On 25th February, I happened to come across a short article in Nagaland Post “Reader’s Post” entitled “Appeal to CM and Chairman NBCC” written by one Yohan JB from Medziphema questioning them whether Nagaland was still a Dry State.
It was a little bit funny but very true and meaningful, at least to me. I believe they might ignore his questions so I, as an elderly Naga, would like to share something on this. In 2016, a couple of months before my retirement, I went to Chennai on a one day official meeting where an old friend of mine who is much younger than me also came from Lucknow to attend the same meeting.
During lunch break, people started asking me about how it is to live in a Dry State, my friend from Lucknow who is also an occasional drinker like me said that his wife often pray to God to make his post get transferred to a dry State like Nagaland saying only something like that could cure him of his drinking habit.
Others too started asking me questions on this. I don’t know from where I got the idea but I suddenly dropped the cup of tea I was holding and let it fall on the floor. In the confusion, I excused myself and went to the washroom where I spent sometime playing a game on my mobile.
Luckily when I came out, the lunch break was over and the topic wasn’t discussed again. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if God answers the prayer of my friend’s wife, will she blame God or will she blame the Nagas once she finds out the truth of our namesake Dry State.
The reality is Alcohol is available almost every where in Nagaland. The MC Rum which are given to horses and Mithuns in other states is the most consumed liquor in our State.
I am sure everyone will agree when I say that the Hornbill festival, during the nights are like a Drinking Festival.
Even most of the remote villages or towns in Nagaland have liquor home-shops where we can sit and drink or just buy so just imagine how many Check-Gates the concerned people must be crossing successfully while transporting it.
I feel it’s high time we must face reality. Once in a while we see pictures of seized alcohol along with some police personnels on the local dailies but that doesn’t stop the flow of alcohol, it only rises it’s price. “Dry State” has always been a failure. If we can’t win, accept our defeat and like Mr Yohan suggested in his point no. 2, allow the Nagas to consume less poisonous and better liquors and give license to young jobless Nagas to run these business. Otherwise let’s Fight Honestly.
Tokavi Achumi,
Kohima