By Michael Makri
Leadership in Meghalaya, whether in politics or religion is stale. Stale as in out-of-date. This is probably because we live on drama. I am not just talking about our love for Hollywood soap operas or Bollywood serials or these days Korean serials that make sure we are glued to our seats at specific times of the day. I am also referring to how as a people we perceive reality on politics and religion in our state.
Meghalaya’s current situation is similar to the Hollywood serial, “Game of Thrones.” Corruption, poverty, political dynasties and cunning alliances are everywhere. Apparently, the current dispensation is perceived as unable to fulfill the promises it made when it started out in 2013. Mining and NGT, trafficking of women, drug menace, bad roads and communication in rural villages, price rise of basic commodities, GST, traffic congestion in the city etc. These are but some of the heartbreaks that beset us, so that social media outbursts are become the in thing. And as in our beloved soap opera, we have a need to paint someone or something as a villain.
And similar to what happens in our serials, from somewhere, our hero should arise. We have a roster of heroes from which to choose. We have the likes of Mukulji, Lapangji, Ardentji, Paulji, Ronnieji, Donkuparji and Shibunji vying for the iron throne, with their promises of deliverance from the plagues afflicting this state; each promising what will be a brighter future if they end up on the judgment throne.
This is not a problem per se. In fact, I am quite happy that finally, our people are showing as much enthusiasm in choosing their leaders. What I am afraid of is how most of the leaders are clinging on to power and are not ready to share responsibility. What I am afraid of is the number of different portfolios each one is holding on as if no other citizenry is capable of discharging it. What I am afraid of is their greed for power. This shows their insincerity. They are afraid that someone will know their wicked deeds if they share power and responsibility. The more power they hold, the more wicked they become because they can’t perform any of their duties well. This is evident in the lives of so many leaders in our society, be it politics or religion. Please remember, the problems that we face cannot be solved by just one man or woman alone.
The truth is, if we are to move forward as a society, there must be collective action from all strata, all sections of society towards a culture of discipline, integrity, hard work and excellence. Except for God, there is no one-person solution because the ills that we face have been and are being made by lakhs of people living together in an abode of cloud that shares international and national geographical boundaries and cultural barriers that invariably cause misunderstandings in the long run.
The state has had more than 10 CMs – the first CM Captain Williamson Sangma. Probably he and SC Marak are the only two to complete a full term of five years in office. We have had 11 elections but we are still stuck in the dilemma of mediocrity. What most of us do not realize is that for every election in the past, there is a ‘chosen one’ who we deemed capable of saving the entire state. But this only leads to heartbreak because with this mindset, the end result will always be the same: disappointment.
We know full well that when we cast our votes, we are choosing someone who will take charge in determining our direction as a state. But this does not release us from performing our more important duties as citizens of this state. We are misled by our belief that the roles we play in society are of less importance compare to the role that political leaders play. Nothing is farther from the truth. We can still be something without these messianic leaders, but our leaders will be nothing without us – the citizenry. Let me tell you in all truth, no matter whom we vote for, our state will not magically transform into a developed state with poverty, crime, or natural or man-made disasters becoming things of the past. All these candidates cannot make this state great on their own. The future of this nation depends on each of us that make up this whole. It is we, you and I, who can do something for this nation. It starts with thinking collectively for the sake of the future generation. It begins when we think of others as much as of ourselves.
For change to happen, it starts with children and teens stopping to chase after cheap thrills and concentrate on improving their skills so they can be productive instead of merely reproductive. It starts when young parents plan their families so that they can provide for their children’s basic needs—and yes, this includes quality education. It starts when businessmen do their utmost to understand the financial woes of their employees and let these guide their decisions. It begins when pedestrians learn to walk or cross in the proper lanes. It begins when the formators understand the formees. It begins when drivers observe traffic rules. The list of what we, the citizenry, can do to help build our society is endless!
Leaders have failed to deliver on their promises in the past. But that is to teach us how crucial is the cooperation between our leaders and the people. An honest leader cannot make the necessary changes if the people remain resistant to positive change, to personal and collective discipline, and to authority. My hope then is this: that whoever wins the 2018 elections, we will set aside our biases and prejudices and learn how to cooperate, for once. And to the candidates who win, I only plead that you be the one who has enough political will to change the system that has weighed down the progress of our state for so long.
For change to come, for the better Meghalaya is simple: competent and honest servant-leaders plus cooperative and hardworking people. It is difficult to come by because the price to pay is to deny our own instinct to go for the easy way. But I would like to think that we are not gifted with this much resourcefulness for nothing. It is only a matter of will as a people, if we really want positive change to occur. Whether change is coming or not, we must first ask if we are capable of being the real-life hero of our own in the grandest Meghalaya soap opera in which we’ll ever stars: our state’s future, no less— “the Scotland of the East”.