Kedi Haralu
Life is such an unpredictable entity, for fate intervenes when one least expects it plus it affects the last person you thought of, on earth, but it just shows how powerful our Creator is and if his blessings are upon you, what altitudes one is elevated beyond anyone’s comprehension, and the ability to achieve is enhanced to a point where it is possible to be or do anything, come what may. Our Creator, being our Creator, who even knows us before we are even conceived in the mothers womb, has our life at his finger tips and most amazing is the fact that even the numbers of our hair is known to Him. He can make a pauper into a millionaire overnight and a millionaire into a pauper in the same instance. Therefore, it is rather frightening to see when people are made successful overnight and their reputation sky rocketed and become someone important, suddenly turns from being a humble and honest person into a proud, haughty, ruthless greedy person, which is passed on from them to their children, thus forgetting where they came from in the first place. Imagine a Shepherd boy becoming one of the greatest Kings of his times and a slave becoming the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt, just next to the Pharaoh. They created history and will never be forgotten for they always remembered their roots and always reminded their Children their family roots, thus generations after they were gone, their children then their grand children did make the king proud. This is a story which we all know are factual, for the Bible is in no way a fictional type of novel. Then there is the other side of the coin. Saul was made king, anointed by Nathaniel the prophet. Before that he was a mere farmer and that too a poor one, but ultimately pride and dishonesty added with jealousy turned him into mad cap and his death was worse then his initial root. Sadly this too has been recorded in history. So my question is do we want to be remembered as a David ora Saul. We do create our future but we can always change our destiny, for the better or the worse.
Why I stress on these points is because the legislative elections are just beyond the corner, where Kings will be made plus kings destroyed. I have known numerous politicians who became MLA’s and Ministers due to sheer twist of fate and destiny. Unfortunately most of them get drunk with power and wealth. Some even remarry, leaving their faithful wife’s who stood by him during bad anddifficult times, but when good times come, she is conveniently forgotten and surprisingly there are women in Nagaland who use their looks to entice these elected members and once caught in their net, there is nochance for escape. Their colleagues who had a similar background becomeso proud and haughty that they tend to change their posture and theirway of treating people. Their snooty noses start to take in more oxygen,since their noses are usually up and the next step is they become godsand messiahs. Although they are tolerated in Nagaland due to their“seat” once they go out of Dimapur, their true colors emerge, thusmaking fools of themselves and cheapening the name of the Naga as awhole.
I remember an MLA during my fathers’ days, who had just becomean MLA. This was way back in the 70’s. The MLA was chosen by the StateGovernment amongst other MLAS, to represent Nagaland for a seminar atSingapore. During their flight, he had never seen so much “Phoren”liquor on a trolley, and guess what happened next? He was too sizzled todisembark, thus the Airport Authorities had no other choice but tooffload the passenger on a wheel chair. This was just the beginning of anightmare. During their free time, he decided to accompany his friendsfor shopping. As Nagas love to shop, everyone was soo engrossed in hispersonal shopping that they did not realize that the certain person wasnot with them. They did a few rounds at the mall, but still there was nosign of him. A good Samaritan seing the colour of the Nagas approachedthem and asked wether a person in a track suit was one of them. Theysighed, yes, for by now they were worried sick. The good Samaritan notwanting to embarrass them just said, “your friend is stuck in theescalator. I think this was his first trip to Singapore.” The person wasfinally found, all exhausted and profusely sweating. HE WAS TRYING TO GO UP THE STAIRS ON THE ESCALATOR, BUT HAD GONE UP THE ONE THAT SIAD “GOING DOWN.” You can figure out why he was exhausted and sweating profusely.The most unfortunate fact is that this was a true story, which stilldoes the rounds at political gatherings.
I am glad that Nagas arebecoming more learned and more exposed to the outside world, and thatthere are a few new generation politicians who has studied from outsidethe State or outside the Country. Therefore as voters our every voteshould make a difference, for we need a new breed of Politicians, abreed that will understand and share a similar vision of our belovedChief Minister, who is young but extremely wise and tactful and whogives importance to the youth of Nagaland. I do not say this as a partyworker, but regardless of party, we need to have such leadership if wewant to see our State forge ahead and share with the world, the latesttechnology in all fields. On top of all these qualities our presentleader comes from a family who were well to do, even before he joinedpolitics, hence power has not gone to his head and has certainly notbeen blinded with wealth and pride. I know for sure that due to hisqualities, it is not going to be easy for anyone to out vote him or hisparty at any given time or period. Yes there are some rotten apples inthe basket, but they can always be thrown out if required.
Inconclusion, as said earlier we have to make sure on who we are votingfor and not let money be the deciding factor. Yes it is easy money, butmy suggestion is even if elected, a wolf will remain a wolf, even if hedisguises himself in Sheep’s’ clothing, so I say, “Go ahead, take theMoney happily, but when you stamp or punch the voting machine do it notfor yourself but for the future of Nagaland, where there will becontinuous development and advancement.” We have made enough mistakesespecially when electing our leaders, but it is not too late. Oursupport should be beyond party lines, but must be focused on thequalities of the person we are electing. We should first find out if heis a David/Joseph or a Saul. Lets do it right this time, and ensure thatwe make sure before voting and never elect a person as described in thebeginning of the article. Our tomorrow will be based on the action takentoday. I know that Nagas are no more naïve and have the Naga politics ontheir fingertips, therefore I write this so that it will set the readersthinking and pondering for the better.
