I was intrigued to hear one of our senior lecturer in the college narrating a conversation that happened with a taxi driver in town. As the man drove the cab, he commentedthat after all the years of driving, he felt the roads in Nagaland are not suitable for cars and owning a horse would better fit in with thecondition of our roadways.
I had to laugh at this idea of our people owning a horse for the purpose of transportation rather than cars. Nevertheless, one had to agree with the fact that our roads are not at all satisfactory. 98% of the roads in Nagaland that connects towns and villages are all half-baked, half-patched and half done. It would have been much better if no proposal of black-topping roads were made in the first place. All the big proposals of four lanes and highways are nothing but a child’s play. No concrete works is done. It will only create a huge noise and excitement in the papers and ends in the paper. It’s all gone with the wind. Honesty, integrity and fear of God vanish when money floods in. The publics have totally lost the dream of good roads in Nagaland. We have heard enough of blaming the government and the road contractors for the present road condition but to no avail. Publics traveling on buses and taxis have to bear the brunt and bruises of the roadways every single daythat are no more than roller-coaster. On the onset of monsoon, the roads will metamorphose into riverbeds and so the transportation of many roads would be blocked. The only possible solution then, is for our people to own a horse rather than cars. Horses would be a better option for the Nagas at the present moment as the hoof of the horse does not have any problem with potholes, muddy roads or water-bogged areas (no pun intended here). It would be a sight of beauty to behold and invite lots of attention from the outside world.
As we see it, our people crave to ride on polished cars but not on polished roads. It is with pity that Nagas have tons of stylish well-dressed, highly fashioned and talented people in our land yet our pride falls short every time we step out of our homes. What will truly define a modern society will be this: road condition, water network, power connection,internet links and proper toilets in every corner of our towns and localities. Until we come to this point, let all the Nagas remember that we are all wedged together like frog in a small muddied pond. God bless my humble Nagaland!
Vebu Khamo
Kohima Bible College.
