We Nagas love our
‘chief guests’, don’t we? In fact, we love it so much that it has reached
ridiculous proportions these days. Every little programme - be it a shop
opening, regular school function, sports event, concert and even tribe
festivals - apparently require some big shot chief guest to make it complete,
so much so that some of our so-called VIPs, particularly the legislators, seem
to spend most of their time chief guesting and lecturing at various programmes rather
than attending to their jobs.
Even church events are
not spared. Nowadays, we often find God relegated to the back bench while
politicians and other ‘important’ people take centre stage as chief guest.
I remember a
notification issued by the State Government a few years ago spelling out some
austerity measures ostensibly to clamp down on ‘avoidable expenditure’ both by
the Government as well as by various organisations. The Home Department memo had
asked the Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and Advisors to use their
discretion to attend functions and inaugurations as chief guests depending on
the public importance of such functions. In the event that there is need to
attend any function, the VIPs were asked not to accept any gifts and to keep their
entourages small. Discretion or just plain common sense, no gifts, small
entourages – that was asking too much of our VIPs. Nothing came off it and the
memo remained just a memo on paper that no one gave a hoot about.
The reason behind this
penchant for having influential politicians, bureaucrats and wealthy people as
chief guests at public functions is not really a state secret. And no, it’s not
for the words of wisdom with which they’re expected to enlighten and uplift the
audience. No siree, it is not. In fact, the crowd would be happiest if they
kept their speeches as short as possible. After all, these professional chief
guests would not be sharing anything new, would they? With all the chief
guesting that they do, it can’t be easy coming up with fresh material and new
ideas to talk about.
Anyway, everyone knows
that the principal reason for having these ‘honoured’ guests at functions is for
the sums of money they are likely to donate. To put it crudely, the chief guest
practice has become just a means of making some easy money.
During a discussion on
departmental expenditure in the assembly some time ago, a Minister had even unashamedly
stated that he had used up lakhs of departmental funds attending various public
functions. If he wants to accept all those invitations, that’s his prerogative,
but why was he giving away department funds meant for development like it was
personal funds that he could use as he pleased? But, of course, none of the
honourable legislators dared to counter him with that question.
In any case, it is
precisely because of this trend that all activities have become needless money
spending public functions. Organisers waste precious funds and time making
elaborate arrangements and readying presentations just so that an unnecessary
chief guest can come and grace their programme, with some largesse in tow of
course.
This superfluous
practice has totally spun out of control and it is definitely high time that we
dumped it once and for all.
Where a special guest
is called for, instead of inviting deep pockets for the sake of monetary gain,
an idea is to adopt a commencement address kind of practice. Inspiring figures and
achievers in the community can be invited to share their experiences, values
and advice, especially in programmes involving students and youth. It can be
anyone who has a real story to tell. Wouldn’t that be so much more worthwhile
than some spin from a so-called ‘VIP’?
And there are numerous
beautiful people out there, people who inspire and empower us not only by their
achievements but also by their strength of character, their passion, spirit,
courage, values and attitude towards life…..people who can motivate and teach
us a thing or two or three……………..
Well, what say you?
Our chief want
is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be
-
Ralph Waldo Emerson