Inotoli Zhimomi
‘Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself’- Khalil Gibran
Respect elders. Respect leaders. Respect teachers. Respect older siblings. Respect parents. Respect relatives. Respect intellects. As Nagas, we grew up in our revered culture of respecting elders and leaders. We did it well. In fact, we did it so well that we may need to pause and rethink how sweeping handouts of “respect” has led to those who are respected without having to earn it taking us for a ride.
We think of politicians who have creamed off benefits meant for building infrastructure for the common good. The deplorable state of our roads, public schools, public hospitals; the absence of effective healthcare system and the widening gap between the rich and the poor are testimony. We think of bureaucrats whose towering mansions and accumulation of wealth scream out about how much has been stolen from the public. We think of male traditional custodians who hold on to their exclusive power. They make barricades around their power in the name of custom and tradition, yet they dare not pay heed any messages from traditional wisdom that contradicts their views. We think of the religious leaders whose alliance with the powerful and privileged corrupts their calling from crying out against injustice and from ministering those in power with moral and ethical counseling. We think of intellectuals who have become selective in their choice of when and what to speak so as not to disrupt allegiances. And we think of egoistic elders who are grateful for the cultural provision of respect because it is a great ground of feasting.
Like in other communities, our folklore and poetry are full of adoration and admiration of those who have sought to work hard for the common good at the expense of personal interest. In life and after death, they are remembered and respected. They earned it. Respect is found in its Latin origin, respicere, which means to ‘look back at’ or to ‘regard something’. Its meaning in English is ‘a feeling of deep admiration for someone owing to their abilities, qualities or achievements’. In this sense, no doubt, there are people in our society who have earned respect and are worthy of our respect and regard.
However, the cultural wisdom of ‘respect your elders and leaders…’ has created a sense of entitlement that breeds corruption. It has given those respected, the protection when their actions involve criminal behavior. We have many stories and incidents where ‘respected’ persons abuse girls and women but due to their “respectable position” in society, the victims are silenced. This dark aspect of our community continues to be pushed under the carpet because the reinforcers of the ‘rule of law’ in our society and the decision makers also happen to be those who are ‘respected’.
This has accumulated into a trust deficit in Naga political institutions and governance. It has crippled our ability to question and to hold accountable those who are supposed to look after the common welfare.
Several images in the recent past have contributed to this viewpoint. Let us recall these images: old male politicians with young girls on their laps; thousands of people protesting against women’s political participation led by respected male leaders; rapes by the respected elders and leaders going unpunished; road with millions of potholes; expensive cars on those same roads.
We continue to respect the prime actors in these images. Our self-fulfilling tradition demands it. As the moral philosopher Albert Camus stated: ‘Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear’. Is it now time to for us to rethink how and to whom we pay our respects?
This is part of a series of ‘Guest Editorials’ run by The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to inotoliz@gmail.com
