Veroli Zhimo
Thank you.
That hasn’t been said nearly enough over these challenging last few months.
In this extraordinary time, we have had to absorb many new and disconcerting concepts — from social distancing to online schooling to YouTube church services. There are constant reminders that we are ‘unprepared’ to combat COVID-19 - a ‘failed state’ unable to manage the greatest existential threat in our lifetimes. The State that calls itself ‘unique,’ in its history and situation, has a strained public health system and thousands of its own citizens wondering how they’re going to keep the lights on or feed their families.
Undoubtedly, several instances of misinformation, mismanagement and incompetence from local, district and concerned authorities, as well as those to at the helms of political affairs, have caused much embarrassment. However, a single-minded focus on failures obscure much of the good works that the vast majority of Nagas have done, and are doing, to look after one another.
If we are going to get through this pandemic, we need to hear more than just what we should be doing better or what we are doing wrong. Every once in a while, we also need to hear what we are doing right.
It is worth pausing to acknowledge the smaller but essential ‘patriotic’ sacrifices we are all making today, for one another.
Over the last three months, nearly all of Nagaland’s residents — roughly 19 lakh people (as per Census 2011)— mostly stayed home, enduring inconvenience and isolation for the health and safety of not only family members, friends and neighbours, but of people, they’ve never met.
Thousands of Nagas now routinely wear masks while going outdoors- a collective effort that was inconceivable just months ago. Today, nearly all Nagas unequivocally agree that wearing a mask is a matter of public health and safety. The science, while still evolving, backs the argument.
We keep physical distance from one another wherever possible. In the absence of any concerts, sporting events or other organized cultural events, we’ve come up with creative ways to entertain ourselves and one another. The creative flourishing of people remodeled to carry on online from the intimacy of their own homes is something to behold.
This is the love of society at its best, generous and communal. And it’s all the more important to keep that spirit alive as we enter summer and are tempted to forget all that we have learnt in this dark and deadly spring. That’s where a little encouragement would come in handy. It could sound something like this:
You’re doing great, my fellow Nagas. What you have been asked to do is not easy, but you’re doing it. And you’ve already made a big difference. People are safe today who might otherwise not be, thanks to the sacrifices you have made and are continuing to make.
The writer is a sub-editor at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to vzhimolimi@gmail.com
