Rev Dr Phuveyi Dozo
Dimapur, the Gateway and threshold of Nagaland, the region, India and the world, can become a city of Paradise with its twine-district Chumoukedima and far-flung suburbs and satellite villages with Niuland district on the East. The other side of Paradise is Sodom-Gomorrah with lawlessness, brazenness, drunkenness, vulnerability, indecency, fears, extortion, disorderliness and violence, and abuse of peace. With providence of the NLTP that created an atmosphere of legal awareness of liquor inundation for the last 36 years, Dimapur has graphically grown with progress of social sobriety, prosperity, civic maturity, and peace in families and social institutions. The NLTP is a great blessing in disguise, telling the truth.
It is not a religious interpretation to shield NLTP but a transiting light to transform people from social downfall besides serious health issues caused by liquor. It is sensibly promulgated by our leaders used by God seeing and sensing harmful effect and destructive poison of liquor for generations hereafter, and was enacted by the government of the people in 1989. It is a divine intervention and Nagaland must thank our leaders of the time and legislating authority with total support and cooperation in letter and spirit. Damaging the gauge of the dam of prohibition will deluge the state with ugly scene of bottles in the stress, intersections, corridors of buildings, educational institutions, and public avenues with loss of human value of sanity, and spirituality.
The world is characterized with social disturbance, protests, shooting and rioting, and riff raff caused by uncontrolled liquor habit. Liquor causes abnormality, diminishing of youth vitality and economic liability since it destroys the principle of ‘Work and Eat’. It is high time for civil organizations, stakeholders, unions, statutory bodies and churches in Dimapur to consolidate and stand together strong and solidly support the NLTP to promote morality and civic value.
Nagaland is what Dimapur is being the rippling gateway and harboring port of the state. A united effort of civil administration, civil and political bodies is pivotal to curb negative elements since the flows and outlets of Dimapur will influence, contaminate or purify and impact the rest of Nagaland. Dimapur, being the controlling gauge, can create a unique beauty as the paradise-city of Nagaland characterizing and upholding.
Advancement – forwardness and headway that come from normalcy
Blessing - success and happiness that comes from integrity and work
Civilization – development and evolution against reversion and wildness
Cleanliness – beauty of hearts, homes, streets, intersections and corridors
Decency – worthy behavior that reflects what we eat and drink
Economic prosperity – that hardworking, sweat, and honesty bring
Education – quality education and liquor cannot go together
Progress - achievement of life purpose unhindered and unharmed
Sobriety – think of a drunken officer, leader, doctor, teacher or a father
Social peace and harmony – environment above reproach, quarrel, brawling
Directly and indirectly Dimapur is in support of NLTP while arguing or backing lifting in the event of weakness and stalemate of its enforcement. Dimapur can rather play a forefront role of implementation of NLTP since it can save and promote its sanctity and glory from its social erosion and deterioration. The forthcoming generations will thank the present leadership for navigating the youth and children in right direction and positive perspective. The NLTP is an opportunity to shape Dimapur to be ‘how it should appear’.
Whom to blame while citing ‘free flow of illegal liquor trade’? It is ‘illegal’ when it is rebellion, disobedience, jumbling, a parody, unlawful, dishonesty, and violation. A civilized society will not click and eat its vomit. Doing which is wrong and breaching what is sanctity is an attitude against divine responsibility that says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do it, and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17). The enactment of NLTP is very much a promotion of social health and safety, civic value, spiritual alignment, ethical quality, and legal loyalty. There will be no regret tomorrow if we avoid today what will swallow us up.
May Dimapur transcend and become a Paradise of Nagaland and the world beyond by eschewing what may injure and bury us. We all have come here to work and live in peace and procreate lasting value being decent inhabitants. As peace lovers and promoters, let us together make our city a home of tranquility and a global haven.
God bless Dimapur of Nagaland!
