That Church Pastor and His Scandal

Let me begin by citing you a story, a true story. Ted Haggard was a well known Christian pastor of a Mega Church and also the President of the National Evangelical Association, TIME magazine voted him as one of the influential religious leaders of America. He was also known to have preached plenty of anti-gay rhetoric. Long story short, but he fell from the grace when he found entwined in a sex scandal involving a male prostitute. Soon enough, after lots of pressure, he stepped down from the post of the preacher of the church he founded and also resigned from the National Evangelical Association. Then on, he started a new church, but there too, he faced allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct on young men.  After which he started a new church again, this time literally in his own house. Crazy life!

There are numerous stories around the globe about Christian priests, pastors, evangelists and apologists who found themselves exposed to the sexual scandals they had committed. But, this year’s news of a Naga pastor shocked the state. If our records are right then this is the first time in our state where a person working in a church ministry was involved. He was quickly labelled as ‘P3DO’, not by the law makers though. On a side note, pedophilia means primarily or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children, whereas, ephebophilia is for sexual interest in later adolescents, typically ages 15-18. It’s a legal thing that the names and details of the victims were not made public. 

After this news broke out, the public reaction was apparent, people stormed out on social media, some wrote about what has to be done citing POCSO ACT, some wrote about the evils prevailing in our society, some were more concerned about, ‘why Naga celebrities were not vocal about it?’, some intellectuals wrote about the power dynamics associated with such crimes, some wrongly blamed the church he was working in and some illogical people questioned in general, the morality of people who serves in the church ministry.  

Anyway, what matters is not the reaction but the response. The response results in the execution of the culprit, based on concrete evidence, by the jury, judge and executioner. The last news I have of this incident was from one of the Nagamese YouTube news channels, which stated that the concerned individual is absconding. He is not Osama Bin Laden, hence, I do not know, how rigorous the manhunt will be. But, I hope, sooner or later, he will be brought to Nagaland and he will be tried for the offences he has committed. The sensation which this news once created in our small state seems to have cooled off after news of various financial scams were brought to light. Indeed, we live in a fast paced world. 

Love and the Mismatch

A bird and a fish fell in love. The fish could try to express its love with its majestic swim moves; the bird could chirp the sweetest of melody for the fish. But at night, the bird returned to its nest on the tall tree and the fish returned to its secured coral. They love each other, no doubt about it, but where would they live? No matter how great their magnitude of love was for each other, they could never built a home together.

Sometimes, in our lives we meet people; we fell for them, the feeling can be mutual. However, it becomes impossible for some to build a home together. There could be various reasons for such impossibility but the greatest of all, we are a big mismatch. No matter how many sacrifices we might make and be ready to fight the world but if we are not meant to build a home together then we can’t. Accepting when a relationship just can’t work, a fish and a bird can stay as friends, we can stay as friends.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE GARDEN CANTEEN

Often we see pictures of restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries or even college/school canteens uploaded by youngsters, social media influencers or customers who had a great time out there. But what about the hospital canteens? Of course, hospital is not a pleasant place, it's an honest place.  

Let me share about one of the hospital canteens in Dimapur, which left a lasting impression on me. Nested away on the ground floor of CIHSR (Referral Hospital), The Garden canteen was a haven of tranquility amidst the bustling chaos of the medical facility. Unlike the brewing tensions in the wards, cabins and ICU, the canteen offered a serene ambiance. The menu at The Garden canteen catered to a variety of tastes, from hearty home-made kind of comfort food to light and healthy meals. If not the patients then at least their attendants could enjoy meals which aligned with their Naga taste buds.  The canteen's staff was known for their friendly and attentive service. They were always happy to accommodate the customers' needs and demands. The Garden canteen also offered a selection of beverages, cookies, basic toiletries and stationery etc.  

Beyond its delicious food and welcoming atmosphere, The Garden served as a place for patients and their attendants to connect and relax over a plate of meal. It was a space where they could take a break from the stress of illness and enjoy a meal together. For many including me, the canteen became a cherished memory of my/ their time at the hospital.

What is Digital Rape?

When I first heard of the term 'Digital R*', I thought, the R word was to be taken as a metaphor, and Digital R* meant damaging the reputation of someone through the use of digital tools like computer, phone, laptops etc. But I was wrong. 

Digit means number/integer. However, when it comes to Digital R, 'digital' refers to the digits on a person's hands or feet. Digital R is a form of sexual assault where a person forcibly and without concent inserts their fingers or toes into another person's private parts. In India, Digital R was recognised in 2013 after the Nirabhaya R case of 2012. It was defined and punished as a R offence under Sections 375 and 376 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013. Hence, if one commits Digital R, it doesn't make the offender less of a rapist. The offender will be tried in the same way as a rapist. 

I have just defined the term in the simplest way. If you are interested to learn more about it, then you can pick up books, articles and newspapers on or relating to this topic. 

Beyond the Daily Gossip: A Personal Reflection on Loan Defaulters

Every morning, before I sip my first cup of tea, I go through the pages of the local daily. Most of the news are from last day's social media posts and updates. But the catch? We don't get to see the names or institutes/ companies who are summoned by the court for being loan defaulters. I don't have Schadenfreude complex but the situation of those people amuses me. How did they land up there? 

Borrowing from a bank is not a joke. In Nagaland, bank loans are considered as the last resort, thanks to our strong community bonding. When friends, family or relatives are in no position to lend then we knock the doors of the banks. Paying off the credit amount and the interest is truly courageous. Many a times, we spent our lifetime paying the interest alone. 

Sometimes, the defaulters' names (made clearer because of their home address or their institutes' names) comes as a shock to me. I am guilty for judging them but the passing rhetoric, 'Aren't they rich?/ Isn't the institute doing financially well?' crosses my mind. 

I won't be able to waive off their loans or of any help to them financially. But it teaches me a good lesson, not to borrow which you can't pay, to carefully consider the interest rate and to know the value of your assets and the amount of your liabilities. If not then apart from being dragged to the court, the unworthy recognition of your name in the local dailies might make the readers look at you with pity like I do.