We have come to the end of the year 2025.
This is not just the end of a calendar year. Take a closer look - we have also come to the end of first quarter of the new century. How much we have traversed is something that ought to be looked into.
This is all the more important in the perspective of Nagaland. Imagine where things stood around 2000 and what has been achieved or not achieved.
Last 25 years or to be precise 28 years has been 'years of extortion' for Nagas and other citizens of Nagaland.
In the process - what everyone has been deprived is the 'road to peace and development'. People called it Solution. But last two decades and more also produced a so-called Status quo Club. They have kept the state and the people away from transition.
And this status quo means - the old menaces of corruption and nepotism would prevail. Now at the fag end of December 2025 -- around Christmas season --- people no longer harbour hope. Why ? --- it's no longer a question. Probably everyone knows the answer.
Life is like that - I suppose. Things go awry at times ..... twisting and turning as the river Dhansiri. Around these --- there are protagonists - political and otherwise - who would nurse a secret or two of their own.
Of course the world has changed a lot since 2000 or to be precise since 1997 or for that matter even 2003.
For a few minutes --- let us think universal - the well perceived global context. Take a pause - malls are half deserted today; but in 2003 or 2005 or even till 2007 -- the malls made a lot of sense.
Capitalism and Consumerism ... etc etc.
A boy born in 2000 is today 25 and he knows what's good for him and what's bad. He probably can analyse well - why he has remained an underachiever.
Who was the uncle who displeased his parents? Who was the leader who disturbed his father's job and today he is still coughing out handsome amount of his hard-earned money to 28 other 'uncles'.
In short he/she - a youth of 25 plus - in Nagaland today has to handle being 'apostles of neo-consumerism' and dealing with their patrons and patrons. Home sickness is still a disease ....
"Country road ... take me home" - is still a favourite song. But there are 'less roads' .... and probably there is brain drain.
A group of Naga young women made news in Pune recently. Is it their fault alone?
We have questions. But no one can have a satisfying answer. We can only feel uncomfortable and also make our friends and even detractors uncomfortable.
The book 'The Power that Be' says humankind has remained the same old stuff -- never stopped worshiping.
It argues - the people have only changed the icons to worship. His reference was to 'skyscarppers'. Later on people discovered semi-Gods in shopping malls.
The end of capitalism .... is another refrain. And all that is passing by.
Narendra Modi's government has 'Act East Policy'. But when it comes to northeastern states - it is by default or design wrong protagonists --
N Biren Singh
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Neiphiu Rio and
Thuingaleng Muivah.
The NSCN-IM leader has shown his ultimate strength and weakness - in the form of Oct 22, 2025 - Soomdal speech.
This happened a day after Oct 21st when Rio turned a neo-champion of regionalism. The helpless and 'starving' Cock was chained.
N Biren Singh is by now an established liability and also a part 'spoiled' kid. Himanta defies definition as of now. Can he retain Assam for the Lotus party -- is a crucial thing to unfold in just about a few months.
We know this world where 'consumerism' need not be always based on seduction.
Blogger and an Angami Naga friend
What would a world like this look like?
Novelist J G Ballard’s thesis in one piece of fiction has been that if consumerism gets politicized, the world is going to revert exactly to what it was before capitalism.
A mindless bundle of war, violence and killing. Neighbouring Manipur has gone through that. There might be foreign hands and there might be Biren Singh's failures; but the fact is mutual suspicion is strong.
In Nagaland -- some brave people came forward and staged a Common Platform rally on Nov 18. That was a winner.
It killed the efforts of those who wanted to create hurdles for a gathering that wants Peace, Solution and Development. They have ensured a success tale as a milestone -- without Boleros from rich and powerful and also despite veto power of some organisations and notwithstanding the fear of guns.
One participant from a remote village enthusiastically said - "ainei mori asey ... extortion paisa dibo lagey. kam bhi nae. Ekta rally teh jailey maribo ? Na paribo hola
(We are at the mercy of conditions... facing death on daily basis. No money; but we have to pay tax. There is no job around. Just for attending a rally; people will kill us .... ? Is life that easy ? )
Salunthang Lotha, president of Naga Hoho, was one of those who attended and spoke at the Nov 18 rally. He was in Delhi lately and he said : "This was a historic rally. Nagas have expressed their inner feeling .... an exasperation with the system we are in. It is an early warning".
ends
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