Dr. Tialiba
Mokokchung
2017 is coming to an end and by now most of the Unions and Hoho’s might have had their general meeting, planned out proposals for 2018 and waiting with folded hands for the countdown. If then, what’s there in 2018 calendar? Organizing raffle draws, bringing out calendars for union’s fund raiser, organizing revivals, sponsoring missionaries, celebrating jubilees, organizing festivals as usual or do we take into consideration the issues which are real and serious threats for the survival of our people as a whole like corruption, nepotism, illegal immigrants, unemployment, border issues and underdevelopment which are eating our society from inside and for which we need a remedy from within our society.
Nagaland and Nagas are made up of individuals, families, clans, villages and tribes as one. Our common threats and problems cannot be solve by one single organization like ACAUT or Survival Nagaland without the active participation of all the people from the grass root nor will it make any sense to hand over the readymade solution to Nagas unless we felt it ourselves the problems that are threatening the existence of Nagas at present. It is common sense that only when the problems that are destroying our society is felt and discussed at the kitchen and dining table of all the families, clans, villages and tribes and come together as one to shoulder the responsibilities that we Nagas have at present, we can counter the antisocial elements face on and deal with it appropriately. However determined or strong, it is not possible to single handedly fight the common enemy of Nagas nor is it possible to win over issues like corruption by single organization like ACAUT.
The year 2017 has witness how much we Nagas can do and achieve by the sacrifice of few brave people and organizations with the support of handful of Samaritans but the real battle is yet to be fought. All the stakeholders have to play their role. Victory is assured if we stand together with will and determination. Today, on average we have enough rich people. We have enough educated people. But education, wealth or money is not enough. Nor is dream, vision or wishes sufficed to win the battle of corruption. But we need to have spine, will and determination as an individual and as a society from grass root level to the top and act together. Then only we can bring about tangible transformation in our society to salvage our land from imbedding doom.
We are not corrupt by birth nor is our land barren. Our believe system (gospel) is also not at fault. But our system is corrupt and rotten from inside. Therefore, we have to fight together and destroy this corrupt system shouldering little bit of inconvenience on our part. Our past tells us that we are not coward by birth nor did we fought invaders with wealth or sophisticated weapons or by intellect. But we fought together with determination and will as a human race with common sense and bravery. If it is true that the future is determine by what we do or plan out today, 2018 will depend on what resolution our organizations have taken in their respective meetings. Therefore, why not we the Nagas, as an individual, clans, villages, tribes, both in rural and urban areas recognize, understand and accept corruption, nepotism, ism, illegal immigrants, unemployment and underdevelopment as the real issue facing us today and make plans to fight them at every level from the smallest to the largest organization in Nagaland.
In the 50s Nagas faced problems from outside and we won. Whether the crooked world acknowledge it or not, today our greatest threat is from inside. Can we come together as one nation, one people and face the menace in 2018 much more harder than in 2017 or will 2018 just going to be like other previous years – busy planning for revival, jubilees, bringing out calendars, selling lottery ticket, hosting rock shows and house to house visit in small groups for donation, raising fund for so and so social fantasies in the midst of political turmoil when our real threats are ignored as usual. What’s there in 2018 calendar Nagas? It’s high time for a reality check. Few brave Nagas roared in 2017. Why not Nagas roar together once again against corruption in 2018 and show the world that the present generations of Nagas are not coward.
