Dr Asangba Tzudir
The beauty of humanity seems to be fading away, and this seems to be true especially in the face of losing human values. Among the various forms of human values, truth value, of belongingness and responsibility for the common good and for a meaningful life and living finds lost.
In context, the transition from tradition to the so called ‘modern’ has not been smooth, and central elements where values were embedded within the traditional life were missed in the transition. Along with the transition, there was also a shift from ‘communitarian good’ to ‘individualism’ which adversely affected the sense of belonging, responsibility and the larger ‘communitarian good.’ This led to the creation of a righteously self-centered selfish society where selfishness has gone to the extent of ‘killing a father to become a king.’ All along, the various facets of identity finds embroiled within a crisis.
Trapped within a crucial juncture between existing and living, the need for a sense of belonging is acknowledged as a human need that shapes lives towards a meaningful living. It is in having such a sense of belonging that makes one sees value in life. This in turn creates a healthy relationship with the socio-political, culture, religion, ethics and moral contours.
These are aspects that’s informs and engages a person living in a society within the realm of imagination in creating a meaningful life. However, the challenge is the context of the modern times where we are caught in a post-modern moral crisis. A malfunctioning traffic signal post at a busy intersection where the Red, Green and Orange indicators are glowing together elucidates the present moral crisis.
The modern framework caught within the post-modern dilemmas and crisis arising out of the no-truth proposition has almost made humans to abolish themselves having seemingly reached a point where there is nothing to oppose. It has only triggered the fall of man.
Yes, corruption has reached astounding proportions and it seems to top the problems today. Yes, it has really retarded the growth, progress and development of Naga society. However, there are far greater challenging issues within the moral crisis and which needs to be reoriented within a truth framework where truth is nothing but greased at a threshold between what is necessarily good, right and desirable.
On the other hand is the more pressing moral crisis which have only created confused identities, and of sexuality. This is the making of the no-truth proposition wherein we have comfortably created our own truth propositions.
One is tempted to talk about a probable way out of this conundrum. But the way in which the moral crisis has been so long conditioned only makes it difficult to come out of the crisis. While humanity needs reclaiming, the more pressing concern is to deconstruct the no-truth proposition. This probably may lead towards a rediscovery of the true moral selves.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
