SARANAMEI, Jan 28 : Saranamei village, or Siimai as the locals know it, is just 14 km away from National Highway 39. According to local legends, it is one of the oldest settlements, if not the oldest, in the great migration of the Nagas after they emerged from the Makhel cave.
But the 14 km which separate it from the nearest highway township Tadubi might as well be the gulf that separates heaven and hell.
This became obvious during a one day cultural exchange function organised by an NGO by the name of ICHAM, under the dynamic leadership of its young president, N Boi Rajendro. In an event which will be remembered not just by the villagers, who turned out in great numbers at the local ground, but also by those who went there to witness the event, cultural troupes from the valley performed for the village and local dancers performed for the visitors. Gifts were also exchanged.
Upto Paomata village there is a single lane all-weather state highway which continues right up Jessami in Ukhrul district. This road is in a dilapidated condition, but even this would seem a luxury compared to the approach road to Saranamei that branches off from it at Paomata. This 5km dirt road, dusty during the dry seasons and un-navigable during the wet season seemed like an eternity to traverse.
It is absolutely depressing and infuriating to see this village is so far yet so near. It is as if it is a spot left unnoticed by the state. It is even more infuriating that Saranamei is just one example of hundreds of others which have fallen in the same blind spot of the state.
Saranamei is not a small insignificant village either. The village has about 1000 households and is home to about 5000 flesh and blood citizens of this state. It is absolutely confounding that the government can remain unconcerned when so many of its citizens are deprived of even the most basic benefits of governance.
The village does not have a primary health sub-centre, it has not known treated pipe water, there are no public transport facilities, although there were some private taxis with Kohima registration seen parking in some corners of the village, there are no government offices or representatives in the village, the village approach road was constructed by the villagers themselves and maintained by them too.
Although it is so atrociously left out by the government, the village remains a picture of integrity in its isolation. It is a village in which the traditional and modernity exist side by side without conflict or friction.
The older generations in this village are still holding on to their traditional religion and world view, although the younger generation have all without exception adopted the Christian faith.
After another generation, the village would be, like most other villages in the hills, fully proselytised.
But the transition is visibly smooth. In fact the ICHAM function was timed to coincide with Rahchi, a traditional festival celebrated in good spirit with an abundance of traditionally brewed rice beer, pou zhou.
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