Monalisa Changkija breaks her silence (on the banning of her book)

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s you know that on October 25, 2014, my book Cogitating for a Better Deal was released here. You will be aware that the book is a compilation of six (6) seminar papers I had written and presented at various national seminars.
Well, on November 9, 2014, I officially received a summon letter from the Ao Senden, “for writing against the Ao Senden”. The “hearing” was slated for November 11, 2014, at the Ao Senden Office, Mokokchung, Nagaland, at 11 a.m. In that letter, the Yaongyimsen Village Council was also invited as a witness. Yaongyimsen is my husband’s village.
On November 11, 2014, I was accompanied to the Ao Senden Office, at Mokokchung, by members of the Yoangyimsen Village Council, other elders, and citizens of the village.
The “hearing” started with a prayer after which about 9 or 10 members of the Ao Senden Presidential Council, including the President spoke. Before the start of the “hearing”, the President, who had chaired the “hearing” was informed that I do not speak and understand the Ao language.After all the members of the Ao Senden Presidential Council spoke in Ao, I was informed that their main contention was the following: “ … the Ao Senden (Ao Hoho), which is actually just an NGO and have no mandate to arbitrate over intra and/or inter village disputes. Still, the Ao Region IM and the Ao Senden tied up, allegedly after being paid a good sum of money, and expelled Changki village from the Ao community and the Ao Senden.” ~ contained in my paper Consequences of Long Term Conflicts in Northeast India: Impact on Nagaland and Naga Affairs (Cogitating for a Better Deal, published by Heritage Publishing House, Dimapur, 2014, page 25). I was asked two questions by the President in English on what basis I had written the above ~ (1) that the Ao Senden is only an NGO with no mandate and (2) what proof do I have on the allegation of “a good sum of money” paid to the Ao Region IM and the Ao Senden.
I stood up to answer. First of all I thanked for the opportunity for all of us to meet and then requested the President if a prayer could be said for me by all present there. He replied that a prayer has already been said. Then I said that it is not my intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments by what I wrote and that I apologize if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments. Then I replied that I have come to the conclusion and it is my opinion on the first question. He asked me: “On What basis?” I replied: “On the basis of books written by our elders and on the basis of Government documents”. On the second question, I replied: “It is an allegation. I have not accused or alleged anyone of anything.” And then I sat down.
After which the President and members of the Ao Senden Presidential Council spoke further but I cannot say what they said because, as stated earlier, I do not know the Ao language. In between their speeches, a couple of sentences were said in English. One was “The Ao Senden and the NSCN (IM) will take a case against you” and the other was “You are victimizing the Aos”.
In between the speeches rendered by various members of the Ao Senden Presidential Council present there, I was asked the same two questions two more times and I responded with the same answers. I also said that I have the greatest respect for the Ao Senden, as much as for the Naga Hoho and other tribals Hohos, and that these tribal bodies are good for Naga society, adding however I stand by what I wrote.
The President had also said that what is written in the newspapers doesn’t matter because we read newspapers and throw them but book are preserved for long. I responded that even newspapers of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries are preserved till date, as much as books.
The “hearing” continued by several members of the Ao Senden Presidential Council speaking further in Ao till the President gave time to the Yaongyimsen Village Council to speak. The Yaongyimsen Village Council asked permission from the President for a half-an-hour break to discuss amongst themselves, which was granted. After the lapse of the half-an-hour, everyone returned to the hall and the “hearing” resumed, with the President granting time to the Yaongyimsen Village Council to speak. In the second session, everyone, who was granted permission to speak, spoke in Ao so I really cannot tell you what was said. Throughout the second session, I wasn’t asked to speak so I remained seated and silent. I also did not request time to speak. Since I didn’t what was being said, I couldn’t react or respond. One of the Ao Senden Presidential Council members stood up, while speaking, held up a copy of my book and declared that the book is banned, I think twice or thrice.
During the second half of the “hearing”, my husband also requested for time to say a few words. He was granted time and so he said that on my behalf, that we are willing to publish the Ao Senden’s refutations and rebuttals to what I had written, which they found to be incorrect/disagreeable/objectionable, in newspapers and insert footnotes in the book itself, as a “conciliatory gesture”. He said “conciliatory gesture” in English. Then some members of the Yaongyimsen Village Council and the Ao Senden Presidential Council spoke simultaneously for a few minutes. The President finally stood up and declared the “hearing” closed.
Everyone stood up to go. I remained seated till my husband said “Let’s go”. We were then informed that I would have to sign some paper. We proceeded downstairs to the Ao Senden office where a person took out a computer print-out and I was asked to sign it. The matter was written in Ao so I asked my husband to translate it. I then refused to sign it because it was written that my husband, on my behalf, has admitted guilt; the book is banned and the case handed over to the Yaongyimsen Village Council for final arbitration. I kept on refusing to sign it because my husband did not admit guilt on my behalf but only said that we are willing to publish the Ao Senden’s refutations and rebuttals to what I had written, which they found to be incorrect/disagreeable/objectionable, in newspapers and in the book itself, as a “conciliatory gesture”. Was it was a deliberate twisting of facts or a genuine language communication gap? I leave to you to decide. Finally I signed the paper because I was informed that the matter has not come to an end as it has been referred to the Yaongyimsen Village Council for final arbitration. Moreover, I must inform you that whatever I signed, along with the Chairman of the Yaongyimsen Village Council, was not counter-signed by any members of the Ao Senden.
The next day, on November 12, 2014, the Yaongyimsen Village Council Court summoned me. I explained my stand to this Court, after which they discussed amongst themselves in Ao and finally wrote their verdict in Ao of course, which basically reiterated what my husband said and that having summoned me to their Court and after having discussed, the matter declared the case closed.
In my Afterword in the book, (page 85), I had written “I also make no claims to expertise on the issues I have written. I have merely stated my views and opinions, perceptions and perspectives, and as the title of the book suggests, I am merely cogitating on the issues and while doing so, I request you to join me in cogitating on the same issues to arrive at some higher level of understanding of our situations and realities. Perhaps, even to learn more about ourselves. And yes, engage in a dialogue about ourselves, with ourselves. Niketu Iralu’s comments on my essays indicate that a dialogue has already started. Dialogues about us and amongst ourselves, I believe, perform the same function as the little veins and capillaries that keep blood flowing throughout the human body, in a vibrant democracy and enable and empower a society to reach higher levels of maturity. None of us have to agree with each other but as long as we are willing to listen to each other and agree to disagree, our society has a future for discourse.
I ardently hope that this collection would provide a glimpse, especially to students, scholars and anyone interested in issues pertaining to the Nagas.”
The writer is Editor, Nagaland Page.