Power of common people, Internet and Naga politics

New Delhi 

Often wake up calls come from hell, but they turn out to be a blessing 
in disguise. Is that so ?

The world has changed a lot, and it is still changing fast. In terms of technology, even CD players have vanished. 

Table computers and tablets are almost becoming like a thing of the past. Everything is so handy.

Televisions are soon to become the silent idiot box in drawing rooms ; left alone dusty.

Forget tape recorders, even cameras or VCPs or VCRs. The biggest competitor to wrist watch companies too are mobile manufacturers. It too has done a vanishing Act. Everything is on mobile.

With that comes the Government of India's Jan Dhan Accounts.

These gave immense dignity and respect to poor families. The cheap internet connections for millions of Indians encouraged digital payment and brought in governance at the doorsteps of ordinary citizens. 

One upon a time, Kohima's entertainment world was dominated by mushrooming

video parlours and those playing Hindi movies. What days, man ! Bunk college and just for Rs 5 

you have 3 hours of entertainment. 

Classmates - boys or girls - alongside and then pork momo at the famous ABC, if my memory does 

not fail me.

Rekhas, Zeenat Amans and very own Amitabh.

The impact was felt in Dimapur when a Sema cop called himself, 'Shahenshah'. 

Now importantly, the 'threats' and danger of threats no longer can work to the extent

they did once upon a time. Once they were called love letters. And people would abide by the

diktats. Today, first of all such a threat letter to a senior official or an engineer or head of the department

and faceless teachers would go viral. The person may die, but wrong doers cannot have

easy picnic too.

It is also psychological, pushed to the corner, people have given up fears, I believe. Or 

some will soon give up that Fear; to put it rather optimistically.

The Internet is an exciting invention. Angry and 'supressed people'

can now talk to each other and also talk to the outside world in a more powerful manner.

The Arab world experienced that a few years ago. 

At a personal level, my blog pieces written with absolute 'freedom' and no editor's censorship 

(except my mood and self ethical restraints) are often read  by the same number of people 

with enthusiasm as they would read my pieces reported here and there.

Angry people can tell the rest of the world; why they are angry. This - they never

could do before. Thanks to the internet. One only hopes, Internet is used more

effectively during elections. 

In an earlier piece a few days back, I discussed 'alternative arrangement' and peace.

Some people 'disliked' it with all their anguish in command. With Solution or without, and with 

elections or without, Nagaland is set for drastic change in the corridors of power.

 

Those who do not like 'new players' to come in with their 'new vote catching magical spell' have 

an easy argument, Nagaland is not Mizoram.

True, I also agree. But 'new Nagaland' is not the same old Nagaland of the 1990s or the 1980s too.

The Election Commission has handled tough elections in Tripura and West Bengal. Two more

Election Observers incharge Security -- will do magic. 

And when I say this, we need not blame only the 60 sitting MLAs or the helpless looking friend,

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio - who stands cornered from all sides.

Maybe, he is unable to decide, should he go with a friend in Delhi or trust advisors back home. 

Or should he follow his instinct?

 

But nevertheless a new generation of leaders and legislators would come in. Growing corruption

may grow further for a while, but it is also bound to create fury one day.

The stirrings of civil society contain the seeds of chaos, said 'The Economist'

in a different context. Who is there to control ?

One may end up saying, "Sometimes a catastrophe is simply a course correction", as stated by

American writer James A Owen. 

ends