N. Imtitoshi Longkumer
As per the report of the United Nations, India rank first with the largest youth population in the world, in fact which is a proud time for us, a time when our economy is in a crucial stage. Young people are the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future (tomorrow-as we often refer to). In this largest youth population country we the young Nagas also represent a portion and we are a part of it, a part of that strength. We will be the pillars of our government, our churches and societies and that leadership will be determined on how young people act and live today. We cannot expect a better tomorrow if we are messing today be it in political field or any other. We will be who we are today.
Nagas as we all can see it and hear everyday are in chaos and everything seems wrong if we look around. Nothing seems to be in its proper track. To name a few which are basic to our modern life are in a way denied. For instance, are there any good roads in Nagaland where you and I can travel without hitting your head on the roof of your car? Is there any place in Nagaland where you can at least charge you cell phone up to 10% without being disturbed by electricity? Is there any government office where corruption doesn’t exist? Can we really find a true political leader who truly cares for the people? Here I do not intend to generalize the whole issue(s) rather to provoke every right thinking citizen to ponder upon those pertinent issues that threats the very existence of our society and which hampers the growth of our State. Social media is playing a vital role in educating and sensitizing about the happenings of our state which is appreciated. However, many turn to be just a mouth piece and an empty vessel in barking aimlessly without giving an iota of praxis; they become just the social media doers/speakers and so it don’t happen in the real world. And those people will never change the world which they proudly shout at in the virtual reality world.
Today, with the issues and awareness being circulated through printed media as well as social networking, many young people are raising their voice be it in political, churches, educational institutions or in any other field where transparency and sincerity is neglected even to the extent of lies turning to truth and vice-versa. Everything that happens in Nagaland looks to be unseemly and our souls cries day and night thinking as to what and where it went wrong. We proudly talk about our fore parents who were honest, truthful and having a sense of community first instead of me/I first but today everybody seems to be lost and blinded with greediness and SELF has been the dominant and foremost priority for every individual and thence corruption which we talk so much starts then and there. We blame the politicians for the bad road, electricity and lack of basic facilities for the people and the politicians blame us (the common people) for the money we took in terms of tens of thousands during election and hence the blame game goes on. We need to pause for a moment and ask ourself who is to be blamed? Them, us or we? Can we really solve our today’s problem/corruption by blaming the others? Then where to we start? Let us quit this blame game and work for a common good be it the politicians, bureaucrats, church leaders or the common people.
Young people has a greater task ahead of us in cleansing this mess that burdens our society to the core and that task is to genuinely with courage raise our voice together against any corrupt leader(s) or to any corruption which are visibly hidden in our society. Our strength in standing for truth will bear good fruits tomorrow but if we are complacent in our own comfort zone and be still since something does not affect you/us as of now then it will bounce back to you/us sooner or later with regrettable outcome. There is hope for tomorrow in the young people- a hope with no back door appointments, a hope of not taking money during election, a hope where politicians and bureaucrats are transparent in their work with commitment working for the people and not for his/her kins alone, a hope where we can travel in good road, a hope with good basic facilities for the people, a hope where you and I don’t have to buy a job but compete, a hope where tribal-ism does not poke in every issues, a hope where there is no extra taxation being levied even before a business is established and a hope where young people toil with sweats for their lives. Let us fight for a better Nagaland, a place where you and I will proudly say that I am a Naga. Let us end this blame game and corruption and root it out from our society once and for all for a brighter and better Nagaland. God bless my Nagaland. Kuknalim.
