7th April 2014

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C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 94

The Morung Express

www.morungexpress.com

AAP battles major financial crunch

Handel’s Messiah: Celebrating oneness in Christ

[ PAGE 8]

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Life of a woman in rural Nagaland

[ PAGE 11]

nagaland newspaper outreach: a challenge

Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your answer to 9862574165 Are Naga institutions and churches doing enough to nurture value based leadership in the society? Yes

no

Others

Do you support the nLA decision to set up nagaland Special Development Zones? Yes

14% 71%

no Others

15%

Details on page 7

AKK to boycott Lok Sabha polls DIMAPUR, APRIL 6 (MExN): The Aghunaqa Kukami Kuqhakulu (GB’s union) has resolved to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the State, in reiteration of its earlier resolution dated February 18, 2014. A press note from the union, which comprises of 38 villages under Niuland subdivision, stated that this decision was taken in a meeting held on April 5. It informed that the boycott has been called due to the non fulfillment of the union’s demands for shifting of existing polling station Nos. 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of 4 Ghaspani-1 A/C at Kiyezu village to the Aghunaqa area.

Vehicles dispatched for election duty DIMAPUR, APRIL 6 (DIPR): In view of the ensuing Lok Sabha Election for the lone seat in Nagaland state, vehicles requisitioned by the district administration were dispatched for election duty from the DDSC stadium today. From the consignment of vehicles dispatched, 40 Sumos/Wingers and 10 buses were sent to Peren, 40 MMVs to Longleng and 28 LMVs to Pughobo.

CSU appeals to DoSE

C M Y K

DIMAPUR, APRIL 6 (MExN): The Chumukedima Students’ Union (CSU) has informed that the Government Middle School, Block I, Chumukedima Town has not received a single text book for Class 8 students and that the text books received for Class A to 7 were not enough in number. It further stated that there are only 19 teachers for 715 students, “due to which teachers are not able to attend to all the students properly.” It informed that, as per government norms, the teacher students ratio should be 1:25. CSU appealed for the school education department to look into the said matter on a priority basis, as the first quarterly assessment needs to be completed by April.

Villagers, including Village Guards, of a remote village in Tuensang district take a peek into the pages of a nagaland-based daily. (Morung File photo)

Ashikho Pfuzhe Dimapur | April 6

An eighty-year-old man in Tuensang district proudly displays an old newspaper kept in an old wooden trunk and points to a photo of a cultural troupe gracing the front page of a local daily. “See see, this young man with the spear and matching headgear. He is my grandson. He was part of the cultural dance troupe from our village which participated in the big Hornbill Festival last year. They brought me this paper for free all the way from Kohima!” said the illiterate old man who had never glanced at a paper before. Photos of singers, Hollywood and Bollywood actresses from pages of newspapers can be seen adorning the walls of thatch or wooden houses in the interior parts of Eastern Nagaland. Newspapers have come a long way here, as people of the four Eastern districts are actually getting to read news dailies the same day over late tea or early dinner. This

maybe a bit late, but couple of years back, the breakfast news enjoyed daily by readers in the State capital Kohima or Dimapur reached the Eastern districts only the next day, providing readers with stale news. Time zones are not different, but the Nagalandbased dailies were then transported via NST night super buses. With the introduction of daily Tata Sumo taxi services from Dimapur to all Eastern districts, the dailies now reach the Eastern district headquarters the same afternoon or evening. The papers are sold at Rs. 5 per copy in the district headquarters of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Kiphire. “Yes, now we get to read the papers the same day, but we wish we could read the papers early in the morning with the smell of fresh print on them,” said a school teacher posted in a remote school in Tuensang district. “If the road condition between Chantongya in Mokokchung district and Longleng is good, then the papers can reach by 2:00 pm. But right now, though

the Chantongya-Longleng stretch is only 34 km, it takes 3 hours to cover this stretch due to the deplorable road condition,” said Akai Angh, a craftsman based in Longleng town. However, most of the interior villages in these four districts still do not have access to newspapers. The only way to get a glimpse of a newspaper for these villagers is whenever some government officials, journalists or relatives bring newspapers along with them during visits to their villages. With the distance between Kohima or Dimapur and the Eastern districts not narrowing down due to “deplorable” road conditions, some people from the Eastern districts have suggested that the only way they can read the papers in the morning is for newspaper houses to arrange simultaneous publication in one of the Eastern district headquarters. Till such time, the ambitious ‘Foothill Road project’ seems the only solution for the Eastern Nagas to read news while still hot.

Monday, April 7, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Eleanor Roosevelt

[ PAGE 2]

Aus bag hattrick of Women’s World T20

[ PAGE 9]

[ PAGE 10]

Afghan candidates promise to respect results

“Couldn’t move the buildings, lands but your cars are outside? You must be an actor. Anyway didn’t anybody tell you to declare your assets in writing?”

The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

C M Y K

Voting starts today from ne

NEw DELhI, APRIL 6 (IANS): India’s general election, to elect 543 members to the 16th Lok Sabha, or the House of People in the bicameral parliament, kicks off Monday, with balloting starting from two states in the northeast, Assam and Tripura. The nine-phase voting, that will be done in 930,000 polling stations across the length and breadth of this huge nation with a staggering 814 million electorate, will be spread over 36 days from April 7 to May 12. This election, many analysts say, is different in many ways different from the elections of the past two decades with more focus on individual leaders, wide use of social media and rise of the “aspirational class” and the large number of first-time voters. Stakes are high for the participants with relatively young leaders leading the charge of Congress and BJP and regional parties, led by leaders nursing national ambitions, threatening to upset the applecart of the established players. Although campaigning has been surcharged, it has so far been peaceful. The election also raises prospects of a leader born after Independence becoming the prime minister. Bharatiya Janata Party has declared Narendra Modi, 63, as its prime ministerial candidate and Rahul Gandhi, 43, is seen as the de facto prime ministerial candidate of the Congress. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, 45, whose one-and-a-halfyear-old party has created a buzz in the political arena on its strong anti-corruption plank, is also aiming for a role in government

2014 Lok Sabha Election - Facts Following are some facts about the nine-phase Lok Sabha elections that begin Monday • Total electorate - 81.4 million (814,591,184) • Male voters - 42.6 million (426,615,513), Female 38.7 million (387,911,330) and Others - 28,341 • First time voters - over 2.3 million (23,161,296) • Polling stations - 930,000 • 8 million civilians and 3 million security personnel deployed • NOTA (None Of The Above) option will be used for the first time in a parliamentary poll • India is the 12th country to use NOTA • A voter can get enrolled at one place only • One can contest from any constituency except autonomous districts of Assam, Lakshadweep and Sikkim formation as are a clutch regional players from West Bengal in the east to Tamil Nadu in the south. Campaigning has been intense but the real battle will be fought for control of the Hindi-speaking heartland where two states, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ironically among the least developed of Indian states, account for between them 120 (80 from UP and 40 from Bihar) MPs. Delhi goes to the polls on April 10 to elect 7 MPs. A study last year by Internet and Mobile Association of India and IRIS knowledge foundation had said that there were 160 Lok Sabha constituencies in which social media would be a critical tool to influence people’s voting choices. Almost 68 percent of the country’s 1.2 billion population is estimated to be below the age of 35. Political parties are making special efforts to woo the youth by talking of issues of economic growth and jobs. Successive opinion polls have forecast that BJP-led NDA would be the prime contender for power. But despite a grim forecast

about its prospects, due to a stagnant economy and allegations of corruption during five years of United Progressive Alliance II, the Congress is making a determined bid to get another mandate from people. The Congress is banking on its welfare initiatives including rights-based legislations to woo the poor and subaltern classes. Its leaders have also asserted that an unprecedented 14 million people have been brought out of poverty in the last 10 years. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party’s campaign, has been targeting BJP and Modi over “divisive politics”. Gandhi is slated to address nearly 100 meetings over the next few weeks. The BJP is riding on the perceived popularity of Modi, who is slated to address around 150 rallies across the country in over a month. Modi has been seeking to tap into the apparent discontent over UPA’s performance by promising a brighter future to the people with greater security and enhanced growth. BJP vice president

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that real issues for the party were development, good governance, employment, and national security. “We are fighting the election on economic issues. Congress is trying to communalise it,” Naqvi told IANS. Political analyst Rizwan Qaiser, who teaches at Jamia Millia Islamia University, said that the 2014 Lok Sabha election was “extraordinary” as stakes were very high for the political players. “Stakes are particularly high for the BJP. The way candidature of Modi is being projected, one person has overshadowed the party, which was did not happen earlier,” Qaiser told IANS. He said stakes were also high for the Congress as Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party’s campaign, has “not been able to capture imagination of people”. “The regional parties are becoming assertive. I think these parties need to be watchedcarefully,”headded. The number of voters has risen since the first election in 1951-52. It was about 173 million in 195152 and nearly 814 million in 2014. A.S. Narang, a professor of political science at the Indira Gandhi National Open University, said the election was getting centred around an individual. “It happened during Indira Gandhi years and then to some extent when Rajiv Gandhi was in the fray. Now it is being fought (by the BJP) in the name of an individual (Modi),” Narang said. He said youth participation is expected to be large and they were showing keen interest in election.

Ao Bible turns 50 The Big Fat Naga Wedding Morung Express news Dimapur | April 6

All praises were given by the Dimapur Ao community in celebration of the Ao Bible turning 50. A special Sunday service was held today at DABA Church, Dimapur led by the Ao Baptist Arogo Mundang (ABAM). The programme was held in connection to the yearlong celebration programme organised by ABAM to observe this occasion. Apok Jamir, Secretary, Education & Literature ABAM stated that in North East, with such a huge mix of different communities, it is the Ao tribe that managed to translate and publish a complete edition of the Holy Bible in Ao dialect. Even now, many are still struggling to publish complete editions in their own dialects. We should consider ourselves blessed and fortunate, he reminded. He also said that this was possible because of the tireless efforts and personal sacrifices made by reviewers. He also informed that numerous revisions and reprints have taken place in these 50 years. And it sells out very fast every single time. But Jamir also cautioned that the Bible should not just be carried around or sit in the mantelpiece at home; “What kind of believers are you if you do not read the Bible?” Making a reference to “believers” who treat the Holy Bible as a “Magic Book,” he said, “The Bible is not a medicine

or a healer. It is not a quick fix to your health problems or your life problems either.” He added, “The Word of God is the biggest force that changed the world. Just by reading the Bible, our lives, relationships, work, home and community get better immediately and effectively.” In resonance to the celebrations, the Secretary, Education & Literature ABAM also encouraged the Ao community to make a collective and personal pledge to strive towards “reading the Bible and follow the Word of God.” He stated that it could be a word, a verse or a chapter. “Today as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee, let us make this pledge,” he stated. I Anungba Sanglir traced the history of the introduction of the Ao Holy Bible. Charting the various courses undertaken during the time of translation and review, he presented a chronological order of reviewers, ABAM, Pastors and literature experts. He further informed that a team of 50 reviewers are currently revising a new edition which is tentatively set to be released by December 2014. Dr. Tali Imsong, Art & Culture Planning Officer chaired the programme, while Rev. Tzudir led the congregation in prayer. The grand finale celebrations will be held at Impur, where a commemorative souvenir book will be released remembering the persons who were responsible for successful translation of the Bible into Ao.

Vibi Yhokha Kohima | April 6

How much does a supposedly ‘usual’ wedding in Nagaland cost today? Approximately five lakhs and beyond! This excludes the miscellaneous costs such as the wedding gown, dresses for the bridesmaids and flower girls, suits for bridegroom and groomsmen. Photographers’ rates range from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1,00,000. Wedding dresses costs Rs. 30,000 and above. For the highly extravagant, wedding costs can touch a Crore. Today the Naga wedding is no different from the big fat Indian wedding. “The marriage culture that Nagas practice today is imported. We have been fed by the mass media and cultures outside our own,” says a concern Naga (who wished not to be named), who is of the view that while western society has moved on towards more sensible, frugal and environment-friendly weddings, Nagas are caught up in an old western culture. The concerned Naga is also of the view that what has been fed to the mass is akin to brainwashing. “I think it is wrong to spend so extravagantly on weddings. It’s not only you who suffers but the whole family suffers for that,” says Pastor Rachülie Vihienuo, from Union Baptist Church, who is of the view that peer pressure is also present among adults and not just teenagers. Much like the elaborated af-

fairs of an Indian wedding, Nagas too are catching up with the fancy affairs of engagement parties, Bridal showers, Bachelors party, the Wedding after Party. And very often, the real meaning of marriage gets lost in the ‘busyness’ of the preparations for the wedding. There is more tension for the wedding gown, decorations and food. “We are not focusing on what is important but on the miscellaneous. Of course,

who adds that many Nagas like to flaunt the excessive money they have on their weddings. Weddings have become environmentally hazardous too, with the unnecessary use of plastic bottles, disposal cups and plates.

people can do whatever they want but it has an impact on the others. Also Nagas are so adaptive to materialism but when it comes to non-materialism we remain so rigid,” says another. In the 500-1000 people that are invited, one would hardly know half of the invitees. “In some high profile weddings, the decorations alone cost five to six lakh,” says a Wedding Planner

sions,” says Asa Seyie, a recently married man who had a lowcost wedding. He is of the view that low-cost weddings are less stressful to the couple, families and the community helping out. Vihienuo feels that the church must talk about it and educate their members to keep their weddings simple. The best would be to educate the young people on the challenge and dif-

Growing need for more sensible approach “The happy ending of a lowcost wedding is that you can settle down without any debt ten-

ficulties. Counseling is another important factor. While entering marriage, it is important for both the spouses to know their financial situations. It is very important for every church to prepare every couple for marriage. “The problem with Naga society is that everyone feels the need to live up to one’s standards,” he says and further asserts that weddings in Nagaland have a western influence, which is not bad, but can be more economical if we can be more “ourselves”. In a society where the upper strata of society have a huge influence over the rest, Vihienuo also views that privileged people can set the example. People’s mentalities have to change because the influence we put on each other is demanding and pressurizing. “We (Nagas) use other’s ideas. We do not innovate, we do not create ideas. We imitate ideas. And we are not able to differentiate between wants and needs,” says Wabang, a concerned Naga youth. He asserts that adopting traditional ideas such as going for traditional attires instead of the usual tuxedos and gowns are original, grand and cost less. Mass weddings needs to be encouraged. However, at the end of the day, to have or not to have an expensive wedding is a matter of choice but in all the extravagant affairs, the beauty of marriagethe union of two people- needs to be upheld.

C M Y K


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