Dr. Sunepsungla
Bhandari
First of all, I would like to appreciate the 'Vision' of a Clean Election in Nagaland, and laud the NBCC and all the sub units, different churches across different denominations, for the bold effort of sowing the seeds for a brighter tomorrow.
Looking back to our Naga history, we were, once upon a time, known for our honesty, valour and simplicity in both actions and thought. This is the reason why we were respected by all, and remained unconquered as a whole even by the mighty Mughal Empire and the mighty British. However, the introduction of modern education has swept us off our feet and hit us like a Tsunamithat we have lost sight of the markers that enables us to identify our environment, and stay rooted to our identity.
Our simultaneous inheritance of the Christian faith has only augmented our confusion, not because of an inherent fault in Christianity or in modern education per se, but in the way these alien ideas were forced upon us, that within a fortnight we were transformed from head hunters to English speaking gentlemen and ladies. We communicate in foreign tongues, dress like foreigners and pray like them but at best we look like them but are never them. We have failed to imbibe the true values of being an English Gentleman, and neither did we accept the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, that the loud prayers we pronounce are often nothing more than just pompous pretentions.
Given our cultural back-drop, the idea of a 'Clean Election' in Nagaland, refuses to pass down the throat and is stuck like a lump, and cannot be digested. The idea of 'Clean' and 'Election'atleast in our land is contradictory to each other, and when used together as a phrase does sound catchy but at most serves as a good example of an Oxymoron.
The Church in Nagaland led by NBCC though has embarked upon achieving the ominous vision of a Clean Election, needs to pull up their socks and re-evaluate the strategy adopted: to introspect and understand the target audience first, and adopt measures to ensure delivery. However in our case, as of today, the Church does not even have the audience itself to target upon. Let us not forget that the churches can, atmost exercise moral caution, that too, to only those who believe in the tenets of the church. The Moral canons cannot bind the pretenders or the obvious non-believers. Clean Elections, if it has to see the dawn of the day, therefore, calls for an overhaul of the christian Mission itself. The numbers abound in the church but are there even a handful faithful souls?
The slogan for a Clean Election, though called with the most of noble intentions, has boomeranged and only highlighted a glimpse of our steely resolve to cling on to the carnal attractions of money and power. Though this election passed off comparatively peacefully in terms of physical violence, the quantum of psychological, emotional and mental terror imposed upon the helpless is unprecedented. It is a fact, that, there were not much of fist fights in the polling booths this time, but that does not mean it was a fair and clean election. The reason being, the helpless were not even allowed near the vicinity of the polling booth: So much for Democracy.
It is common knowledge that both the candidate and the electorate are to be blamed equally for the failure of Democracy and therefore needs no elaboration. This small write-up though focuses especially on the role of the church, the responsibility of the individual voters, the Village/ Khel authority, different unions/ associations, the intending candidates and the political parties, are by no means undermined or their mis-deeds absolved.
We expect the Church to chalk out a long term plan of achieving that cherished dream of a Clean and fair elections. The 13th Nagaland State Legislative Assembly Elections 2018, was just a testing ground, and though we are fatigued and hurt, the wounds are not fatal. The collateral damage of the next fiveyears, is, but just a small price to pay. After all, we have emerged wiser and found the chinks in the enemy's chain. Now we know where to strike.
