When it comes to the idea of promotion, majority of Nagas would associate it with departmental promotion. Yes, in the mindset and vocabulary of most Nagas, promotion would mean usually the up-gradation that a government servant gets in his career which would result in an enhanced salary, a different designation and more authority within his department. This means that, in the Naga terminology, non-government employees have nothing to do with promotion. But is it really so? And would it be just to assume that only people working within the government sector experience promotion?
But the above mentioned concept is a very narrow notion of promotion. Today I want to present a wider idea of promotion which covers the entire and every aspect of our lives. It is said that real promotion does not come from the east or the west but only from God. If this is true, then one certainly does not need to be a government servant to be promoted. But most Nagas have a tendency to associate promotion with only departmental or governmental promotion and this is why we fail to realize that we have been promoted even when God has promoted us umpteen times in various ways.
Today I also serve as a government servant in a certain department here in Nagaland drawing my not-so-handsome salary every month. And for over 10 years now, I have been officially in the same position with the same designation. But I have never felt that I am stuck up or that I am lacking behind others in any manner. I never bother or talk about departmental promotion because I have been blessed and promoted umpteen times in many areas by God. And I am okay working for years with the same designation or authority because I feel that life itself is much greater than anything my department can offer me and so, when I am getting enough to meet my expenses and rear my children in a healthy and proper way, I don’t care whether my department promotes me or not. I feel so because I am not someone who confines the idea and practice of promotion to just promotion in a certain government department.
And the promotions which one gets outside his department may actually be much more vital and magnificent that the ones within the department. For instance, when I found myself a good wife and got married, I was promoted beyond measure. When a daughter was born to me, I was promoted beyond measure. Likewise when I became the father of a son, I was again promoted beyond measure. When I was able to buy a brand new car with my own saving, I was promoted beyond measure. And when through immense hardship and labor, I was able to build a house for my family, I was promoted beyond measure. I value all these and I really treasure all these events and achievements of my life. Therefore I never feel that promotion is alien to me or that promotion has not happened to me despite the fact that I have been working with the same designation and banner in a so-called government department for over a decade now.
There is a song called “count your blessings” and I really feel that we all need to become experts in counting our blessings if we really want to live a meaningful and purposeful life. Many a times we displease our creator and bring unnecessary trouble on ourselves simply because we miserably fail to count our blessings. And it is certainly rubbish to think that only people working in the government sector are blessed.
Probably Nagas associate the idea and practice of promotion with only departmental promotion because government jobs have become the most important thing for us. We cannot think beyond government jobs when it comes to career. And there is also a widespread impression that your life is secured and safe only when you have a government job. And this is why thousands of Naga youths sit for competitive exams every year. And I am not against this phenomenon. But I am certainly against the phenomenon of glorifying government jobs to such an extent that we fail to realize the opportunities around us and also the real blessings and promotions of life.
Most Nagas also have this idea that once one gets a government job, even if he spends his entire month at home doing nothing but sleeping, his salary will still be deposited into his account at the end of the month and so there is nothing to worry. But is not this a very questionable attitude? If we spend our whole month at home and then gloat about receiving salary at the end of the month, one thing is certain – all will not be well with us and our families.
Some people are so consumed and emancipated at being government servants that they cannot think beyond their monthly salary, arrears, TAs, increments and promotions. And everywhere they go they think and speak only about these. But in doing so, they only reveal their narrow-mindedness and insensitivity to the feelings and sentiments of others.
They may be in the government sector drawing their handsome monthly salary whether they work or not. But it would be worth remembering that all are not as fortunate as they are. There are still people amongst us who do not know from where their next meal will come. There are still people for whom it is still a struggle to pay their children’s school fees. There are still people who will have money to buy medicines for their old parents only after working the whole day exposing their backs to sunshine or rain.
But some so-called government servants have no hesitation talking at the top of their voices and complaining about not getting the promotion they were expecting or bragging about the promotion they got or are about to get. But kindly remember that your promotion has no meaning to the down-trodden people. So at least have the courtesy to set aside these topics when you are near people who are not as fortunate as you are. And rather than bragging and talking about things that are meaningless to someone, it would do more good to at least look into their eyes and lend a hearing ear to their stories, woes and cries also.
It is said that no matter whatever happens, a person should never forget his roots. But today many government servants are pre-occupied only with their salary, their arrears, their GPFs, their promotions etc. But it would be worthwhile to recollect the extraordinary circumstances under which Nagaland became the 16th state of India. Let us recollect the tears, the bloods and the sacrifices that had a direct hand in the creation of the so-called Nagaland state. When you recollect these, you will certainly realize the need to look beyond your office desk where you usually sit thinking about only what you should get rather than what you should give.
It is also said that you are not rich unless you have something which money cannot buy. And the truth is that you might have already experienced or are experiencing many promotions which money cannot buy. But many a times we fail to see these blessings and promotions because we have the tendency to measure everything in terms of money and give a price tag to everything. So the truth is that many are already promoted or are often promoted but they fail to realize these and continue to live envying others. For instance, one may have a big bank balance, a big house and luxury cars. But what a poor man he would be if he has nobody to share these things with or no children to pass these things to. Or one may be going around with a big designation doing seemingly great things and exerting influence and power wherever he goes. But what a misery it would be if he has nobody waiting for him at home with warm tea or dinner. Yes, the tragedy and irony is that many fail to realize that the things which money cannot buy are actually much more valuable and lovelier than the things which have a price tag.
So, whether one is a government servant or not, promotion may come in multiple and diverse forms. The sooner we realize this and make the effort to view promotion in its right and proper perspective will go a long way in ensuring a better and a more accommodative life for ourselves. After all, life is certainly not only about how often or how high one is promoted in his career but more about giving back to the society and being sensitive and reaching out to even those who are not as fortunate as us.
