What is a ‘Good Life’ or what would be a ‘Good Life’ in the context of the present day Nagaland? Undoubtedly, as I see it, the idea of a good life in present day Nagaland is obviously associated with being a part of the Ngaland state government. A person who is comfortably seated in the hierarchy of the state government set-up is supposed to be living the good life. This is the reason why government jobs are the most sought-after and the most coveted ones. A person who is in the pay-role of the state government is thought to be a person who is lucky, fortunate and financially secure. This is the general perception even for someone who may be just a mere clerk in some department or even just a Grade IV employee like a peon, sweeper etc.
Thus, when it comes to the gazzetted post category of the state government, the general conception of the people assumes altogether a perception of gigantic proportion and rightly so because a gazzetted officer under the state government naturally gets status, numerous benefits (financial and non-financial) as well as financial security and a fat pension upon retirement. Thus a person who gets a gazzeted post is automatically relieved of many tensions which a common man would normally worry about. Thus it is no wonder that most people would do anything it takes to be counted as a gazzetted officer serving in the state or central government. This is the reason why every year thousands upon thousands Naga youths seat for the annual NPSC examination to get appointed as Class I gazzetted officers like EACs, DSPs etc. And in this the youths have the full unconditional support of their parents. Even if a person had started his government career as a mere clerk, if he happened to get promoted and retire as a gazzetted officer, then he becomes the envy of his peers. Such is the perception associated with government jobs (especially gazzetted ones) in our society today.
And of course, there is nothing wrong in wanting to be an IAS, an NCS or any other officer in the state or central government. But it is when we begin to think that a good life is possible only when a person is employed in the government set-up that we are really narrowing the potentials and dynamics of life to its most extreme limitations. If we look at history we find that most of the legends of history and history-makers were never a part or parcel of any government machinery. In fact most of these history makers were the ones who stood not only outside the government but also against the governments of their days.
All around me I see Naga youngsters and parents living frustrated and desperate lives because they feel that they are not living the good life. But I do believe that the good life is possible even without or outside the government set-up. But to live the real good life, like in most matters, we again have to return to the basics of what is called life. The greatest miracle happened when we were woven in our mother’s wombs and born into the world. Everything that we see, experience or encounter in our lives does not come anywhere near this fabulous beginning. What is more, if one can believe that man was created in the image of God with the ability and potential to think and live like the creator Himself and also see and believe His righteousness and His marvelous plans for one’s life, nothing can stop you from living the good life.
Everyday is a gift from God and everyday is unique, special and irreplaceable. Whether a person is an IAS officer, an NCS officer, a doctor, an engineer, a businessman, a student, a daily wage earner or even a physically handicapped person, whenever a new day dawns they are all equal recipients of the goodness and mercy of the creator. Everyday we get opportunity to please God with our thoughts, words and actions and also to make a difference in the lives of the people with whom we live and encounter. I believe this is what living the good life should be all about. Of course, a person can never do everything……..but the good news is that there is always something which one can do.
Ministers and bureaucrats move around in sophisticated cars and they append their signatures to mighty papers that turn mega-projects into realities. And yes, in the eyes of man, these are high profile jobs and everybody wants to be someone like that who turns dreams into realities. But, in the eyes of God, even a daily wage earner or a mere laborer who toils the whole day under the hot sun to feed his family is doing a great job. There is a saying “Work is Worship” and I believe no work is small or big in the eyes of God. As long as a person is willing to stretch out his two hands and work to feed himself and his family and to make his dreams come true, I believe the good life is possible. Today most of our eyes are fixed only on the government jobs because we think that the good life is only in government jobs. But let us not forget that long before the Nagaland state government was even established, our forefathers had learnt to live the good life even though they had to walk miles everyday, even though they had to toil under the hot sun the whole day, even though they had to get up before dawn every morning and even though they were not paid in any currency. Our forefathers were able to do this because they knew the value of the ‘dignity of labour’ and they also believed that it is a shame to eat without working.
Yes, these were the stories of our forefathers in the times when the gospel of Jesus Christ had not even reached the lands of the Nagas. But what has become of us in the present day Christian society of Nagaland? Have we not become somewhat so lazy and lethargic that we are thinking only about getting without giving? Have we not become so shameless that we are thinking of eating even without working?
If even our forefathers who had never even heard of Jesus Christ knew what honour is all about, if they knew what dignity of labour is all about, if they knew it is a shame to eat without working, then what about the present day Nagas who claim to be believers and followers of Christ? Have not our lives turned topsy-turvy?
For me, I see Jesus not only as God or Savior but also as a great teacher and philosopher who turned the whole world upside down with his simple but powerfully relevant teachings. Indeed the teachings, sayings and utterances of Jesus can really help us in living the Good Life that we all desire. Christ said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”. I believe this is the first necessary code for living the Good Life. In the life of a man, he encounters many needs, desires, matters, issues and concerns, so unless he learns how to prioritize the issues in his life by placing God first in his life, he is certain to miss out on the good life.
Jesus Christ also said, “I came not to be served but to serve”. This is also a very relevant code for all those who desire to live the good life. Man is by nature selfish and self-centered. But God designed us for fellowship not only between Himself and us but also between man and man. I guess this is the reason why man is called a social animal because a man’s life can find fulfillment and meaning only in a society. And to make a meaningful societal living, man has to think about not only serving himself but also serving his fellow-beings. I guess this is also why it is said ‘service to man is service to God’ and there are countless ways through which we can serve God by serving our fellow-beings. Another very fundamental code for making the good life possible is again attributed to Jesus. Christ also said, “The son of man did not come into the world to condemn the world… but He came so that the world may be saved through Him”. For me, this utterance of Jesus always rings a loud bell in my ears because we human-beings have the tendency to complain about almost everything that we see or encounter. It takes time for us to realize the good sides because we straightaway see the negativity rather than the positive in things. But instead of complaining and condemning, if we learn to bloom wherever we are planted, I believe that living the good life is possible. Here let me also refer to a saying of the great Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhi went to South Africa to practice law, South Africa was a country infested with the menace of Apartheid where everything was determined by the colour of the skin. If a person was born with white skin, he was treated like royalty. But if he was born black, he was treated worst than animals. This was the reason why Gandhi himself was thrown off a first-class compartment of a train while traveling in South Africa even though he had the valid first class ticket. But later on, speaking about South Africa, Gandhi said “it was in that God forsaken country that I found my God”. So the Good Life is very much possible if we have faith in God, if we have the right attitude and if we have the fighting spirit in us….after all if we truly believe in the words of the Good Shepherd, how can the Good Life be far from us……
