(A Satire on the State-of-Affairs!)*
Are we not stupid enough, bereft of wisdom, always praising others?
But never critical of us? Won’t we get the show on the road for us instead?
What is the use of talking and admiring the Assamese-Satellite?
Rather than keeping a Satellite station for us public,
Building a good Airport and a big train station,
Constructing a two-lane from a single lane Road,
By passing Assam through four lane Foothills Road,
Establishing good educational institution, Research center, IIT and Good hospitals
With the revenue being generated from the mineral resources;
Opening up of industry that enables individuals with entrepreneurship,
And letting them become rich by generating electricity,
Silly me, not being an Okora (meaning ‘stupid’ in Assamese),
Let me accumulate more wealth for myself!
OPENING up of my own Resort-after-resort,
And Shopping mall-after-shopping mall,
Construction of multi-storeyed buildings for House Rent-after-house-rent,
Isn’t it better for me to buy – without end – all the Naga Hills and valleys and keep them for myself?
Isn’t it better for me to earn some two-three crores of rupees every month,
Instead of letting the Government of Nagaland earn thousands of crores of rupees annually?
RATHER than letting all the Nagas successfully do agriculture of all kinds,
Isn’t it better to develop my own private farms with the fund from Delhi,
With all the fund and revenue collected for Nagas –
only to be kept in my own private treasury,
Isn’t it interesting going on a buying-spree for common people and public leaders as well?
KICKING up clouds of dust by vehicles from the bad roads,
Sickeningly muddy, slashing polluted water on the wayfarers,
Since I drive my vehicle around with the AC put on with big car wheels,
Protected by black tainted glass,
Neither do I see the dust around me nor feel the potholes!
Are you an okora, don’t hang around in my compound like dogs?
ONLY during the Election, you bring all your family members and friends,
Oh you Okora (dull-witted), don’t talk about Assam for we are proud Naga people,
C’mon, let us drink local rice-beers, sometimes hosting the Mega festival and
Next the Mini festival jocundly celebrating it throughout the year,
At least, some money can be adjusted for this one!
AND is there anymore?
About the State Stadium, don’t blabber your mouth anymore!
For all useful purposes, I have constructed all types of stadium in my compound,
Whenever you feel like playing, come to my compound,
But will not be allowed inside of the house,
Oh you Okora (stupid)!
*(Note: The above thought-provoking literary piece – in the form of a satire – has been penned by K Temjen Jamir, a renowned Naga journalist & Editor of TirYimyim, a Vernacular News Daily. He wrote the above piece in Ao-Naga language on March 12, 2025 in a small social media group. It is being translated from Ao to English by Rev Dr S Temjen Imchen with author’s permission for wider readership).
