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I will not argue for and against on the subject as the above write ups are self explanatory. Zhabu against it, and Chuba for it. Certain misgivings, which can be wrongly interpreted by youth of today and next generation, need to be settled, for which I consider my participation as necessary to help out as a pointer.
I am ex-ECO, I belong to 3/8 Gorkha Rifles. I reported for duty at Tuensang in 1967 on deputation to DIG HQ, Assam Rifles and thereafter on permanent absorption into Assam Rifles, served till retirement i.e. Jun 1997. I had the privilege to experience and live through with locals of average standing and majority of eminent statures are all drinkers barring a few who never drank. Zhabu gives impression that AR induced youth to drinking spree is not a correct projection, to the village elders’ yes. The issue of liquor to locals is as follows. In army, free issue of 60 ml Rum to all ranks on daily basis was authorized from British times and it carried on with Indian army after independence too.
In Assam Rifles, it used to be claimed at same scale from supply depot on payment and given 3 issues a week and more on special occasions on sanction from DIG/Bde Commander depending on situation and inclement weather from time to time. Out of this, CO’s pool used to be created and kept aside (one issue i.e. 60 ml) to entertain on some functions and occasions persons like ex-servicemen and civil officials. Since no money used to be separately earmarked for fraternizing with locals during those days, two - four - six average and 12 bottles maximum under rare circumstance used to be issued to troops for good work done or at times to troops from sister Battalions co-opted on duty and to the civilians that too to red blanket holders only, out of traditional respect for elders and hardly on any occasion to the youth. It continued for 15 to 18 years after Independence because this was the only stuff available (free of cost) with which elders could be fraternized or entertained and it did establish spirit-de-corps, sense of co-operation, feeling of oneness of AR with locals, which is well known through-out the NE.
Then a stage came, senior Officers of the level of GoC sensing wind change or coaxed by church leaders, changed the pattern replacing Rum with issuing of salt, free saplings to VA’s instead and now with MCA projects. CO pool average in a month could muster upto - 20-24 bottles. The Assam Rifles was deployed in penny-pockets with Platoon strength each varying some where upto 15 posts also. CO had to carry a few bottles to each post and interact with Headmen and local leaders. So one can well imagine how much liquor flow could have been into local population. Zhabu then mentions some MP had suggested "Rum, Women and Money" to be used if Naga issue did not cave in. He claims it was published in Readers Digest in 60’s. As regards discussion in Parliament, I am sure, those days there used to be hardly any discussion on Naga Hills. Earliest MP was SC Jamir who can be approached for details. Other MPs hardly had any interest for this nature of discussion.
I would like Rev. Zhabu to introspect in name of his convictions as a religious man and be a self-judge, can that much of liquor influence the mindsets of the entire Naga community to go drunkards. He must be knowing views of late Rev Longri Ao on locals of Kohima who used to stink by consuming locally prepared Zhu and had polluted the environs of Kohima. His biography confirms how concerned and outspoken he was against consumption of liquor (local or foreign). He was the only church leader–cum Gandhian who used to travel far and wide in the Naga villages and credit goes to him of taking Baptist-Church into Mon area i.e. Wakching for the first time in 1954 as Christianity was prohibited to be preached in Mon and Arunachal till 1962 being under MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) since times of British Government. A person of his stature too failed to achieve prohibition and (without naming) some of his close relatives remained drinkers till breathed last because they knew how to drink and were never a public nuisance.
Any social problem must be viewed from broader perspective. Rev Zhabu appreciates tax-free budget of 2003 and accords credit to DAN Govt. No doubt, Govt of Nagaland is unable to generate its own revenue-due to various reasons well known to the politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals and observers. But is it wise to loose revenue in crores when liquor consumption cannot be stopped, whereas ferrying in of liquor from Assam is to be tolerated, thus raising the price of a bottle to abnormal high. Can this business run without involvement of big wigs? Who are put in the front line for ferrying? Our youth.
We are putting our youths to wrong practices doing business to earn lucrative for their hidden bosses and themselves getting discredited. Nagaland Police authorities be approached for information. Out of peddlers arrested what is the ratio between young boys and elders. In addition, what is the background of such youth? It will open our eyes. As refers to providing women, it is just incomprehensible. Rev. Zhabu’s tint to believe that Assam Rifles or the Army would be consciencised in importing women if ‘Rum fails in action is really a cruel joke. Women even if imported will be provided to whom?
No doubt, press enjoys freedom to publish views received from others but the subscribers must use their sense to the desirability of reducing into writing which can convey the fructuous impression. Respect for women must be maintained. Money yes, it is again person-to-person interpretation. In Sixteen point Agreement point 11 fixes, Govt of India’s responsibility to help newly born State with liberal grants, aids and soft loans as one District with out any revenue resources was to be converted into a full-fledged state on political expediency to meet the full expenditure. This money if has to be construed as appeasement to Nagas rather than an assistance to State as a part of great family of Indian nation for reasons obvious is a different story. But still it happened a different way.
Four UG Governments are being maintained by people of Nagaland where as Govt of India perhaps presumed to look after only one i.e. legally elected. The woes created for Nagaland are not by liquor, it is by collective abolishment of work culture and destruction of discipline altogether. To support or oppose prohibition is not within my purview. How can you blame Assam Rifles liquor for spoiling youth?
Rather Assam Rifles have been in thick and thin with locals where ever they have been may be in fighting hunger, floods, famines, fire, disease, illiteracy, hygiene, & of late inter factional and intra UG squabbles too. No doubt Assam Rifles too in retrospect learnt from the locals the importance of ethical values, the values of inter-faith, mutual help, conscientious cooperation and the physiological & psychological affects of undergoing privation & hardships of the interiors. I am talking of the 60s & 70’s in places where maintenance of Assam Rifles personnel used to be by air only and aircraft not reaching for days together due to bad weather and posts remaining cut off for months because of bridges washed away, land slides & roads closed. How could Assam Rifles with this character afford to spoil Naga youth by gifting them rum. It is worth mentioning that gifted Rum to Gaon Buras used to be called ‘Political Rum" by civil administration in lighter vein.
The second major problem for instability in Nagaland -Manipur specially is because of heroin, poppy, marijuana drugs. Close to our borders is Myanmar producing 60% of the world’s requirement. KIA Brigades in areas of Northern Burma & Shan State pervasively control this business in close network with thrown out generals of KMT by Chinese first to Southern China (Yunan) then to Northern Burma since 1949-50 and complete control of production of raw materials for preparation of cocaine from heroin since 1978. The routes of transporting their raw materials are from Golden Triangle through Ledo road (Arunachal) Pangsha (Nagaland) and Moreh (Manipur).
The total world market of this trade is 5000 billion $ US dollars. Out of this stuff worth, 1000 billion finds its way to Southern America through golden Crescent (Pak-Rajas-than-Afghanistan). ISI is involved at various contact points (many times exposed by media and Army) through Bangladesh. This nexus of ISI heroes with drug producers through many uncharted routes too is now unbreakable. Our societies in the NE must not ignore this sweet beep of the death knell. Church will find a formidable, though but a heavenly task to deal with it through slogan like ‘Nagaland for Christ’ to ding-dong and service to humanity. Liquor whether local or foreign is in the veins and nerves of the locals. Prohibition or no prohibition consumption cannot be stopped. SC Jamir, ex-CM, in whose tenure prohibition was clamped in 1990, said recently, "It was against his wishes & he had to agree under pressure from NMA and NSF to clamp the prohibition. We knew from the beginning that this will fail. We have known from the history that nowhere in the world did prohibition succeed and Nagas are no exception". It is only through moral science education to adolescents and guidance by teachers & parents from childhood at bedtime stories, movies, pictures and electronic media that aversion to consumption of liquor can be achieved.
Drug jargon sneaking into our region from Myanmar & Moreh be plugged and taken note of, ISI has to stay on, even if our national problem with UGs is solved which surely will be solved one day. Because, in addition to assisting various UG setups, they have to supply weapons on proliferating demands to needy groups, warlords and Mafia lords. This is the most suitable arena falling within fundamentalists Islamic agenda. It is a stupendous task to curb it, fight it and finish it. It needs involvement of well meaning persons under social obligation for sake of our future generations. Quoting from Bible every time will not do. When people fail to obey Bible commandments in spheres of killings, extortions, adultery & corruption how do we expect they will agree so easily on liquor, which at least is not so destructive?
Take example of Mon. How students Union uprooted the plants of ganja a few decades hence and cleared Mon of this menace. That cultivation was a gift from KIA brigades of 60’s. Nevertheless, imagine rumors were spread which I had also heard that one Army Brig Sucha Singh had brought the plants for cultivation from North to make Konyaks addict. How funny? And we feel proud of our knowledge based on falsity ignoring the reality. With full faith on God with our side, imposing restrictions on human beings in the areas like dress code, total prohibition banning of Hindi movies, is not in line with upholding respect for human rights, and birthrights. You cannot enforce double set of rules one for locals & other for foreigners as drinks is part of food habit for many, dress and entertainment is choice of life style. Nagaland & Manipur both have bright future in tourism industry (other than horti, Seri, Herbal plantation, with natural eco friendly climes. Tourists who once start moving in and are generally cultured to way of drinking will be denied of their birthrights and privilege. Will it be a wise decision? Choice is yours.
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