A coin always has two sides. In the earlier opening chapter of the same captioned header, the dialogue was on "selling our votes" during the election as the 'epic centre' of downfall of our Naga society. This downward trend being experienced on the other side of the coin has a lot to do with the spiralling Christian moral values in us all. The first generation Nagas could hardly boast of having sufficient academically qualified intellectuals. They were however, a worthy generation intimately moulded by Mother Nature with a steady growth of maturity and integrity solidly founded on ancestral code of honour and honesty. As compared, the present generation of Nagas are growing too old, too fast before balanced maturity takes hold, despite an overflow of classroom bred intellectuals. The dwindling human qualities of honour, honesty and integrity within the Naga community can hardly escape our attention.
This write-up is therefore an exercise to help ourselves to try and understand the drastic paradigm shift that has had a crippling impact on the political health of the Nagas.
Our post headhunting political leaders were first generation Christians too. The euphoria of being fresh Christian recruits reasonably groomed respectable Christian value system in their overall outlook. Similarly the first generation Christian voters elected their leaders primarily for their upright, trustworthy qualities...'free of cost'. Since the voters retained their rights, they expected much from our leaders. Our leaders too did deliver much in return by honestly laying the foundry of an all-round development we now enjoy. Consider this fact: The Nagaland State budget indicated under Foreign Affairs Ministry during 1963-64 (then still referred to as Naga Hills-Tuengsang Area) was only Rs.4.04 crores. It was within such a meagre budget that critical infrastructures like Inter-District roads, High Schools, Hospitals etc. were constructed. Many of the works done during their times are still standing proudly and being use even after more than half a century has gone by. Take a case example of the Minister's Bungalows in the Old Minister's Hill at Kohima...these residences was constructed roughly during 1964-65-66 and is still being lived in by our present Ministers. It is a clear testament of honesty and integrity prevalent in their days. The contractors did not have to seriously bribe the Ministers, the Secretaries, and the Engineers to get their work order or supply order. The contractors therefore used quality materials for construction that still withstand the test of time. Many Controlling Officers in the bureaucracy during those formative years were even served official explanation letters for their inability to spend their allotted departmental budget and surrendering money. One is not attempting to paint an abnormal picture that the Politicians, the bureaucrats, the Technocrats and the Contractors of that era were angels... certainly not...but the factual ground reality as described may now sound like a fairy tale of another planet, wouldn't it?
It brings out a stark contrast of their honesty and integrity being positively superior to our present day Politicians, Bureaucrats, Technocrats and Contractors. Our present day politicians belong to a "self-help group" unabashedly masquerading behind 'purchased' leadership with Bureaucrats and Technocrats comfortably working in 'I scratch your back, you scratch my back' syndrome of a well oiled machine being noticed in their style of governance or the lack of it. Our Contractors are sandwiched between them all helplessly paying heavy bribes through their every pore to bag a contract order that is non-transparently awarded to the highest bidder. In the aftermath they use sub-standard materials and produce sub-standard work that needs repairs even before completion. The negative impact is all encompassing. Is this present deplorable scenario not worth a rewind to the ways of old? Is it worth selling our souls and our human dignity to create a vicious cycle of 60 'human-looking' self-indulgent Ali Babas who can't restrain themselves from helping themselves at the cost of the common man they claim to represent? There's got to be a determined common resolve amongst the voting masses not to 'sell votes' and the contesting candidates 'not to buy votes'. Placing our votes in the open market encourages 'buyers' just as much as the existence of 'buying candidates' encourages 'sellers'. Nagas have enjoyed democracy without responsibility for much too long. We now must invoke accountability even for ourselves. No amount of rules or regulation can stem this vicious tide of 'buying' and 'selling' as long as the voters fail to realise the mass destruction consequences their uninstructed action leads to. Teaching the slow-learning masses and spreading this awareness is therefore, the all-important focus each concerned individuals and groups must now be engaged in before time runs out on us.
In Nagaland context, the potent strength of younger generation, visible everywhere across the globe, has never positively been channelized for any constructive purpose in a sustained manner thus far. The time for this 'sleeping giant' to awaken even in Nagaland is now... canvassing to establish a transparent system of governance that will fulfil their dreams of a fair 'merit-based' opportunity in every sphere. Given the motivation, I do believe our younger generation is as good as any elsewhere. It is about time therefore, for our younger generation, roaring in the social media, to step out into the real world as a united group(s) and stand physically and practically with NBCC and other NGOs and staunchly champion the cause of 'clean election' by starting an awareness campaign in their respective village first and work their way outwards to Range and constituency levels. In the final hours, the youth would ultimately have their own democratic choices amongst the contesting candidates without doubt but as long as each camp ensures that the other camp is not selling or buying votes in their respective villages, we could see a marked reduction of vote selling and buying. Change will only come if we are willing to sacrifice and work for it individually and collectively. What say youngsters? Are you ready for the challenge? Are you prepared to take a step at a time and help clean-sweep Nagaland together! Then start the campaign in your own village! The rest will eventually fall in place along the road.
We have our share of unwanted complications that we generate for ourselves. Part III on the same subject of 'Collective Responsibility' will subsequently follow concerning the unholy nexus between the Political Parties and our NPGs. Till then this is a sign out.
Khekiye K. Sema IAS (Rtd); Upper Forest Colony; Kohima
