Chumpongse Anar
OTC Yangli
The introduction of money to the traditional economic transaction has affected and shattered the identity of our community. Our traditional economy was value-centered. Market is not a new thing. It was there even in the ancient society. But in the olden days not all exchange of goods was for the purpose of profit making and accumulation of wealth. There was no room to regard the way as corrupted. While we know that money permeates all of life’s personal, social, even spiritual life, yet money and its uses may be the least understood dynamic of our lives. Many of us are affected negatively because we have less of it.
Money has become the most powerful deciding factor in election today. The people’s right is silenced in the face of money. The practice of spending money in terms of crores has become the accepted social norm during election. We see that with the 14th General election in Nagaland around the corner, the voters forcefully demand a huge amount of money and the candidates lure the voters with money. In one of the recent election campaigns, an elderly party worker stated ‘take money from one candidate and vote for another, the money is your share.’ Almost everybody takes money during election from the candidates. What a sad reality! What happens after the election? The elected representatives will try to make up the money spent during election, which leaves less money for development. The due share which is supposed to be granted to particular area and districts are not properly utilized. The result at the end is everybody suffers. We don’t see quality work in any project.
How can we check this problem? The Naga tribal ethics will serve some ways to combat the corruption because of money. Mores can be regarded as the doctrine of social welfare. It emphasizes protecting children and orphans, caring for aged old parents and helping poor people. Tribals practiced different types of occupations and ethical norms regulate patterns of labor, values, wealth and consumption. Their survival depends on economic wealth. The economic life is organized in accordance with the availability of the resources. Sharing of wealth is a way of life in Naga society. The best way to define the goal of the Naga community could be, for the community, by the community and of the community. This understanding can serve as one of the best means to overcome the individualistic aspect of corruption. The tribal ideology of ‘needs’ not ‘wants’ should serve as a shield in defense of materialism and the ideology of ‘to share’ and ‘to be shared’ should be implemented as a principle against consumerism.
It is not the money that is the root of all evil but it is the love of money which is the root of all evil. It is a form of the sin of idolatry. And what is idolatry? It means trying to get ultimate meaning out of that which cannot provide ultimate meaning. Ultimate meaning can only come from God, from the spiritual force within us. So the sin of money and loving money lies in trying to get from that which is not the highest, only what the highest can give. Money cannot buy the meaning of life. Money in itself does nothing to solve the problems that we face today. Whom do you expect to be the Sacrificial Lamb? If we can point fingers at others, we should also know to point fingers at ourselves. The change of mentality is the need of the hour. We should start another revolution.
