Our machine man recounted his story! His name is Nganthoi and this is his tale. He rides a moped to work, his duty starts from evening and he is mainly responsible for the machine, the printing and how the paper comes out the next day. One day, he told me that he was traveling and had some problems with his moped on the way. His moped was suffering from a sporadic breakdown and he had to get down and do his best to restart the vehicle without any success. He checked the spark plugs, did the grinding of the wheels, but to no avail. The moped would somewhat start and then later choke up! Mr Nganthoi became infuriated, he was of intent that the moped should be done away, chopped up and discarded. Nganthoi returned home with the moped, he took the axe from his backyard and attacked the Luna moped.
`I had warned my family members to stay away as I was in a very bad mood, I was swinging my axe. But, the Luna body was strong and the cast was tough and withstood my attack!` Mr Nganthoi later decided that since he could not tear up the moped so easily, the next best option was to burn it up. He grasped the moped by its handle, dragged it to the middle of a field and positioned bales of straw around it. Next part was to burn it. The fuel line was pulled and the fuel left to wet the straw and make a good bonfire. Mr Nganthoi was careful enough that he should be careful in igniting the flame. But, as the matchstick fell, there was no fire as such. He then at the moment realized that, it was not a mechanical problem but rather that the fuel was spurious!
A moment of anger can blind reasoning and cause one to do so many senseless things. Actions carried out at the spur of the moment may result in more negative results then positive ones. Humans being imperfect are prone to this.
In this regard, one may assume that some agitations in this State needs to be readdressed. The Inner Line Permit for one speaks volumes. The ILP agitation targeted at the benefit of the State`™s indigenous population, may have caused more harm than for the better. We had imposed strikes for nearly 3 months, demanding that the ILP be implemented in the State. However afterwards, there was no proper resolve on how the civil bodies should carry on with the demand in the aftermath of the three months agitating time.
Next, the most unpredictable protest of the anti `“ILP agitation happened. One would say that this is the first time that there has been a difference of opinion being flaunted openly amidst the hill and the valley populace.
Bystanders may be questioning now then, what are the results of the three month long protest of the ILP? What is the use of so many being injured? Why the public had to bear silently now. What is the future course of action? Perhaps, one may question if the JCILPS is somewhat apprehensive to re-launch the ILP agitation.
In another situation, the anti `“ILP agitation led to nine persons getting killed and being martyred for the cause in Churachandpur. The bodies of the deceased have not been disposed or being claimed back by the respective families. Now, what will be the future course of action for the anti-ILP section? It seems that time now stands still and no one wants to make the first move regarding the episode.
The opinion gathered here is to state that, before embarking on a particular journey, before going up against the government on a particular agenda, one should be at least have the wisdom to absorb the sentiments of the public. To assume where things might lead, to have a failsafe before entering the labyrinth, to foresee where things might go wrong. Pursuing an objective devoid of sound reasoning and public opinion would be akin to the example of Mr Nganthoi hacking away at the moped. To later realize that it was not the moped which is at fault, but the fuel which is spurious would be foolhardy. It is time to introspect and redefine the nature of our protests.
Leader Writer: Paojel Chaoba