As residents of Dimapur, all of us here are most proud of our cosmopolitan outlook. We quite agree that whatever happens in Nagaland has in most cases already happened at Dimapur. In that way, we are the trendsetters for other Naga’s.
Alighting from an auto rickshaw, after a bumpy ride there was this small issue of paying up. Whatever was demanded, I quickly halved it and paid up. When a dispute arose, I looked around and found a local lad, who promptly threatened the driver and send him on his way out. Convenient, very much indeed, till I saw a similar thing, though in reverse, happened to be in Kohima, where I had gone to pick up a long overdue payment. This time, however, I was at the receiving end, since the other party had requisitioned the services of zealous national workers. Wisdom dawned on me and I made a hasty retreat well in time to tell the tale.
It is once again time to remember the sad incident of the bomb blasts, which took place last year. And where did it happen, but Dimapur obviously. VIPs came and went by making all sorts of promises about the safety and security of the people. Nothing has changed though. When there were a couple of explosions in Kohima recently, it was a poor imitation of ours and barely caught the papers.
Who took the lead to block the trucks during the blockade? Yes, it was we indeed. Our students’ picked up some stones instead of the pen to make their statement. It is another matter that the truckers got so scared, now they have refused to ply through Dimapur, even when we have discarded our weapons.
People discuss the power their wields in Nagaland. What they may miss is the obvious, since at the drop of a hat we can muster about five to ten thousand for a rally. City Tower to Town Hall, care for a free ticket, please join us, breakfast and drinks thrown in! Dimapurians can go ANYWHERE FOR ANY CAUSE, just as we did to Kohima some days back, when those snooty locals came to see us out of curiosity.
Then there is the issue of land, so very dear to all of us. We were first again in allowing those who have never been here earlier to settle down. Of course our Naga brothers from outside, who have come in large numbers, are most welcome, but what about those aliens?
I am afraid in all this, if there were to be raids like those CBI ones, we could be the first targets. Plush houses, swank cars and latest gizmos from abroad, some of our recent dwellers have it all. Fortunately they have all the right connections, in fact like elsewhere they even call themselves freedom fighters and hence by right are destined to prosper.
What are my plans now? No sir, I am not giving up and going away. When you cannot beat them join them! That is what I am going to do. To set a trend, I am eagerly awaiting an invite to join any outfit that promises quick returns.
Jojo, Wungrum Colony, Dimapur
