Anomalies in our way of Life

The powers that be should have the political will and determination to immediately check corruption---at the very least to minimize it forthwith

Jack T Chakhesang

Life has its ups and downs, good and bad times, joys and sorrows, defeat and victory and it up to us individually or collectively, as how to deal with it and emerge the victor.

A tete-a-tete
A year and a half ago prior to lockdown in March 2020, in a public place teeming with customers savouring their tipples and engrossed in their private conversations, someone approached me and said: “Hey journalist, I have some news for you!”

“Hmmm?”

“I am a liar! In fact, a very good one!”

After mulling over such a statement declared publicly---which is rare indeed---I asked: “Are you really telling the truth?”

“Do you doubt me?” he counter posed, adding “Of course, I am telling the truth.”

“Well,” I said, “Not a few people are aware of the many times you have targeted certain well to do persons as also influential ones for help in your various schemes and projects. You persuade them as to how good, kind and generous they are and more often than not, they have responded by being financially helpful to you. Not to speak of making some people envious of your being adept in exaggerating the adjectives.”

He had also asserted: “In order to be a good citizen, one has to be a very good liar. In fact, to tell a lie is quite easy!”

Now for instance, one does hear declarations most of them alluding to achievements as also being on good terms with the high and mighty and the like. They vaunt, boast, brag which may not be very far from even bluffing. Indeed, liars are of many kinds. They also include not a few pseudo moralists who tend to display a holier than thou attitude. However, they do seem to succeed in their endeavours sometimes, being eventually exposed notwithstanding.

As such, this man who unabashedly declared publicly, and forthrightly that he is a liar, is in a sense, an “honest liar.” This description definitely sounds contradictory. For, can a man be so brash as to publicly declare himself a liar? Seems like a kind of moral courage to self-deprecate him. 

Therein lies the paradox. This then eventually gives rise to parody, verisimilitude, metaphor, mix metaphor and jactitation.

Dimensions of lie
The word “lie” is derived from the Middle English spoken and written between about 1125 and 1475 and shaped the basis of modern English. It has a score of meanings particularly as to the status of any position including the noun, verb and adjective aspects. It also forms parts of relevant phrases. What we are concerned herewith is lie as an action.

Lie is also a Scandinavian surname. In fact, Norwegian Trg-ve Halv-dan Lie was Secretary General of the United Nations (1946-1953). Lied (pronounced leed) is German lyric or song.

Lie generally means to make a statement that one knows is false especially with intent to deceive; it also gives a false impression through statement or action especially with intent to deceive: to make such statements habitually. To counter this is to “give the lie to” which is to charge with telling a lie and/or to prove to be false; also to “belie.”

“To lie in one’s throat” is to tell an outrageous lie; and “to lie out of it” is to get out of trouble (etc) by lying. To “take lying down” is (colloquially) to submit without protest or opposition. The “lie of the land” means situation geographically, economically, socially or politically. In archaic terms, to “lie with” means to have sexual intercourse; and so on.

Then there is what is known as “white lie.” It is a lie regarded as excusable because it concerns a trivial matter and is told out of politeness to avoid embarrassment etc and without any harmful effect---but is based on a truth. The verb “lie” further has some cousins like prevaricate, fabricate, fib, bluff, framing, misinform, mislead and so on.

A reliable way to make people believe in falsehood is frequent repetition in any manner because familiarity is not exactly distinguished from truth. And that is veracity---the truth.

Paradox, Parody & Verisimilitude
Paradox is a statement contrary to common belief; a statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd but that may be actually true in fact. It is also a statement that is self-contradictory in fact and hence, false. This implies something inconsistent with common experience or having contradictory qualities. And it also applies to a person who is inconsistent, or contradictory in character and behavior.

Thus enters parody, meaning to treat a serious subject in an attempt at humour or ridicule. And verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real; something that has the appearance of being true or real. There are many instances of politicians the world over indulging in verisimilitude.

Metaphor means to carry over. It is a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another, different thing by being spoken of as if that were that other; implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another (e.g. screaming headlines, “all the world’s a stage”); distinguished from simile.

Simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another, dissimilar thing by the use of “like”, “as” etc. (e.g., a heart as big as a whale, her tears flowed like wine); distinguished from metaphor, in that the comparison is explicit.

Jactitation is to utter, to throw, to flourish implying bragging (an instance may be that of former U.S. President Donald Trump who incited supporters to rush to Capitol Hill because he refused to cede to President elect Joe Biden)---a cartoon in a paper depicted a slumped Trump captioned “I honestly won, but lost falsely!” In law, a false boast or false statement that causes harm to another person; and in medicine, a restless tossing or twitching of the body, a muscle, etc.

Other Versions
Promises or assurances not fulfilled do not necessarily mean having told a lie. In the affairs of men and of society and State, many well intended development and other projects etc initiated by Government get stalled or delayed due to climatic conditions like extreme heat, drought, raging fires, heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes and other natural calamities. Also, strikes by workers or organisations for delayed payment of salaries and stipends/financial aid to students, landowners for non-payment of compensations. And so on like war, economic sanctions and COVID-19 pandemic.

Other reasons include inadequate sanctioned funds due to rising cost of materials or delayed at source. Unabated multiple taxation for the same goods by numerous elements is basically extortion. Worse, funds have been siphoned off by embezzlement. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India which was tabled in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly pointed out financial irregularities in several Government departments including payments of excess amount and for “no work done in Nagaland”. 

It also noted excess (backdoor) appointments of employees with no requisite qualifications. Consequently, many development projects have stalled partway and been an eyesore. It all points to corruption thriving unchecked and continues unabated in the State and basic amenities in disgrace. This implies that while Coronavirus as a pandemic is very recent and still ongoing, corruption in our Nagaland for Christ has been endemic for decades.

The Remedy
The powers that be should have the political will and determination to immediately check corruption---at the very least to minimize it forthwith. Lawmakers and/or officials in various Government departments, who are involved in corrupt practices, must be dealt with according to provisions of law. Contractors and public leaders must also be taken to task if they have paralyzed infrastructure which is vital for growth of economy.

The general public should also remain vigilant regarding public funds and works execution. It is encouraging to note that people in general are much more aware these days and have been voicing their concerns and grievances. However, in many cases their grievances have yet to be ameliorated by the respective authorities concerned.

So, the one remedy is for the public outcry to be even louder and amplify such that something will have to be done accordingly and forthwith too.

Another Anomaly
Since the imposition of Liquor Prohibition Act in November 1989, more of it is being sold openly and consumed albeit at higher rates. According to the law of economics whenever there is demand for anything, there will somehow always be supply. The more the demand the more is the supply. If demand is more and supplies less, the cost rises and leads to hoarding thus escalating prices. Due to prohibition the more spurious and costlier is the liquor and thus far more harmful. 

The involvement of vested interests local and/or other factors cannot be ruled out as practically all liquor sellers and customers know it but still pay the higher rates. In the process the State’s Excise dept. has lost potentially huge revenues since the last 31 years while nearby Khatkhati just across the border in Assam has been mushrooming in wealth being the favoured route for transiting liquor from other States. 

Thus the front page anchor headline in a local daily datelined Kohima, “‘Dry Nagaland’ destroys liquor worth INR one crore” is no surprise. This gives rise to the mix metaphor that “since prohibition in ‘dry Nagaland’ more liquor has flown down the Dhansiri River through consumption by non-teetotalers as also destruction of IMFL seized by Assam Rifles, Police, Excise and some civil society organsations (CSOs).

Role of Church
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) supported by Naga Mothers Association and others had been instrumental in the legislation of Prohibition Act, the intention being well meant. Be that as it may, prohibition anywhere in the world has never been a total success. To cite one example among many, Prohibition in the USA during late 1920s and early 1930s proved a failure but it coincided with the rise of the Mafia and international bootlegging alongside the then financial Depression when stock exchange in New York’s Wall Street crashed in 1929 resulting in suicides, unemployment, poverty and which adversely affected economies around the world.

The Church in our land is predominantly a powerful platform to mould the ways and attitude of its adherents. It is headed by qualified persons who are humane with deep understanding of how to feed the diverse flocks and sustain them. We have so many denominations with emphasis on certain aspects but nevertheless based on their own interpretations from the very same Holy Bible. Till 1990, I understood that there were 102 recognized denominations.  A few years ago, someone wrote in the local media that the number worldwide had increased to several thousand!

Herein a tussle between temporal power (vis-à-vis general administration plus finances) and spiritual commitment may arise and must be contained. In brief, the Church in general needs also to clear up the cobwebs, if any, in the nooks and crannies of the magnificent buildings.

A Suggestion    
For those imbibing liquor moderately can be beneficial to health also. Alcohol is not, in itself, an evil. The sensory numbness it produces can even, in its proper place, be a good thing: for example, when used medically in an operation.  Drunkenness itself, however, is evil, since it dulls a person’s awareness, and decreases his ability to function with mental clarity. The tragedy is that many become alcoholics and cross the limit even to the point of no return. Someone could initiate an Alcoholics Anonymous.

However, drugs and other psychotropic substances must be dealt with severely and yet treat such addicts with humanitarian resolve, care and inspire them towards a better chapter in their lives. Kudos to KRIPA in this regard.

An effective way to discourage consumption of liquor and tobacco products is by concerted efforts not only by Govt. authorities but also imperative by CSOs as well as individuals to get together and sort out this anomaly.  So far, some localities have put up signs prohibiting shops from selling tobacco products within two yards/metres of schools. 

Houses in a colony in Kohima selling assorted liquor had typed notification pasted on the wall which directed that there would be no more business after 7.30 PM failing which necessary action would taken. It was signed by the Colony Chairman and General Secretary. In another colony it was verbally informed that liquor houses are directed not to do business on Sundays. 

Also, some houses in Old and New Ministers Hill, Kohima near official residences of Ministers and Advisors sell IMFL Is this not an anomaly, an everyday contradiction in our way of life?
In fact, wines are part of most cultures. Christ performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana, Galilee turning water into wine.  (John 2: 1- 11)

Need to be practical
The NBCC has called for strict implementation of the NLTP Act but this just one side of the coin. There is much support for Prohibition as there are against it since many other factors are involved. In this connection, without our tendency to be rigid, perhaps a Solomon-like consensus may be reached whereby NLTP Act may be repealed but with Dos and Don’ts and offenders strictly penalized with necessary action as per law. 

Also, those selling locally made wines like zutho or ruhi (both colloquially referred to as rice beer), rakshi and fruit-based bottled wines may be registered with the Municipal Councils, Town Councils/Committees or Panchayats on payment of license fees like other businesses as also the approved retail shops dealing with IMFL. 

Thus with value added tax (VAT) imposed on licensed vendors, the State Government can earn much more revenue through its Excise dept. This would be more welcome than the hike of cess on petrol and diesel causing collateral fallouts. Also, this income would help the Government in its funds crunch scenario. The State Government too must have the will and determination to excise this anomaly of Prohibition.    

The time is right now for us to call a spade a spade instead of having prevaricated all these years. Not to speak of the much talked about solution to our decades-long struggle and political aspirations.