Gone are the days when the people of Nagaland were always in a state of fear when the various powers that be employed the politics of fear to control them as a result of the armed conflict. Over the last few years the people in the state is witnessing a semblance of peace with negligible skirmishes with the security forces and factional fights. As a result, during the evening hours, what were once deserted streets only with some armed patrols, it is now teeming with various forms of business activities. It also seems like the after-work shopping culture is also here to stay in the state. It increases during the festive season especially from the first week of December. The success story of the Hornbill Festival and its spin-off the Kohima Night Carnival has reverberated even to the other districts. In Dimapur district, during whole month of December there is some or the other fete or fare being held in and around the twin townships of Dimapur and Chumoukedima.
These fares and fetes that the locals prefer to call ‘night carnival’ is slowly becoming a launch pad for the enterprising youths where they can promote and sell their wares and food. It is a testing ground for the entrepreneurs to test the market response during these events. Moreover, It is also the time when young students can earn some extra money during the winter break and get firsthand knowledge of trading. With the increase in such activities the culture of donation drives without any labour is seeing a decrease. On the contrary, organisations including religions organisations are also conducting such events as a means to raise funds. Although some bring in the subject ethics and morality attached to these events, almost all take part in it.
The only worry to this trend is that a point of saturation will come sooner than expected as the state continues to have very limited population. It might just be a bubble that exists for a short time for the locals as opposed to the more successful not Naga entrepreneurs. The locals are also still getting used to the inflow of people from across the neighbouring states, even though temporarily. Therefore, however big the bubble it might be, by encouraging to buy more at least ensures a sense of happiness to the many vendors during the festive season and a training ground for many. Until such a time the state can have lawmakers who understand such basics of economics, this trend looks poised to continue for a few more years.
