It is interesting to observe that the people of Nagaland are, perhaps for the first time in a while, taking the parliamentary elections to the Lower House seriously. It’s not just the politicians and party workers who are displaying keen interest; it appears that various sections of society are closely following the trends. This heightened engagement is beneficial for the flourishing of democracy. There also appears to be an ideological divide, adding to the intrigue leading up to the polls. This engagement must persist long after 19 April.
However, all these positive signs of democratic growth will be rendered meaningless if those with the power to flout the rules do so on 19 April. Such actions would not only undermine democracy but also erode trust in the system, potentially leading society towards dystopia.
Reflecting on past elections in Nagaland, it’s hard to believe that the upcoming elections will be free and fair. We have messed things up so much so that hoping for fairness seems as futile as expecting the sun to rise in the west. Nonetheless, when a significant portion of the populace expresses disapproval, change can occur, albeit gradually. Hopefully.
Politicians and party workers should embrace the interest in politics shown by people from various walks of life, including the church. Politics encompasses decisions and actions that impact society as a whole, including matters concerning the church. Therefore, ordinary citizens should actively participate in politics rather than leaving it solely to politicians and their lackeys. We should advocate for increased civic engagement and responsibility, emphasizing that everyone plays a role in shaping society’s direction.
Unfortunately, a misconstrued definition of politics has become deeply entrenched in our psyche. We subconsciously equate politics with winning elections by any means necessary. However, politics is actually the art—or rather, the science—of governance. It is much more than electioneering and propaganda. Politics is not about bribing or coercing voters, booth capturing, or vote rigging. Politics is about governance, referring to the ways governments make rules and laws to manage human society.
As Plato said, one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.