It’s been 54 years since Nagaland attained its statehood and besides all the developmental work in the state going at a snail pace there is much more concern regarding the growing unemployment problems in the state which is swelling up year after year and which eventually have led many Nagas to venture out in the field of trade and commerce with a hope to sustain their life. No doubt many could succeed in making a fortune out of enterprising but still majority couldn’t for different reasons. Talking about our ancestors we learnt that they led a simple life, they were self sufficient and barter system was practiced with honesty and fairness. The present system of trading was an alien during those years, in other words the present Naga generation are venturing out in a field which our ancestors had never experienced, so we can say that enterprising is not in our blood and it’s a new thing for Nagas compared with our counterparts Indians brothers and sisters who are flourishing from Vishay caste, a traditionally traders and merchants (just an example of traits). To put in the nutshell we can say that our counterparts are much more experienced and successful in this field.
But today the problem is not about who is more experienced and successful but the way we Nagas enterprises. It is in such a way that all of us have experienced how Naga auto/taxi drivers charge the passengers, the naga butchers cheating their own fellow naga customers, their way of adding unwanted meat(bokjis) as bonus, the naga vegetables vendors selling even grass at exorbitant rates, the ordinary but expensive boutiques, hotels and restaurants, etc. the quality and quantity is compromised mostly, commodities and items rated as “fixed” top of that the virtue of business that treats the customers as King by the businessman is missing from Naga traders and Naga service providers. How often do you buy things from nagas by shelling out extra money which is not worthy of or buying food which is double and triple from that of the non-local stalls/hotels. But keeping aside all this ill system of trading and although hurt and irritated we still make up our mind and heart saying WE should support Naga business community and I believe it is this positive attitude of the nagas that sustains the naga business community.
But today the question is how long are we going to support them in this way. I believed this is one major factor that naga businessman cannot compete with the non-locals. Because our society is dominated by the economy class and people cannot shell out extra every time but will rather end up shopping and buying where prices are reasonable and more welcoming offered by non-locals.
Business is a competition where the best survive and flourish and in order to flourish WE nagas need to learn a lesson from the non-local business communities. I believe TAX is not the reason for the failure as same tax is imposed on the non-locals also but still they flourish. Capitals in business is very essential but capital alone cannot help because the virtue of business is equally important so also we Nagas need to learn how to save which I feel is the strength for the success of enterprising by the non-locals. It is not by copying but by following the principles of enterprising Nagas can become successful. It is not by thriving out the non-locals or not buying from the non-locals that Naga business communities will succeed but by following their steps of enterprising at reasonable rates and friendly gestures and attitudes towards the customers and clients the naga business communities will flourish. Learning from the non-locals will never make Nagas inferior; rather we Nagas will soon have a Naga Bill Gates.
Toshi Jamir
