Z.K. Pahrü Pou
Pfutsero
The present political scenario of India is at a low ebb with recurring corruption, communalism, racism, and the fast widening gap between the rich and poor. Many Indian politicians have criminal record. Many of them are agents of corporate and capitalists. Sexual harassment and common people unrest created by global economic forces are on the rise. The welfare of common people is neglected. Hence the signs of the times tell us that rightful people must join politics and bring transformation. One of the best ways to bring positive change in society is to start from within. In other words, if we want to transform a particular society, we must become a member or part of that society. Attempting to bring change by condemning the bad things of the other (person, party or society) from outside will be counterproductive.
New Delhi is boiling with many problems. Comparing to New Delhi, Nagaland is a much safer and peaceful place. However, Mr. Neiphiu Rio is planning to leave behind this peaceful place and go to a place of wolves and snakes and work among them probably with a burning heart to transform them. It is unimaginable!! Not only the place where he is going to stay unsafe but also the credibility of the particular political party he choose to align with had been questioned by many people. There is no doubt, like many political parties in India, this over-enthusiastic rightist party has had its failures in the past and its stains still remain unerased. Hence the choice of Mr. Neiphiu Rio to align with that particular national political party in the coming Lok Sabha Election and bring change is highly appreciated. With high calibre in governance and general understanding of the present situation, I believe, he will bring transformation from within the party. He can make use of his political stature and governing skill to bring positive change in mainstream politics.
He is a man with great concern for the wellbeing of the oppressed groups of people as demonstrated in his own state. He thinks and acts for all round development of the people of grass root level. His choice of joining the rightist political party that propagates and pursues dominant development paradigm thus makes us to think that he had taken a hard and difficult step to transform the party from within. With his high political stature he has the power to influence policy makers in New Delhi to frame policies with humane face that would empowers the common people as much as he did to his own people through communitarian programme. He can lend his liberal and accommodative nature to transform religious fundamentalist elements inherently existing in his to-be-party. The spirit of sharing among the Naga community that prevented death because of starvation has to be imbibed in the minds of mainland Indians where thousands of its farmers have committed suicide.
The nature friendly traditional culture of the Naga people and its benefits has to be made known with full strength. Common ownership of land and its resources must be protected from predators. The practice of growing of diversity of food crops by Naga farmers without using chemical fertilisers and pesticides and that provides basic food security to our society for centuries should be highlighted to central government. We can also expect him to block any mega-development projects to be taken up in Nagaland so that no further ecological imbalance takes place. Tourism industries and mega-dams that destroy nature and habitats of flora, fauna and human beings are not viable in our state. Small is beautiful: small scale industry, small and farmer friendly technology, small dams, small buildings, etc. are suitable for all people of all ages because human beings are small. Green Revolution or extensive mono cultivation of cash crops will lead to famine in the long run. Speed thrills but kills.
For all these years we have been looking to and depending on New Delhi for everything and neglecting many of our local resources. It is time for the Nagas to give what they have to the people of mainland India. Mr. Neiphiu Rio, we expect you to replace barbaric Indian communalism with communitarian spirit of the Nagas; religious fanaticism with accommodative indigenous religion; hoarding spirit of the Indian capitalists with the spirit of sharing of material wealth by rich Nagas; centralised form of governance with decentralised form practiced by Nagas; money oriented want based economy with life-supporting and life producing need based economy. It is my dream and probably of every Naga that Neiphiu Rio live and act upto (or even above) the expectation of the Nagas as he enters the field of national politics.
