economic dependency syndrome, surviving for existence but at the mercy of the government at the centre. This also begs the question –Should Nagas shed the attitudinal trend of wearing ‘ten gallon hats’ and start to work, or should Nagaland government enlarge the begging bowl while ‘begging’ at the centre?
While there are various categories of beggars for which further explanation or elaboration is not required, a grim reminder of the fact that, so long as we also eat from what is being put by the centre in our begging bowls, we all are a party of the begging kingdom and so literally we all are beggars. As such, we willingly become a party in the making of the economic dependency syndrome.
While begging may also be induced by the question of survival, there is also the need to beg induced by the attitudinal trend of ‘undeservedly’ wearing ‘ten gallon hats’, and the hat having glued to the skin. While it may be desirable to lead a luxurious and comfortable life, living beyond one’s means but not willing to work hard with honesty and sincerity has led to the becoming of more beggars.
This has led to the emergence of a culture of undeserved eating, even as the many ‘others’ are making a comfortable life by picking ‘sell-ables’ from the dumping sites. ‘Dignity of labor’ becomes an issue of ‘dignity’ while one’s ten gallon hat has become the second skin, and begging has become so normalized that it is not seen as an issue of dignity. That begging, and in the process selling oneself seems ‘dignified,’ while ‘dignity of labor’ is not considered dignified. The attitudinal trend only detaches one’s feet further away from the ground, whereas, the purpose of the feet is to be firmly placed on the ground while the hands need to get dirty by laboring with dignity and respect. This normalized economic dependency syndrome is actually a very shameful tag.
When we talk about Naga identity, our traditional costumes, our culture and history as unique, we also need to be reminded of others identity markers that are also unique across cultures and history. However, what needs to be reclaimed is the facet of Naga identity as a hard working people living with dignity and integrity, and not cheap beggars.
Yes, there are issues of employment avenues starting from the lack of large scale industries and therefore unemployment problems galore. However, the process of reclaiming this facet of Naga identity should begin in right earnest, and which is the way out of the current state of economic dependency syndrome towards a dignified living. After all, seeing and creating opportunities begins by shedding the attitudinal trend.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
