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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 335
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BJP wins; AAP scripts history [ PAGE 08]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dimapur | December 8
Justice demanded for victim of July 4 murder DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 8 (MExN): The Watsu mungdang today once again demanded justice for the victim in the July 4 murder at Landmark colony, Dimapur. A press note from the Watsu Mungdang expressed hope that the forensic results of materials from the crime scene, which were sent to Kolkata nearly five months ago is at hand. “If not, then it is beyond comprehension as to the reasons behind this inordinate delay,” it stated. Watsu Mungdang further cautioned that “any attempt to compromise truth for lies shall not be tolerated.”
My upbringing influenced my choices [ PAGE 11]
Anniversaries are, by tradition, greeted with excitement on reaching the halfcentury mark. Nagaland is also in celebratory mode, commemorating a historic occasion that was but received with feelings of hope and disappointment in equal measure. December 1, 1963, weighs heavy. Fifty years down the line, retrospect rears. The President of India describing the progress made by Nagaland in human resource development and industry as praiseworthy was, indeed, gratifying and no less thought provoking. Mere diplomatic rhetoric or based on fact, the words of approval from none other than the Head of State will, if not ever, remain debated. What has Nagaland achieved, in the five decades of statehood, deserving such praise? Is it the literacy rate crossing the 80 percent mark, or is it the state government machinery enabling some 1.2 lakh (as on 2013) citizens a source of livelihood? Is it the schools, the water pipe-
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 8 (AgENCIEs): In elections seen as a “semi-final” before the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, the BJP retained Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and ousted the Congress in Rajasthan. The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) stunning show in Delhi pushed the Congress to a humiliating third spot, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 31 seats. AAP got 28 seats while the Congress was reduced to 8. A humbled Congress, which had pitted its vice-president Rahul Gandhi against the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the hectic election campaign, said it would “introspect” why it lost Rajasthan, was
lines, the roads, the power lines and the medical amenities that have notionally reached almost all villages? In the industrial front, the state has not much to boast, save the now defunct Nagaland Pulp and Paper Mill and Nagaland Sugar Mills Company. Then again, industry can grow only when a state has dynamic human resource pool. Can Nagaland‘s human resource pool live upto the President’s remark? “Different jobs need a different set of skills and, for Nagaland, human resource is our biggest opportunity and also our biggest threat. We produce thousands of graduates each year—they have to become more productive,” says Human Resource professional, Lezo Putsure, on the current state of Nagaland’s human resource pool. Harnessing Nagaland’s almost dormant human resource pool has been the government’s mantra in current times. However, the state’s human resource pool has been limited to producing white-collar folks and seldom pioneers who could and would have engineered a development revolution. “We have to build a human resource pool before the private sector enters Nagaland,” continues Putsure, who is a strategist at YouthNet and founder of
Root fights but [ PAGE 02] Australia Don’t compromise Naga tighten grip customary law: Rio [ PAGE 12]
Young Nagas return home carrying firewood in Tuensang. Is Nagaland’s human resource empowered enough to realise its full potential? Photo by Imojen Jamir
Smarter Nagaland, while adding that human resource, at present, lacks the skill and ability should the private sector decide to invest. “Literacy rate maybe a great statistical data but what counts are the employability skills of the individuals that make up that data,” explains Putsure, adding that education and employability have to match.
crushed in Delhi and why it couldn’t dislodge the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. “Our congratulations to those who have won in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,” said a despondent Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan. “In Delhi, we accept the verdict and will examine the results. We will find out what has gone wrong.” “Our work is cut out for us and we have to face realities,” said Congress minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. The BJP said the verdict dominantly reflected “mass anger” against the Congress, which has ruled India since 2004 at the head of a multiparty United Progressive Alliance. “This is an antiCongress vote. There is an impact of
Modi also,” said spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman, referring to the party’s prime ministerial candidate who campaigned in all four states with gusto. BJP activists erupted into celebrations all across Madhya Pradesh, which the party has ruled since 2003, and Rajasthan, where the Congress suffered a disastrous defeat. However, the Congress put up a spirited show in Chhattisgarh. The most stunning verdict came from Delhi where Sheila Dikshit, chief minister for 15 long years, resigned after leading the party to a rout, and she herself was set to lose humiliatingly to AAP founder leader Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi constituency. Related story on page 8
Molding agents of harmony and unity Morung Express News Dimapur | December 8
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–Leo Buscaglia
Hornbill Festival 2013
[ PAGE 05]
Hung house in Delhi, congress routed in MP, rajasthan; BJP retains chhattisgarh
‘Deep, Deep Love’, ‘Jesus is a Rock’, Not by Might’ were some of the messages brought forth through choral music, this evening, by students of various Theological institutions. A combined choir of Trinity Theological College, Thahekhu, Dimapur; Clark Theological College, Aolijen, Mokokchung; Oriental Theological Seminary, Bade, Dimapur and Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Assam enthralled Advent celebrators at Dimapur Ao Baptist Church (DABA) Dimapur on December 8. The initiative to hold such an evening was the vision of Mrs. Simon Chan, who is an International Soloist and Preacher from Singapore. Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, in an introduction, described Mrs. Simon Chan to the congregation, as a paradigm of unity in today’s post modern context of conflict. He also stated that holding a concert with the combined choir is an extension of Mrs. Simon Chan’s vision.
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Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life
Monday, December 9, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4
50 years of human resource left untapped Imkong Walling
This week 1000 illegal tax collectors were arrested. Mmhh. Sathio. Christmas fever is on.
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IN PERFEct HARMoNy: Students of four Theological institutions came together this evening to form a combined choir, under the theme “Proclaiming Christ in Advent”. The combined choir is seen performing under the guidance of Conductor, Mrs. Simon Chan, who is an International Soloist and Preacher from Singapore. (Morung Photo)
Twenty two years ago, this vibrant, passionate woman came to this part of the world, to share “what she knew best”- Church Music. And today her prophetic vision has come true, he said. Aier also acknowledged Mrs. Simon Chan as a person who has moulded many young people from Nagaland. Aier felt that she has succeeded in her purpose to initiate theological students to be agents of harmony and unity, and to affirm each others gifts and talents. Scripture portions
were read by Rev. Dr. Akheto Sumi, Principal, Eastern Theological College, Alongla Aier, Associate Professor, Oriental Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Takatemjen, Principal, Clark Theological College, and Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Principal, Oriental Theological Seminary. The ‘Advent Reflection’ was stated by Rev. Dr. Simon Chan, who advocated that Christmas brings with it, a lot of nice things, and wonderful feelings, but that the hope of Christmas should not just be ‘wishful
thinking’. He added that it is a time of divine mercy, but it is also about severe mercy. To the congregation, he said, “Let us rejoice, but let us also do some serious soul searching.” For, many the Christmas story may be sentimental and romanticized but if that is all we feel, than it means we have not fully understood the meaning of Christ, he said. The concert was held under the theme “Proclaiming Christ in Advent”, and featured musicians from Singapore and Malaysia.
A radical change in attitude together with action proportionate to the transformation in thought is what Putsure vouches for. “We lack skilled labour in various fields and the reason may be our education system which lacks professional training. It also has to do with lack of job opportunities apart from teaching and administrative jobs,” states Dr. C.
Toshisangba, a research scholar. Dr. Toshisangba, who specialises in genetics, and is currently a post doctoral fellow at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, further states, “I believe this also has a lot to do with the Naga mentality - thinking some jobs or tasks are beneath us.” On the science front, despite the high literacy
figure, Nagaland is found wanting. “Here again, it has to do with the quality of our education. The point here is that we need proper educational institutions where people are taught how to actually do a job irrespective of any field,” opines Dr. Toshisangba. According to him, Nagaland needs more career-specific schools of higher learning or reliable research institutions and universities. But a degree in science alone cannot cultivate “scientific temperament,” agree Putsure and Dr. Toshisangba. “The term science means going that extra mile but many a times we settle for mediocrity. We are as good as anyone in the world but we’ve been pampered too much,” asserts Putsure. “I believe there are various indigenous inventions. What we need is a good support system for these inventions. We need the latest technology, we need experts and we need to be creative to create a culture of innovation, consistency and hard work within us.” Riding the IT wave, for instance the internet revolution, Putsure feels, is an opportunity that cannot be missed. Without human resource and the ingenuity that comes alongside, the world as it is today would not have evolved. What,
then, are Nagaland’s prospects as the years beyond fifty beckon? With the Look East Policy in mind, “we must be ready with the right skills” lest the avenues that open up get occupied by more skilled people from outside, Putsure says. Imbibing ‘soft skills’ –communication, organisation skills, work etiquette along with customer service and attitude will be crucial, he adds. Citing the automobile retail business, banking and telecom sectors, he reveals, these sectors find it difficult to get the right people. “(Thus) the only way to do this is to start training young people. Once they come out of college they should be ready to face the world.” One cannot expect ‘rocket science’ at this stage of development in Nagaland but there are areas where it can thrive. On this, Dr. Toshisangba suggests, “Being at a premier agriculture institute, I have seen how productive people can be if they are given the right direction.” According to him, the government’s thrust should be towards setting up agriculture (and allied sectors) research facilities. “The way to go now is to upgrade the already existing institutes in the state and also set up new ones in collaboration with universities.”
stories from the Hornbill night Bazaar Seeking the Super Mind-Controlling Agent Abokali Jimomi Kohima | December 8
It gets dark by 3:30 pm in winter, the Hornbill Night Bazaar opens at 4:00 pm with the streets of Kohima all lighted – a sparkling river like the Milky Way. People in thousands, children in multi-coloured blinking hats, families queuing up for hot roadside pakoras, young men and women in over-sized fun sun-glasses, and tourists throng the streets; where goodies, burning stoves and steaming food magically appear by nightfall. Just like 99% of small-scale traders at the local vegetable Bazaar, most stall owners at the Night Bazar are Naga Women. Atobu and Aseno are 21-year old business partners who come from Kezobasa Village to sell novelty items. Children of “kheti kuria manu,” as they informed, one of them had her baby strapped to the back. They made some profit the previous Hornbill and were happy to sell again this year. Their eyes hinted at bigger plans for the future. Naomi, a graduate from Kohima, selling colourful wigs is unemployed and says that Hornbill was an opportunity to experiment her skills. She wants to start her own business… but people have no money this year, she laments. Aroma of roasted chicken beckoned… skewered piping hot above red coals, and the banner read ‘Little Lights Home Orphanage.’ Run by Hekali and David, this Home in Dimapur has 30 children from 11 Naga tribes. In between chicken and European Coffee, there are children out there orphaned by parents dying of HIV-AIDS; who are shunned, discriminated and abused by a “Christian” Naga society. Little Lights’ first time at Hornbill was to have fun and raise funds for a plot of land. The home aims to educate these children and let them become ‘Lights’ of the world. Hekali terms the Hornbill Festival as a great platform to promote Nagaland and to generate income though responsible tourism. However, she expresses concern about young Nagas and binge drinking. “Tai-po! Tai-po! All the way from Gangtok!” Vangaurd Youth of Faith Harvest Church shouted. Volunteering for their friends from Sikkim, fundraising for the construction of Victo-
Stall owners are seen barbecuing meat at the ongoing Kohima night carnival.
ry Fellowship Church in Sikkim, Vane (15), Medovine(14) and Kelhousetuo (17), express they were not too keen about the Rock Fest, as people get drunk and abusive. But they are happy with the Night Bazaar as sale of Tai-po (Gigantic dumpling) will help their friends. Some Army men seemed to have really liked the Bazaar, complimenting women on how beautiful they look. However, in their festive excitement they probably crossed the LOC asking: “How much does this potato cost? – Rs20/- per piece (to shoo them off) … “and How much do you cost? “ – I am very costly, you cannot buy me! The women had retorted back feeling commoditized! Conversations with visitors at the Bazaar show that like many things in life, Hornbill Festival too has its positives and negatives. To pass off an event that engages a diverse network of people for years as a farce, is to question our individual responsibility in creating the situation in the first place. Lives are interconnected and people have their own stories to tell. We need to understand the intricacies involved, feel the pulse of the system, taste and experience the real side of the 80% majority living in rural areas in our multi-cultural, multi-lingual, complicatedly universes ruled by numerous traditional customs, beliefs and conditioned biases; while each fighting for her own place to stand amidst mind-bombardment by obsolete superstitions, rigid religious doctrines and rituals; within our minis-
cule areas of multiple geographic borders. Otherwise our knowledge and opinions of grand solutions, just by skimming the creamy top, would all be half-baked and ill-equipped. Never really experienced, but I just know? No, that would make us the same as the forces that frustrate us. We perpetually judge people’s actions but struggle to practice the very moralities we preach. Who then, shall we blame for the degradation of values and loss of originality, translating to uncontainable corruption and lawlessness? Who is this super-brain or set of superminded individuals controlling us? Or is it a collective failure? Knowing that each possesses the conscience to discern, the power then must lie within individuals to co-create the change we so desire. Realization dawns that I am also to be blamed for the terrible roads, overflowing trash bins and sewages, and our inability to be self sufficient. We are a slave economy under the mercy of government funds – taxpayer’s money of other hardworking, productive individuals. I vote and elect rulers; I am to be blamed if good governance is absent. I have no output to show; my selfrighteousness is baseless because my actions do not speak louder than words. Therefore, I must be a part of the problem I complain about.
This piece is the fourth in a series of articles on the discourse around and on the Hornbill Festival, with the view to initiate reflection and dialogue.
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