Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct 2 (EMN): Nagas no longer listen to those who speak the truth and the society is experiencing a ‘famine’ not of food but of truthfulness, says SC Jamir, former governor of states and former chief minister of Nagaland.
Speaking during the literary day and general meeting of the Ao Students’ Union Kohima on October 2, in Kohima, Jamir stated that while the Naga society in general is still afraid of the unknown, ‘we should spire for the truth in everything.’
According to the veteran politician, the Naga people are expressing their suffering but do not deliberate on what should be done today, and have discourses about the visions for tomorrow for the people to better itself.
‘For many years, the activities of the Naga people have been reduced to self-harm believing that it is accomplishing so many things when in fact it refuses to acknowledge that the society is suffering from it,’ he said.
‘This is one of the biggest ailments the Nagas have been subjected to at the present. When a society derives its happiness and joy from self-harm, it merits a closer scrutiny,’ he said.
Jamir referred to the hesitation of the older generation to trust the present generation who are currently managing the state's affairs. He lamented about how, for instance, Ao leaders from cities, towns and villages are all blinded by money and they no longer talk about good governance and a just society.
This is the reason why people have stopped listening to leaders, he said.
Further, the commercialisation of politics where a person with merit is overlooked, will hamper the progress of the Nagas towards accomplishing the people’s primary objectives, he said.
‘We have so many talented youths and students who are well-equipped to be leaders but it is useless because politics have been commercialised and only the rich will buy power though not eligible.’
On developmental matters, Jamirsaid that the Look East Policy, which was formulated and initiated in 1991, will play a very important role in the transformation of Nagaland. Presently it is called the Act East Policy.
Jamir said that within a span of 5-10 years, ‘We will feel its real implication as all the north-eastern states will become a corridor for the rest of India to connect with southeast Asian countries in particular.’
To drive the point home, he said that developmental activities such as the on-going four-lane road construction, and the proposal for setting up a new airport, and railway tracks laying work are all in tandem with the Act East Policy as the bigger picture.
‘When the Act East Policy resumes its operation in full swing, the ones who will come to our land will be tourist and scholars followed by the capitalist along with their engineers, research and development department with plans for big factories and industries. Even people from Thailand, China and the rest of Asian countries will come in large numbers,’ he predicted.
Further, Jamir expressed fears that the Nagas’ identity and Christian identity will be at risk as marriages out of the community are bound to happen.
The counter-balance to this upset will be through quality education, he explained.
‘The only wisdom I’m trying to share with you all is that our position in the near future will be determined by how well we keep ourselves acquainted with whatever that is happening around us,’ he said.
‘We have to work harder than before and be more vigilant because if we are incompetent when outsiders come, we’ll eventually be relegated to the position of a slave.’
Jamir also examined the Naga people’s understanding of the word “self.” While the word can evolve into either selfless or selfish, he said, ‘Our society is more inclined toward selfishness. We never give credit to the ones who are doing good work.’
