Nagaland: Dry State Forevermore

NLTP Act, J 989, is for defence of Naga Nation from self-destruction Tsiiknung Penzii I. Opening Scene: There is a current wave of talks and gossips going on in Nagaland on the topic of whether the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTP) is to be abolish or not. Against the backdrop of this situation I am writing this article sharing my personal opinion with our good Naga fellowmen, to uphold the NLTP to save our Naga nation from decadence and degeneration under the slavery of ‘wine Master’ ruling over us. For easy reference of our readers I have arranged my article under several sub- headings serially. Also, to make my language easier and simpler the word ‘wine ban’ in place of NLTP here in some places. 2. Wrong signal from the State Government: It is learnt that the State Government of Nagaland has recently sent a flip-flop floppy signal saying that the wine ban Act may be reviewed. It indicates that the wine ban may be revoked or retained. It is definitely a ‘wrong’ signal, Instead of strengthening the existing wine ban in the name of its 25th year Silver Jubilee (1989 -2014), with a good celebration, the word ‘to review’ exposes State Government’s weakness in upholding the NLTP Act. If it is revoked, all Nagas should know that the Nagas are to become ‘slaves’ again under the ‘Wine Master’, It shall not be a ‘forced slavery’ by some external enemy nor by the force of a stronger community, but a voluntary enslavement by Nagas themselves. 3. Nagas in the Valley of decision: With reminiscence of the ‘Valley of decision’ in the Bible, (Joel 3: 14) Nagas today are in the valley of decision on the big question of whether to repeal the wine ban Act or to continue it, Or in another word, to decide whether the Nagas are to enslave ourself to Wine Master or to continue living in liberty as of today. 4. Two important advents in Naga Social history: In secular terminology, advent means: coming of an important person for the first time, beginning of a new era or a new development, happening of an important event. Two epoc-making advents in Naga social history, namely: (I) The first advent = Coming of Christianity to Nagaland in 1872, This first advent liberated the Nagas from savagery of head hunting practice and leading them from darkness to light. (2) The second advent = Coming of company wine to Nagaland in I 96~. This second advent led Nagas from liberty to slavery under ‘Master Wine’ ; leading them from enlightenment to darkness and degeneration. 5. Usage of the words wine, liquor and alcohol: The word ‘liquor’ is generally used in official usage for wine. For example, Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act. Alcohol is used, in place of wine generally in laboratory analysis, research and in technical and scientific terminology and medical sciences. The word ‘wine’ is used for both liquor and alcohol combine by general public, common people, uneducated people. farmers, cultivators and working class, people. Mostly it is used in mass communication. Mass communication means giving message to the people, crowd, masses, population in very simple words so that public members down to the lowest level can understand the message, news, topic given by the giver. As such, here I am using the word ‘wine’ for the Naga masses, public, people. 6. First coming of company wine to Nagaland in 1963: Nagas were drinking their own home-made wine or rice beer, from time immemorial. But the company manufactured wine selling in bottles under different brand names were not known to Nagas till it came for the first time in 1963. How and why 1963 became a landmark year in Naga wine history? It may be surprisingly a new General Knowledge (GK) for Nagas one and all to learn for the first time that Nagaland’s wine era began from 1963. Herewith giving a short explanation justifying the fact, as follows: On the Ist of December 1963, Nagaland inaugurated the attainment of full-fledged Statehood, with great celebration. Great, grand celebrations were held in all the three district capitals at that time. These then districts were as follows: (I) Kohima District = comprising the present districts of Kohima, Phek, Peren. (2) Mokokchung District = comprising the present districts of Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha. (3). Tuensang District = comprising the present districts of Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon and Longleng. Delegates from all rural villages were invited by Government, who gathered in their respective district capitals. Delegates consisted of Village Council Members or Village ruling elders, GBs, Anghs, Govt. officials in outposts, school teachers and last but not the least, cultural troupes or folk dancers from many villages. They were accommodated in school hostels and any convenient buildings. (Schools were on holiday for the big day). They were given free ration, water supply and firewood to cook by themselves in groups. To and fro of their transportations were done by Government trucks or hired private trucks. Every district capital was overcrowded with great multitude. 7. First-time free circulation of company wine to Naga masses: Along with the free supply of rations, wine was plentifully supplied to all delegates in their respective camps. Junior Officers in district administration were in charge of distributing the wine systematically. Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district was overall authority of the bulk of wine with assistance from subordinate officers. A temporary wine store was selected to store the wine cases for the day. First knowledge of existence of company wine: For almost all rural villagers it was the first time they had come to know the existence of company wine and its tasting by their lips. It was the first coming of company wine to Nagaland, and the beginning of Naga slavery under wine. 8. Wine ration in Naga Peoples Convention Sessions: Earlier, before Nagaland attained Statehood, there were three sessions of Naga Peoples Convention (NPC) in different years and in different places as follows: I st NPC Session at Kohima in 1957. 2nd NPC Session at Ungma Village, the greatest village in Ao Area, in 1958. 3rd Session at Mokokchung in 1959. The 16 -Point Agreement was drafted in this Mokokchung Session, Delegates wine ration: Like in the State inauguration event, delegates to the 3 Sessions of NPC were transported to & fro by Govt. trucks, accommodated in school hostels, provided with free rations, with plenty of company wine. That NPC session wine was like the surveyors advance team to survey a big project site. . However, those three sessions were only of tribal delegates, of course from all Naga tribes, but the crowd was comparatively smaller than the crowd during the State inauguration. So, I am counting the advent of wine or the first coming of company wine to Nagaland as the year 1963. Inauguration event was only in December, the last month of the year. But the preceding II month-period’s wine was overflowed by the quantity of wine supplied in three successive NPC sessions earlier. So the aforesaid first wine advent is simply to count in year not month. Padmashri R. Khating, M.C.I.F .A.S., was the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung when the 3rd session of NPC was held at Mokokchung in 1959. He was DC, Mkg., from 01.02.1957 to 31.07.1961.