Rev. Aheto Sema Akuvuto
Thahekhü
As I look around I see big hoarding with an adage change is coming. In addition it also appears daily in the local papers with the comparison of the present depilated conditions and expected condition after the election.
As the election is round the corner in Nagaland, every political party and every aspirant candidate cuddles with word plays and ideas to woo voters. I don’t mind seeing a politician playing with words and ideas as this is part with the election gimmick. But I don’t like them thinking that they can fool the people so easily. Why do politicians talk about change only during election? Do we have magic word for change? Do our former Chief Minister(s) and MLAs deserve to talk about change? Are they not responsible for the present mess in our state?
I want to see an honest and pragmatic perspective of change from our politicians. Change is what all the people of Nagaland want to see and experience individually and collectively. Indeed, it is a groaning desire for every person in Nagaland to see that change would take place after the election 2018. But do our intending candidates sincere enough to talk about change? Are they sincere enough to bring change in Nagaland?
As I understand change takes place when there is change of heart. As someone has rightly commented, “Unless we learn to control our thoughts, we will never learn to control our behaviors.” As a matter of fact the present conditions of our state display the condition of our thoughts. Since our thoughts are corrupt our actions are corrupt. The veracity of our corrupt thoughts dictates our corrupt actions. There is an unflinching link between our thoughts and our actions. If we really want to bring change we must change our thoughts. Norman Vincent Peale rightly observes, “Change your thoughts and you can change your world.” Therefore, it is pertinent for us to check the impact of our corrupt thoughts on our corrupt deeds. It is high time we need to correct our corrupt thoughts if we want to bring change in our state. Instead of projecting corrupt conditions in the news papers we must correct our corrupt thoughts in all sincerity individually and collectively.
Second, change takes place when we change our perspective in seeing things differently. Real change doesn’t come out of political alliance. The present projection of change is just a political gimmick to woo voters. This is not an honest and sincere projection of change. Real change comes only when there is a real change of perspective in seeing the things differently. Marcel Proust observes, “The real art of discovery is not to visit new lands, but to see existing ones with different eyes.” Change takes place only when we see the existing things from different perspectives. Change will not come from Delhi. Instead of relying on Modi government in Delhi to bring change in Nagaland, it is high time that we need to check our perspective towards our state and her resources. We must do away with “no money from Delhi” syndrome if we really want to bring change in our state. Our MLAs and Ministers must change perspective in seeing our state and her resources from different perspective. Are we talking about change because of election or are talking about change because we look the things honestly from different perspective? Have we changed our perspective as we talk about change in Nagaland?
Third, change takes place when people are invited to get involved in running and managing the state. President Barack Obama reaffirmed in his farewell address his belief that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it. It is unrealistic to think that change can be ushered only by our elected members of legislative assembly. Change comes when ordinary people are involved and engaged. If our politicians are mindfully serious in bringing out change in Nagaland, they must revisit what Abraham Lincoln said some centuries ago, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” People are the energy, ingredient and resources for the government. Without people’s genuine involvement in government, no government can usher change in right perspective. It is high time that our politicians to interact with the people at the ground zero and listen to their frustrations, disappointments, dreams and aspirations. They must be willing to realize that there are untapped resourceful minds who want to rebuild our state but unable to do so for lack of opportunities. In this Dr.Nelson Mandela has a lesson for us. He writes, “I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.” In ushering change people are the greatest resources. Therefore, it becomes pertinent for us to rethink our approach. Instead of only begging money from New Delhi, why don’t we try to engage our people from different professions and use them as great resources in bringing change in our state? We have enough experiments over the years that money from New Delhi could not bring us change. Rather it has corrupted our minds and our actions. Today we need a new perspective of change, a change which comes through people’s involvement and engagement in government. For this purpose, the common people too have to act wisely in forming the government. This is the reason why selling and buying the votes during election is immoral and unethical. The common people should uphold the norm of people’s involvement and engagement in forming the government in a positive way. Thus, this necessitates a clarion call to all the people for clean election in Nagaland.
