The Speaking Mirror

My wishes are   Z. Lohe  [dropcap]A[/dropcap] wish is a wish. A wish has no binding on the one whom I wish him to do or not to do. I would be happy if my wish is complied with, and I do not mind when it fails to attract the attention of whom I wish. Nevertheless, I wish the following not to be repeated. 1. The news of Naga cadres defecting from one faction to another faction is not news. When it is nothing surprising, nothing so unusual and nothing of achievement of sort, it is not worth publicity. What does it much matter when few cadres leave one camp of a Naga revolutionary and join another camp of the same category? Is it a great deal when a group of cadres defect and join another as those may not necessarily become assets of that faction rather than liabilities? How much those defected cadres can weaken one or strengthen the other? Can a Naga claim it to be a victory when a fellow Naga is defeated in national movement? What will be a real news item is when all the cadres from all the faction defect one day and join a single faction. Till then better avoid embarrassing each other by not publishing the defection news.2. Opinions on Prohibition of Alcohol are sufficiently shared in local media. As far as theory is concerned, to me, it is enough. Our theories have established bootleggers for a quarter of a century. The theories do not prevent the flow of liquor in dry State of Nagaland. I am sure all the writers on NLTP, both for or against, are aware of how liquor business is run in Nagaland. But the theorists have chicken heart to name the culprits. Who knows many people including some of the writers may be on the parole of the rich bootleggers. Paper determinations are encouraging, paper advises are acceptable and paper plans are tangible. Yet, ultimately, we, the writers, the Police, The Excise Department, the Church and all those who are vocal against haphazard enforcement of NLTP Act, become just as weak, as timid and as artificial as rats of Asop’s story. We better talk it no more of what we are unfit to practically face and handle it. 3. Publication of the pictures of seized cartoons of alcohol in local media is found to be never a deterrent to bootleggers. Well, those cartoons are your prized catch. I personally feel for those constables in Excise Deptt. or Police who are innocent, ignorant, honest and sincere in seizing the cartoons while on duty. Therefore, this comment of mine is neither intended to undermine their effort nor to ridicule any of those who are honestly discharging their duty. Yet, the show, the exhibition of both seizure and destruction of seized bottles are more of embarrassment than satisfaction. You go on seizing the cartoons and destroying it, the flow of liquor will continue in Dry State as the source is perennial. When Assam runs out of stock with liquor, the bootleggers are rich and efficient enough to bring any amount from West Bengal, Karnataka and so on. Lesson for Nagaland is when Kerala announced to phase out the wet State, few liquor industries were alarmed and voiced against it. In other words, the liquor industries would be adversely affected when Kerala becomes dry. Nagaland has been dry for the last 25 years, and no liquor industry bothers. 4. My last wish, for the moment, is (of course, much to the consternation of those who are allergic to truth) State Govt. announcing release of pending salaries of its employees. Unable to pay its employees by a State Govt. is a news for the fact that it is unusual and abnormal, whereas, able to pay salary to its employees is definitely normal and never an achievement. Paying salary to Govt. employees is as good as taking lunch or dinner which is never a news. Such news only reminds the ignorant that the Govt. has not been able to pay salary to its employees on time and for moths together.   Mother’s Heart G. Gwangphun [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he love so divine and ever so unfathomable, Hath in thee and in thy Name, oh Mother. The sweetest name on earth ever cherished, Is thy name sublime and profusely reign in thy heart. No pen and paper can exhaust to depict thy love, Has thou love humanity no matter how cruel nature is to thee. Thy tears of love and pain can no man exchange for it, Neither compares nor returns has thou bestow upon thy issue. The beam of thy compassionate countenance shown in sorrow, And in suffering in the death of your children touches hearts, Melt in tears and bears the pain of human agony when death strike. Thine heart oh Mother, suffer in love for the unlovable.