My curiosity took me to Secretariat junction on 3rd July, 2017 to witness the peaceful protest organized by the Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN). I was taken up to see young Nagas demandingjustice in Naga society. The sad part of the story is that they are demanding justice from their own Naga fellow beings. The young voice may not be heard in the elders meeting of the village panchayat or town committee, but they are sincere in what they stand for. In spite of the rain, the members continued to voice out strongly against corruption singing “We shall overcome…someday.”
The Nagas were so sober for long, but their soberness brought the situation of Nagaland from bad to worse. The sleeping Nagas allowed the giants to destroy their good harvest. In Nagaland, the workers and beneficiaries are totally different. They do not meet each other although they hear each other’s voice. They are created not to meet each other for fear of truth. What the PSAN members did is worthy of appreciation. It was a peaceful protest.
Many generations passed by carrying the burden of partiality and favoritism, but the present young minds could no longer stand such unstable ground. Bad practices of discrimination, favoritism, partiality, nepotism must give way to justice and equality. This will create better solid ground based on truth and dignity. Nagas must learn to stand on such ground without fear or trembling.
After all what is the difference betweenmen born rich or poor? And what difference is there between the children of ministers, MLAs and poor Naga children? One may be the best gunda/gundi, another may be too simple hearted (he is too simple to commit crime). Both carry the same numbers of bones. Only the quantity of flesh may differ. Many drops of tears that fell on the soil of Nagas (due to corrupt practices) are sprouting to its maturity.
Every pain is a gain and every gain is an achievementfor the larger society. We talk about self-employment but it is too far from the reach of many young people. Few people may succeed in it. We must not expect all the Naga youth to be self-employed without providing resources for self-esteem. This is a farce idea. We cannot force the whole generation to be self-employed while we sit inside our offices smoking cigars and playing cards.
Today, many young Naga boys and girls are termed under the category ‘unemployed youth’ because of wrong distribution of work. Those who never sweat are given the best chair to sit and rule, whereas the deserving candidates are chased beyond Chathe River (so that they may not return due to the collapse of bridge). They are made to eat the crumbs from the table of the shameless gluttons. We have come to a state where the right candidates are thrown out of the main door in order to accommodate the worst candidates who come knocking through the backdoors and windows. This is the reason why many government offices have broken doors, windows and ceilings. Constant entries through these holes are accepted without any difficulty.
The rise of PSAN is just a tiny spark of the call for justice in Naga society. Who should burn the flame of justice in Nagaland? Do we need to hire an outsider to speak about us and for us? The call for a just life is ringing in the ears of every Naga brothers and sisters. We must all respond to this call wisely and maturely.
The government must make sure that justice be followed especially in the recruitment of government officers and other staffs of the government department as per the set rules. Justice is to be given to the deserving candidates not because they have gold and silver to give underneath the table, but they have strived hard to make their dreams come true by the sweat of their own brow. Therefore, the voice cannot be suppressed by anyone. When Nagas ‘suppress’ another Naga, Nagaland may become “Nagapress” or “Suppressland”. When forces of suppression are not removed, Nagaland can become another “Nazi concentration camp.”
Mr. ImkongL. Imchenexpressed his dismay for portraying “politicians as chor, chor and corrupt.” He further asked the PSAN members to substantiate their statement (refer N.P dated 6, p.1,7). That sounds like a rocket because he substantiated his good life in Wokha incident. To escape reality does not mean to prove ‘the innocence of a man’. All actions need not be proven black and white because actions speak louder than pen. Erasers do not whitewash black spotted actions. Ministers and MLAs may speak of high unreachable dreams but they themselves are very sure that their own words are not true. They appear in many functions to appease the public for a moment or two.
The letter of assurance (dated 3/7/2017) from the Chief Secretary, Mr. Pankaj Kumar must find ground for proper implementation. In his letter, he assured that ‘the appointments made on contract basis after 6th June, 2016 will be reviewed by the State Government for termination and requisitioning of the posts to NPSC. The P&AR office memorandum dated 11th August, 2016 regarding regularization of the government employees appointed on adhoc and contract basis will be taken up for review by P&AR department. Deputation to posts in various departments in the State Government falling within the purview of NPSC will be reviewed for necessary corrective action’. He further requested the PSAN to provide details of specific cases of appointments/deputations to facilitate the review of such cases.
I am sure the Chief Secretary will not cheat the young Nagas. If the assurance proved to be a failure, he becomes another agent of corruption, injustice and lies. Honorable citizens must not bring dishonor to their state of life. They must enhance growth and prosperity.
It is sad that we treat the youth of the Nagas as ‘black dog’ of the society. Unless they come and lick our feet or kill one unblemished local murgi inhonour of some officers no jobis assured. The government supplies only dry bones to the dog whereas the flesh is thoroughly eaten; even the marrows are not spared. The time has come where Nagas are no more satisfied with bones alone. They need some flesh to survive the journey of the night.
Go to any function of the Youth, the speech of the Ministers and MLAs will be the repetition as though they have inherited the saying from the old civilization. They would say, ‘the youth are the BACKBONE of the society.’But to me they are not. The youth are not the backbone of the society. They are indeed “the FOUNDATION of the society.” When a person says the former, he means to say that he can sit on the backbone (youth) anytime and anywhere as per his command. The youth are not donkeys and mules of the society. Today, the youth have the right to overthrow the rider into the dumping site either beyond Naga Hospital or in any dumping zone. The foundation of the society (youth) must not be shaken. To destroy the youth would mean a search for one’s fall. This is because the fall will only be upon the head. No helmet will save those who cause the fall.
Good soldiers defend the country from every danger and intrusion, likewise the youth must defend any intrusion in the Government offices that comes in the form ofbackdoor or side window appointment. There are also ceiling appointment (illegal appointment by higher authority)
There are students who forego everything to achieve their aims and aspiration, but they are cut short by the corrupt practices and malfunctioning of the system. To uproot the tree of corruption, the PSAN has begun the work of sharpening the axe. Therefore, every youth must sharpen his mind and heart to cut the tree and uproot it forever. May no weeds continue to grow in Nagaland. The tree can be big and tall but with necessary tools, it can be brought down to the ground. The youth must not be like blunt knives which only occupy space and spread its rust to others. They must be ready for good work and the best harvest will be in their barns.
There are many young Nagas studying outside the State. After the completion of the studies, they only come back to chew paan and bubble gums to make themselves busy (self-employment). This is the reason we find many wanderers in Naga society. Who is the cause of this unemployed life style?
The PSAN is just and right in many ways because they have withstood against all odds to make their voice ring out clearly and distinctly. I believe the reasonable Nagas gave a hearing to the skylark voice. As you breathe and move in and around Nagaland, do not forget to open your ears and eyes wide because even the parts of your body can be stolen without your permission and knowledge (day-light corruption).
May God bless those who stand/work for truth and justice in Nagaland.
Yours Sincerely,
Rev. Fr. G. L. Khing
Kohima
