Moa Jamir
Ponder over some recent news item and state of affairs unfolding before us. The chief minister receives yet another international award – for environmental development. Next day, a dilapidated health centre and a school greets us.
We were informed about more disassociations from a ‘quintessential’ Naga organisation, heralding, yet another new saga in our continuing quest for ‘Unity.’
In a noble initiative, the citizens of a neglected town in Nagaland undertook ‘Mission potholes & road repairs,’ another news item highlighted.
Most surprisingly, it added that the citizens along with civil society groups, “district administration and police” started their ‘mission potholes and road repair.’ The distinction and function of the public and private blurred and muddified.
As one skims through such contradictions, one question invariably strikes our mind. Simply put, where are we heading towards?
Honestly, no one has the answer. One can only hang on to the unfolding caravan literally riding along the chaotic roads.
Consequently, our life epitome of a study in contrast, not necessarily positive, but pulling us into a vortex of stagnant state of affairs from where we find no respite.
For instances, electricity lines have reached all corners of the state, but most of the time the citizen either hover in dark or swelter in heat.
We have communitised schools and healthcare.
The only thing missing is the concern for community welfare, thus resulting in truant or non-existent service providers.
Bogus teachers and substitute teachers exist in abundance, yet, we have shortages of teachers. The best, as argued earlier in this column, remains unpaid and their pleas unheeded.
On the while, the department honchos never forget to talk about quality education, principals in government colleges allegedly remain vacant while shortages of teachers lead to periodic protests in schools.
Analyse the speeches of ministers, bureaucrats and other ‘dignitaries’ on any educational institution or social gathering.
Most of the time, it usually consist of exhortation and moralising cloaked with grand eloquence and sweet nothings. Whether the person sermonising from the stand is following the clichéd narratives is anybody’s guess.
Policy or matters requiring immediate attention are seldom discussed nor offered.
In this hodgepodge state of affairs, everything gets muddled. Thus, it comes at the cost of value judgement.
It is difficult to say whether something being done or initiated is right or wrong. Therefore, an individual elevation for certain position or job, is feted and celebrated by one’s family, clan or village, purportedly for the power, position and influences it entails.
Thus, the concern for governance and responsibility become secondary to other concerns. Vicious scepticism therefore cohesively exists along with outright corruption.
‘The culture of interest’ manifest in various conflicts seriously undermining our solidarity and cohesion. Our political, social and religious trajectories over the years affirm this comprehensively.
When things go haywire, we desperately try to cling on to our past or spirituality, thus invoking various restriction or community rules overlooking the glaring dichotomy between theory and practice.
The contrasting state of affairs needs serious adjustments to come out of this dystopia of an existence.
For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
