~KETHOSETO KROSER~
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]OT long ago, I journeyed towards Shillong for an exam, accompanied by five other friends. That day gave me the will to write an article on how pathetic Nagaland has turned out to be. We set started from Kohima, hired a cab and headed towards Dimapur. Years have passed and the roads yet remain the same. Bumpy with mighty potholes with rare stretches of smooth level ground.
This has endangers and exposes pregnant women to risks of miscarriage, fatal road accidents, besides exhausting the traveler with the endless bumps. As we reached Dimapur, our body ached as though we participated in an extreme dirt road rally. Soon after the rough ride, we boarded the bus for Shillong. After some moment, there was a smooth change and that change occurred as we crossed the Nagaland border. The feeling was one of floating on a smooth sea. This gradually continued throughout until we finally reached our destination. After reaching Shillong, we headed straight towards Nagaland House in Laithkumrah, Shillong. I was taken a aback when I saw Nagaland House unchanged even after the a long gap when I visited Shillong with my family as a child. There were hardly any development being undertaken which indeed was a great disappointment. The worst was yet to come when we proceeded towards the counter. There stood a father along with his daughter. He began to misbehave with the receptionist who could not furnish a room for him. The man then begun to refer to his official status,losing his self-respect as a gentleman.
Me and my crew booked the dormitory as the house had hardly few rooms to occupy. As we speak of maintenance, I believe Nagaland House holds the Gold medal award in achieving the worst dormitory rooms along with its cleanliness. Waste bins lie upside down, no renovations have been undertaken. The place reflects no semblance of civilization, no telecom services were also available. We ourselves had to make our way to the reception to request that the mess of previous visitors be cleared up.
A television set was provided but it had a bamboo stick to serve as a remote to change channels. The bathrooms were awfully perfumed while the door and windows were broken allowing the cold air to pass ensuring we had a cold night’s sleep. But somehow we survived through all the circumstances.
Shillong as a state is blessed with beauty and yet they strive towards preserving their land to great heights. Nagaland is no less blessed, with beauty but our lack of civic sense and moral values far surpasses other north-eastern states. During my stay in Shillong, someone said to me “You Nagas have a rich culture to be proud of”. This message gave me a deep regret on how I wish we live the same way as people describe our land I’m back home today and maybe it was meant for me to tell this story.
My dear Naga friends, my beloved parents and my blessed Naga people, do we blame the government or do we blame ourselves? We live by the name ‘Nagaland for Christ’ and yet it contradicts the very title by us living through tribal conflicts, political corruptions and misunderstanding even amongst our own family members. As we see the term ‘Unity’ attached to the logo of our Govt. of Nagaland, can’t we humble ourselves and offer help to one another? Can’t we demolish our longing for the worldly pleasures that leads us astray? Can’t we stop pretending to know that everything is going well despite observing the poor social conditions happening in our society?
It is a great shame on us Nagas that we do nothing while we can do something. Young Nagas, it is our generation who will bring a new revolution to our society. Let us bring medals to our state and uphold together as true brothers and sisters.
I say “The smallest difference can make the biggest difference”
