Hope for hope’s sake
As 2025 dawns, the world steps into a new year fraught with significant challenges and lingering uncertainties. Globally, conflicts such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran threaten to intensify. These disputes carry the grim possibility of expanding into broader conflicts, raising fears of a global crisis that could involve multiple nations in a catastrophic confrontation. As 2025 unfolds, the world faces a critical juncture. While the challenges are undeniable, the opportunity for meaningful action remains. By addressing conflicts, climate change, and social disparities with determination and integrity, leaders can pave the way for a future that balances resilience with hope. The pressing issue of climate change remains a critical global concern. Abnormal weather patterns and environmental degradation continue to wreak havoc worldwide, with experts projecting dire consequences. According to estimates, climate change could result in an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress. Alongside these environmental challenges, global health remains under pressure from emerging infectious diseases and persistent chronic conditions, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance and innovation in healthcare. Politics in India has undergone a profound transformation, especially since 2014, with the narrative shifting to extremes where dissent against the majoritarian ideology is fraught with uncertainty and risk. The political climate has grown increasingly hostile, with media channels amplifying hate-laden rhetoric that sometimes borders on the absurd. Politicians, rather than engaging in constructive debate, often resort to vitriolic attacks on their rivals, treating them more like adversaries in a war than fellow countrymen and women. However, of all, the ongoing unrest in Manipur since 2023, marked by communal and ethnic violence, has left a deep scar on the social fabric of the region. Nearly 300 lives have been lost, and thousands of families continue to suffer without resolution. Despite these grave circumstances, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticized for its perceived inaction and lack of empathy toward the victims. Assam, often considered the cultural gateway to Northeast India, has seen a growing alienation of ethnic and religious minorities, with political agendas seemingly prioritizing division over unity. In Nagaland, societal issues rooted in economic and political disparity and lack of application of the rule of law have deepened feelings of frustration and despondency. The concentration of power within an opposition-less government has spelt a death knell for the voice of dissent, leaving citizens with little recourse to address their grievances. Despite years of focus on political issues since 2003, there remains no concrete resolution in sight. Instead, the situation appears to be in a state of stagnation, with leaders reluctant to make difficult but necessary decisions. The path forward lies not in appeasing popular sentiments but in ridding of populism, rhetoric and restoring trust in the rule of law-a cornerstone of democracy that has been sidelined for too long. It is imperative for leaders to rise above partisanship and make bold, sometimes unpopular, decisions that prioritize justice, fairness, and governance over short-term political gain. Only by upholding these principles can a foundation for peace and progress be built, enabling Nagaland to thrive.
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