Imkong Walling
Keeping dwellings clean is a normal human tendency, while a tidy house is said to be a sign of a hygienic mind. If one may say so, the society is the house and the mind its residents.
With that as the analogy and the state of Nagaland in context, one may further be postured to ask, “How well have the residents been able to maintain the house?” Without a doubt, the housekeeping has been far from satisfactory, the dirt swept under and its stubborn stains visible.
The state of affairs demands immediate attention, if not a gradual and dedicated clean up ritual. The point of start can be anywhere, from the top or from the grassroots or anywhere in between. It only requires a spark, a people-oriented spark, which when sustained will eventually spread.
On that note, electioneering is one of many parts, which requires a spark for change. Elections in Nagaland have become sordid affairs and rarely a wholehearted move to clean up the mess. Greed for power and money has blurred the line between what is ethical and what is not while a perceived notion of apathy has crept into the people’s psyche.
While we have had calls for clean elections none have actually penetrated deep enough to rid the dirt that has clogged the election process.
That notwithstanding, it was heartening to see the launch of the Clean Election Campaign by the Mokokchung-based Langpangkong Students’ Conference (LKM). It may appear localized, concentrating on three assembly constituencies falling under Langpangkong range in Mokokchung district, the campaigners are nevertheless optimistic that the movement will set a precedent for others to emulate.
The campaign’s characteristics are defined by how it plans and seeks to strike at the core issues plaguing the process of elections in Nagaland – money, muscle power, deceit and biased and delusional belief. It, as far as the stated mission goes, seeks to go deeper than just skimming the surface with verbal calls for change.
The approach adopted includes a down to business method of winning the confidence of grass root leaders at the villages by way of inter-personal interactions on the merits of democratic elections, and how its stated visions have been overwhelmed by personal materialistic pursuit - noble in concept indeed and no less a daunting task.
To the eager observer however, there is more to the challenge at hand than just working to re-cultivate attitude. The primary challenge will be of sustaining the campaign for more elections to come.
“Will the campaigners prevail and be able to withstand opposition without fear and favour? Will they be able to leave aside familial bonds for the ultimate good of the masses? Will they be able to win over the village councils? Can they make democratic principles prevail over a populace rooted in dogmatic traditions?”
While the news of the launch was refreshingly agreeable, these were the questions that swept over once the initial sense of joy settled. That said, however, one may rest assure in hope that the campaign takes root for good and spread. One can’t help but recline to the belief that great things almost always start small and of course, with a good dose of apprehension and criticism.
