Wednesday 3 October 2012

FORCE- not a solution


Force is not a solution to man’s problems.

End is not all that matters; it’s the means that determine the worth of it. Getting whatever we want may seem like the rule of the world but it is the willingness or the unwillingness of the givers that truly decide the legitimacy or the futility of forceful taking.

We live in a society where “Might is Right” is the adage that governs. If one has a strong backup, one becomes almost invincible. If you want it, you take it; the tears that conceal themselves behind the victim’s eyes are either ignored or unseen. But what can the victim do anyway? Does he even have an option? Even if he decides not to give, it will be taken; and not simply ‘taken’, he will be left only with few bruises if fate decides to turn in his favor.

One thing which every living soul testifies to is the fact that the society is never free of problems and that the society as a whole strives to find a solution. Very often we see the solution, we know the source of the solution, we even know the way to it but we are reminded that time can never be mastered upon. An obvious fact which many of us fail to notice or choose not to notice is the fact that whatever be the situation force is never the solution.

History never betrays the readers. We do not have to look beyond the oceans for an explanation of the same. Gandhi and his non-violent means and the ultimate result of over throwing an empire speak for itself. It is not that violence was never tried; they did but met with the same response. Violence begets violence indeed. Our own history tells us about the futility of resorting to force. We have a hope today, however bleak it may be, of reaching a solution to society’s problems. We may be rest assured that no force is being used and the positive outcome is evident.

Resorting to forceful means is not new to the world, it has its presence felt in the history of civilization and it has yielded no positive outcome. In areas where it succeeded, it was at the expense of the conquered; despotism and dictatorship was given birth to. The world today seeks solution to the very same problem. It will be unwise to even consider that a problem that resulted from force will be solved using force.

The society is tired of seeing history being repeated. The outcome is anybody’s guess. We search for a historic outcome but all we get is a historic cliché. Let us set aside force for a moment, who knows the solution may lie elsewhere?

Saturday 3 March 2012

An Amazing Paradox


                     The Least is the Greatest (Luke 9:48)

                "GREAT" is such a hypnotising word that at the mention of it, one can easily lure vulnerable minds and snare them with the assurance of making them GREAT. Serious analysis of the deterioration of human morality and integrity, which ultimately ails the society, reveals the "Crave for Greatness". Every individual wants to become someone great in life. GOOD!, if your vision is Christ-centred and are willing to be a channel of God's blessings. The society has never needed God-fearing leaders more; people who can usher in the much needed CHANGE into our degrading society. Sadly, leaders have got their priorities and their understanding of God entangled in a web of speculation and pretence that however religious they try to be, they only become a menace to the society.
                               A leader is a follower of Christ.A person who does not humble himself before God and man can never truly become a leader.George Washington,the 1st President of the United States of America,had a regular time of prayer. Every night,at 9 O'clock,he would go into a room with a candle in hand,lock the door,kneel down and spend time with God.Needless to say,he would be praying for God's wisdom and guidance to lead the country in a way pleasing to Him and for the entire America.Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a one day fast for the entire America in reverence to the Lord and it is recorded that America sky-rocketed (even) economically thenceforth.That is the kind of leadership the world needs today.They set their priorities right.They had time for God and God took care of their presidency.

              Joseph was a dreamer,David,a shepherd.Esther was a captive in Babylon,Daniel and his three friends were just another four ordinary young men.They seemed to be the least but God exalted them to great heights.Their humility among men with faithfulness towards God made them the greatest.God does not play dice.When He says"The Least among you is the Greatest",He means it indeed.I am reminded of a quotation by Alexander Ledru Rollin,
                                                    "There go the people.
                                I must follow them for I am their Leader"

             Let us look at some characteristics of Leadership that Jesus possessed which many leaders of today fail to execute:
1..Jesus was a Servant King.Jesus was a leader who served people, unlike many leaders who love being served.
He went to the extend of washing His disciples' feet.The world would say "What a humiliation!!" but God says "What a leadership!!"

2..Jesus ‘literally’ led people.He was with them,helping them,caring for them,healing them.This BIG God became small enough to stoop and bend His ear to their cry.

3..Jesus never lost touch with His Father.He maintained His time of prayer.

4..Jesus walked the talk.Whatever He preached,He practised them.

5..Jesus treated everybody equally,with LOve.He showed no favouratism.

6..Jesus loved His enemies and He became obedient to death,even death on the cross.

7.Ultimately,He seeks personal relationship with every individual.

  So we need LEADERS who will
            Lead
Encourage
            And 
Develop 
Eternal 
RelationShip.

Thursday 19 January 2012

Sovereignty! Really?



I am neither a pessimist nor a turncoat but a realist.
I am referring to our demand for Greater Nagaland and our leaders' continuous nudge with the GOI and the subsequent compromise always. Nagaland is strategically too important for India that for the GOI to ignore our interest will be a blunder. Nagaland may be rightly called a 'necessary evil', we do not contribute to nation's economic wealth but GOI needs our land,I repeat again: our land, not the people. China is already strengthening its influence over India, well supported by their "String of Pearls" strategy. I'm not worried about the survival of Nagas after independence because China will take care of us. China will pour in so much wealth that we will be literally enslaved and our land will be used for further expanding their "String of Pearls" circle. And Needless to say, India is aware of that.

I gave myself the liberty of looking into the future assuming Nagaland to be an independent State. Introspecting the areas of governance and administration, the future does look promising but not without a string of hopelessness.
With 99.9% confidence, the form of government will be Communist (we don’t expect China to overlook this opportunity, do we?). One of the leaders then will be made the President, of course a rubber-stamp President who will be an arm of the command from the wealth provider. Military bases will be developed, basic, consumer goods and capital goods industries will spring up, primary sector will be strengthened to source these industries and tertiary activities will be organised. Tycoons will make their entry into the new market provided, ***** hotels will be built to accommodate them, better roads for their sophisticated cars, malls for their children and clubs and pubs for recreation. ‘Economy will bloom’ will only be an understatement.

What I am basically trying to say is Independent Nagaland seem like a distant dream to me. India will throw as much wealth needed and buy Naga leaders but never let go our land because they need Nagaland though they may not care for the Nagas.

But communism will stand on the ideology of communism. People’s voice will not be heard.
So stay with India: Underdeveloped but democratic, or embrace communism and bring in development?


Thursday 12 January 2012

Tradition Vs Doctrine ( Discrimination in the church?)



Often times I have wondered if the churches in Nagaland can be humble enough to come under one roof and sort out the differences hovering over them. I am ‘privileged’ to have had firsthand experiences of many tradition oriented practices plaguing the churches today and the misunderstanding among and within the churches in Nagaland. While some churches see praise and worship as an integral part of worship, it is seen as an “act of entertainment” in many others. Is praise and worship a prelude to the worship services or is it a part of it? I was practically stunned when a ‘theology’ student, during one of the practices confidently pronounced “we have crossed the ‘singspiration level’ but yet to reach praise and worship”. WHAT!!

While clapping is a form of worship echoing the Word of God (as told by a well-known preacher), some churches completely disapprove them. In fact some of them even try to convince the congregation into refraining from it.

The pastor suddenly paused his talking in the middle of a devotional Sunday service and I was laterally taken aback when, instead of continuing with his ‘shepherding’ the pastor ‘suddenly’ started WELCOMING someone into the church. Turning back I saw one of our ‘ministers’ making his heroic entry into ‘D church’, apparently very proud at the needless approval of the pastor. Are not churches supposed to be an institution of justice and moral voice of the people? Are not we justified in calling it ‘discrimination in the church’? Many churches in Nagaland bluntly refuse to be an epitome of equality.

Can the church give a proper guidance to the already disturbed and confused youth? The society confuses us, the media confuses us, the internet confuses us, music confuses us, the government confuses us, politics confuse us, and corruption confuses us. The youth today are entangled in a web of confusion. We want and need to be rescued. The more we try to set ourselves free, the more confused we become. Please don’t confuse us even more O! Anointed Church.