Best way to protect the future is to build it, says Dr SC Jamir

January 21, 2023 21 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 21 (MExN): Former Governor and Chief Minister, Dr SC Jamir today stated that in order to protect the Naga people’s future, they must first build it.

He was speaking at the opening of Royaloak, a furniture brand showroom, at Purana Bazaar, Dimapur on January 20. Speaking on the commercial boom of Dimapur, Jamir said that the town is a “mini India, where people from different parts of the country are working.”

He said that in the next few decades Dimapur will be the gateway to the Southeast Asian countries when Act East Policy is fully matured. Dimapur will be a hub of commercial activities not only in Northeast India but this will be a commercial hub of the country, he forecasted.

The veteran leader therefore called for creating an environment that will enable Dimapur to have the best commercial activity in the country.

“It all depends upon our people and those people who are here from other parts of the country. You should also feel and make yourself a part of Nagaland in the matter of development especially in commercial activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jamir questioned what the dream for Nagaland is. “What kind of future we dream of Nagaland, to be one of the most advanced state not just in northeast but the country. I think this is the dream of our younger generation today,” he stated.

Quoting Douglas Adams, he said “the best way to protect the future is to build it. Not talking.” He spoke of a future for Nagaland that is “peaceful, united, progressive, prosperous.” “Have we started to build up to fulfill the future?” he questioned.

Jamir said that the people who started the Naga national movement dreamt of a “united, peaceful, progressive, prosperous Nagaland and during this political pilgrimage they had to steer through stormy weathers and during these long years of political struggle the world has completely changed.”

He stressed that what was relevant 20 years back is no more relevant today. “Lifestyle, the thinking process and the way we approach a problem is quite different,” he noted. Jamir said that the world is now at the palm of people’s hands, and information is just a button away.

Considering the exposure to global information, he said that leaders and the young people should work to be a part of the 21st century. He called upon the Naga people to come out of their political and economic cocoon.

“The dynamism which now our younger generation is having, we have never dreamt of it,” he observed. Jamir however termed it “sad” that there is no space in Nagaland to allow the younger generation to play their role.

He further stated that what is happening in bigger states of the country cannot apply to Nagaland. “Just because other states of the country with huge population and huge areas, so they have districts, so we also want districts. Before it was district of Assam now we have 14, 15 districts. How are we going to manage in the future?” he questioned.

Jamir also questioned the mentality that has gone into the minds of Naga people. “I think we should also look forward and say that administration can be carried out only when we have manpower. We have area, otherwise now it is only copying from other states. We don’t need so many departments also. We have to evolve a system where our government will be efficient and effective,” he stated.