In the State of Gujarat, running up to the last Election, the Election Commission detected more than 400 Paid News in the Electronic and the written News Media by people seeking their own Self Interests and in a sample investigation, it was found, among many confirmed Cases, that 414 were True. A friend recently said jokingly to me: “in Nagaland very soon even the appointment of a Peon in the Government Service, will produce Congratulations in the News Papers from his/her many well wishers!”
This remark brought me to the Condolence and Congratulatory Messages that appear endlessly and tirelessly in the local Papers in Nagaland at the demise of a Leader or at the appointment of Government Servant.
We feel sorry for the death of a friend or of a leader and we feel happy when we hear the birth of a Child or the success of a Person in his Life but to publish Condolence or Congratulatory Message imitatively, endlessly and zealously in the Papers is to cheapen our Society ourselves. It does not enhance the honor of our collective Society even.
Once it happened a Man, -my boyhood friend and I knew him well to quite an extent- expired. He was a man of common Intelligence, not very special but jack of all trades particularly in Sports & Games. In his later years I saw in him have a knack of passing off as an Elder man we all like to be. Towards this, he went about like an Elder man in his manners and talks and people took him as such. To tell a long Story short; ultimately he became fitted the Leader of an important Organization and thus went about popularly.
The trait of desiring an Elder Man was one of the weaknesses in my friend as every one has his or her own weakness and this made other stronger, more intelligent and scheming Persons to utilize him as a Front or facade. And when he expired in the Chair of a well known Organization; Condolence Messages filled the local Media intermittently for months on end even from unknown, forgotten Organizations and Bodys! Imitative Praises beyond limit or measure indicate the Naga Society’s collective weakness too.
India has law against Paid News for self favors, in fact the Election Commission of India on 20th October 2011 Disqualified Umlesh Yadav MLA Uttar Pradesh for making Payment for News in her favor in the 2007 State Election.
In Nagaland we do not suspect any of our politicians or persons would engage themselves in such dishonorable things except that donations have sometimes been made by certain Human in the hope or promise of some ‘Awards’ in the Papers. However, the Resignations from one Party and joining the other Party, the Charges or the Support of this and that Party; Sensos, Senso Mundang or Village Councils declaring support to this and that Person, Group or Party, threatening members or others who would not toe the line etc are not very Democratic and not Clean Election acts Christians preach zealously against in Nagaland.
Thepfulhouvi Solo
