Good roads are absolutely vital for a flourishing economy. Good roads save time and money. Good roads reflect the level of development achieved. Good roads can save precious lives. Good roads ensure better and faster delivery of public services. Good roads play a most important role in times of disasters. Good roads form a part of our basic rights and necessities.
In a landlocked state like Nagaland, roads are about the only means of travelling and transport. However, the condition of the roads are no less than pathetic. Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, is not worth its glowing tag because the roads in Dimapur are a nightmare. The condition of the roads in Dimapur are well below standard. This is just one example. Every district in Nagaland will have more or less the same story, I’m sure.
Once my friend who was visiting Nagaland in the winter of 2015 asked me: “Are the roads in Nagaland always like this?”. I was taken aback. This was the last question I had expected. I dryly replied that we are used to it (of course we are, aren’t we?). People from outside Nagaland must be shocked at the bad condition of roads. I do sincerely apologize to the tourists and all alike on behalf of the Nagas. I do wonder how the Ministers and government officials feel about the condition of roads. I mean, don’t they travel everyday on these same roads too? Or are they immune to such feelings and considerations?
The university in which I studied, whenever roads were built, they were done in such a way that come rain or sunshine, they’d always remain intact, solid and smooth. A senior of mine of Tripura once ridiculed Nagaland for having no roads at all. All of us from different states were there that day. With a sigh of defeat, I told him that he was not wrong.
The bottom line to the present-day government is that if you cannot assure the public of Nagaland of basic development like good roads, do us a favor by doing away with the Ministry of Roads& Bridges. Stop fooling the people. This is turning out to be a bad joke! Yes, we are all aware of the fact that you inherited this problem, along with many others. However, if you can’t do anything about it, please do as I have requested. Many Nagas would agree to my proposal. Also, I humbly request the ever merciful government to organize off-road motor rallies and races on the roads of Nagaland. This would serve a better purpose and aim. Dimapur would be a good start. The response of the public would be tremendous.
To the people of Nagaland, I want to share a few words of Bertolt Brecht and strongly urge every one of you out there to carefully reflect on those words:
“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines, all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations.”
Long Live Nagaland! I Longkumer
