Recently Nagaland has received the Times award of most improved state in India from the Union Finance Minister. Most improved state when it was in huge debt, killings rampant, unemployment problems so widespread, extortion and corruption-within and outside the government- at its height,politicians busy only for selfish ends, acquiring wealth not only for them but thoughtfully for posterity- the generations and generations to come, when many of the government officials convert public office into their individual entities, when one is compelled to seek favour and induce politicians and government officersfor placement in the Government sector in many occasions- the backdoor andthe bogusappointments, etc.To be precise what were the criteria under which it was adjudged?Was it the material developments in the state? Counter insurgency management? Drastic revolution in some sectors like Agriculture, Health, Public Works, Employment, Education, etc.?Or anything of that sort?It’s a conundrum situation with the current state of things. But perhaps the only thing we could bringforth positively is thatthe surface observation of things might be lot better than the preceding governments.That could be the definition of improvement to the outside world. However improved yet it is not up to the mark in the true sense.A colourful shell nevertheless hollow underneath???
To talk about law and governance in the state, the understanding of the principles of democracy is vital. From the historical perspective democracy and modernity go along hand in hand. And thus, to understand the language of modernity only the citizens would be able to appreciate the ideals of democracy. Nagaland as a democratic state constitutionally, nevertheless if the general people are educated or enlightened enough to understand this language in the right logic is doubtful a hypothesis. Indeed, that’s a big question we ought to work on further.For that matter, observing on the current happenings in the state it is quite obvious that democratic ideals are simply ignored. Hence the absence of this ‘constitutional knowledge culture’ is pricing heavy on the ‘law and governance’ of the state. One thing we ought to consider is that how well the notions of democracy or even modernity in its definitions, these are the traditions of some foreign land. Therefore, we have to admit thatin the process of adapting and assimilating, there could be some cultural resistance and disorder of some sort. But that doesn’t mean that the system should simply ebb and decline. We ought to uphold it against adversities because it’s become the most popular world order and perhaps no alternate political ideology so pragmatic and compatible has ever evolved.
The language of modernity is alien the most people of this part still. We try to act but without proper knowledge in many occasions. This misconception of modernity is taking a huge toll on the society, from destroying our traditional values, customary systems, our integrity and ethical values, the gap between people- trust deficit (government and governed and among citizens itself), human relationships, etc. to extensive other palpable things. The very fact that little knowledge is dangerousshould be cited here. What is palpablytrue is that the forces of westernisation and not literally modernistic mechanism that is active. This has affected so much on the perception and conception of our world view with ideas almost opposite to the notion of modernity.Noteworthy enough, ethics and morals are some of the key features of modernity. When people lack morals and ethics there they say corruption, nepotism, killings, hatred, egotism, conceit, pride and overconfidence prevail. This virus is apparently ever spreading in the state in lieu of eradicating it with time. For instance, almost every government officials try to make the most for them‘by hook or by crook’while holding government positions. Funny huh! On the other hand the politicians now compete to acquire as much landin Dimapur and its adjoining areas, newest and most expensive vehicles and stuffs are supposedly their popularidentities.And the kith and kin of some present legislators were speculated ofnumerously prevailing atthe recently concluded teacher’s recruitment exam in some parts of the state, but that is simply the tip of the iceberg. To add more, the Legislators seem to have been elected simply to be ‘Chief Guest on all occasions’; guest yet in our own home. How great!Surprisingly and supposedly many of the vehicles that ply the roads of Nagaland has either a red beacon light or a designation plate. Truly, Nagaland is not only a land of festivals but also fortunately a land of VIPs and want-to-be Celebrities. I guess it must be India’s capital of the east or perhaps an outcome of the numerous political dialogues between the centre and the Nagas. Who knows!Conspicuous enough, almost all the contractors believe in the popular mantra, ‘minimum expenditure and maximum profit’. Much of the constructions and developmental works in the whole of Nagaland would endorsethis statement. And moreover in many occasions they draw bills without work. Furthermore, when the bureaucrats andtechnocrats are sole representatives of the state in overseeing and monitoring the quality and eminenceof the developmental works under their respective jurisdiction, in many occasions these officials along with the politicians and contractors settle scores among themselves. The idioms of ‘fifty-fifty’ and many a times ‘office-kharcha’and of sorts are popularly what settles the deal. Ridiculous huh! And when the government’s money or simply our money is siphoned off from the state’s treasury by all wrong means in this democratic state by different vested-interest individuals, what is the role played by the constitutional guarantee of ‘checks and balances’ in the state or otherwise the people of the state?Democratic discourse, writes Canovan, “requires not only trust and common sympathies but the capacity to act as a collective people, to undertake commitments and to acquire obligations.” Ergo, let us not forget that our system is democratic in principleand thus without asserting on these issues, we are undermining our rights as citizens and subjecting ourselves to the dictates and autocracy of the state. We need to create the balance mechanism in the form of people’s assertion perhaps the prevalent and popular way of protest might not be so practical and advisable though, however, an assertion with the knowledgeof the modern legality. The opposition bench in the State Legislative Assembly, the NGOs, the Medias, the Church, the Community, the individual-you and me, we are necessary and dynamic components of this mechanism of Checks and Balances. Why fear? the law of the land would protect, if not, thendemocracy itself would have to collapse and the political system in the form of the state cease eventually and give way for an alternativepolitical apparatus, different from the de facto system.
Democracy can flourish only under the rule of law. According to the Supreme Court, in a democratic polity, justice both in theory and essence, being fair and unbiased is the bedrock of good governance. On the contrary there’s utter lawlessness in the state. ‘Fair’, ‘just’, ‘unbiased’, ‘merit’, ‘deserving’, etc. are some of the most rarely relevant virtues in Nagaland. Lawlessness as in public office- almost all the departments of the government, lawlessness in the society-hugepolitical or social excitement and confusion,lawlessness in the law advocates and enforcers itself, lawlessness in the individual, lawlessness almost everywhere. But why these gross disorder? The majority of the people are not yet educated enough. Many people acquire educational degrees only to secure job, to make money precisely. Thus, the materialistic orientation towards a glorious and a progressive society actually is proving wrong. On the other hand, we need an intellectual community and learned society in order to assure a progressive and glorious society in the long run. With intellectual revolution the materialistic advancement is promised. And in that enlightened society, there would prevail dignity of all people and all job, the trust-balance and not deficit, morals and ethics would govern people’s lives and do away corruption, law would no more be only a conceptual framework but in essence and a pragmatic necessary evil, above all people would be cultured.
Often people say ethics and morals are incompatible with governance, however, unless we support corruption or the current state of system, there is no big issue with the sense of right and wrong in the government. There can be definitely a better government. It is simply that we need to involve these ethical and moral values in governance so that the system would improve if not change. For it will call on the sense of responsibility and accountability to administer. That’s change.Indeed, that would be the representation of a genuinely matured society. If we believe in such a society even a decade could bring-forth this sort of a utopian society. For that matter the people of the state ought to admit ignorance and start working for such a dream to unfold.
Sadly, manyof the legislators and politicians themselves don’t know law and many of them barely literate. Likely, many bureaucrats and technocrats not forgetting other officials,are holding positions beyond their capacity- noteducational qualification butintellect, wit and ethics. The system of election and selection and the policy of retaining them in the government for a time frame are making the society a real sick society. Not hitting out only on the over-ground composites, unless there’s a permanent political settlement on the Indo-Naga issue- whatever ways or terms or conditions, democracy and the wellbeing of the people (nagas) of the state would remain threated and disturbed at all times.
Democracy has been the hallmark of modern nation state for such a long time, yet shock waves have been apparent in the major democratic nations and for that matter even in India. Democratic system is exceptional in principle and theory nevertheless the ramshackle and inertia composition of the government is almost making the system fail.Remember, ‘power and positionare not the only property of the mighty and the wealthy.’There’s space for all under democracy. To conclude let the balance mechanism prevail so that the things would be placed in order of merit and morals. On the bottom line, this satirical work has been written with utmost respect to the intellectual community and also those often disregarded yet indispensable fewwho upholds the ideals of integrity and morality in the midst of all higgledy-piggledy, in their respective occupations, be it public space or private establishments.
May our plea and efforts for an enlightened society be heard and understood one day.
Riku Khutso. (rikukhutso@gmail.com)
