Why Compete the Ways...

Ankit Sajwan's revival and healing crusade in Dimapur, Nagaland, was a mega success. But when  some of the clips and pictures of the event were shared on social media, some people were more excited in bringing up the topic of rice-bags and what not. Hence, these few lines popped up on my mind.

 "Which religion is the best, is for the deads to decide.

 While we live in this world, let's learn to live.

Wisdom is god's eternal gift, age's first kiss.

Kindness the supreme of all, pride the doom's stair."

A Silent Crisis: Call for Improved Infrastructure

The brutal murder of a 22 year old state level basketball player in Nagaland sent shock waves across every corner of our state. I have been following this news, and I was of the opinion that it might be an insider's dirty work (this heinous crime must have been committed by someone known to the victim). I am sure; I am not the only one who thought on the same line. Whatever the motive was, I hope and pray that justice will be served. 

Catching the right culprit takes time, sometimes, days or weeks or even years, and in the worst case scenario, it's never solved and the case becomes a cold case. However, I am grateful to the Kohima police in general and the crime branch in particular for their relentless effort to catch the perpetrator. 

But it won't be a lie to say that our state lacks in public safety and criminal justice infrastructure. Nagaland has only one forensic science laboratory, that too in Dimapur, making the test results delay. Delivering justice is always urgency. It is an established fact, a growing population can lead to an increase in the absolute number of crimes, and there is a correlation between these two. Isn't it high time that the government should invest in above stated infrastructural facilities?

Just an opinion: I wonder why there are no true crime podcasters from Nagaland. Despite of having so many Youtubers and blooming podcasts, there seems to be not a single channel from our state that solely focuses on true crime. If there is or are dedicated true crime podcast in our state then it not only acts as a medium of information but if it's free from conspiracy and propaganda, then it is like a pressure building tool to make government agencies to act swiftly and to look into the lacunae that hinders the delivery of justice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TALK ABOUT SUGAR DADDIES IN NAGALAND

By now we all know what 'Sugar Daddy' is. This term can go both ways, either as derogatory or neutral. In the former, it implies a relationship based on financial support in exchange of companionship which can sometimes have sexual component and has power dynamics. In the latter, it is used to describe a wealthy patron in a light hearted way/ often as a joke. 

Sugar Daddy, there is an ambiguity surrounding the origination of this term. There are 3 popular accounts suggesting the origination of this term.

1908- Sugar Daddy was a pet name for Adolph B. Spreckels, heir to the Spreckels Sugar fortune, by his much younger wife, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, who called him her 'sugar daddy'. However, this story serves as unreliably sourced. Etymologists have questioned the accuracy of this story, indicating a lack of contemporary evidence.

1923- The term's first known appearance in print is often connected to the publicity surrounding the 1923 unsolved killing of Dorothy "Dot" King (a New York flapper). Her major benefactor, a wealthy financier, was referred to in her love letters as her 'heavy sugar daddy.' This public attention popularized the terms 'sugar daddy' and 'sugar baby' (or 'heavy sugar baby'), which derived from the use of 'sugar' as slang for money and 'heavy sugar' for large amounts of wealth.

1926- The Oxford English Dictionary attributes the earliest evidence of 'sugar daddy' to a 1926 work by British author Gilbert Frankau titled My Unsentimental Journey. Merriam-Webster also lists the first known use as 1926.

In Nagaland, the term 'Sugar Daddy' seems to have gained popularity post pandemic with other synonyms like Scorpio Uncle, Bolero Uncle and Chini Papa.  It is often used to mock the flamboyant attitude of middle aged men who try to lure young girls or ladies who are way younger than them, by showing off their financial status. It is also used to describe an illicit affair between a rich older man (provider) and a younger woman (receiver).  Although for some it can be a causal term used as a joke or disapproval but it projects the receiver as a 'gold-digger'. On the surface level, we really do not know the kind of relationship the sugar daddy and the sugar baby shares, relationships are complicated and our judgements make it even worse. What I want to say is, we go easy on Sugar Daddies but we are quick in giving moral gyans to Sugar Babies. The gender equivalent of Sugar Daddies is Sugar Mommies, and here we see a reverse, we pass judgements on the provider. No matter the flips, women are harshly judged, they are at the receiving end, always. It is not because women are considered as epitome of virtues and the society expect women to be the flagbearer of morality. Rather it is due to the ingrained misogyny in us. 

Lastly, people in question approach a rumour by releasing a press release, or issue an apology (if needed) or make clarifications through various social media means. However, I am of the opinion that, why give public explanation or clarification for a mere case of Sugar Daddy, when it does not relate with mass scale corruption or damage of public property. Rumour dies quickly especially when it meets the ears of a nonchalant person. To be honest, there are lots of people in our state who have other better works to do then just get entertained by the news of someone's dating life. Let's all chill a bit!