Dr K Hoshi
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n 14th August 2013, the Naga people have read Independence Day messages from the leaders of six different Naga national groups; two NNC, three NSCN and one FGN. It was an embarrassment to all sensible Nagas knowing that our so-called enemy must be having the last laugh.
ID was a day for displaying to the world; our unity and national integrity leaving aside all our internal differences. Our nation being still not recognized by the world community, it was also a day to reassert our inalienable right. The Naga people had expected new vision and new strategy from the messages. Instead, it turned out to be stereotypical and full of bitterness against each other.
Six Independence Day messages meant six Naga nations. Has the Naga nation disintegrated even before it attained sovereignty? To which Naga nation will the Naga people pledge their allegiance? The presence of many groups proves that no group however strong enjoys absolute mandate of the Naga people? In other words, no single group will be able to bring sovereignty solution. It goes without saying that the present political reality is unsustainable.
Shillong Accord of 1975 has all alone been blamed for the big divide. There are no two opinions that Shillong Accord changed the course of Naga national politics in that; after 1975, the Naga national movement changed to Naga against Naga; the anti-accords against the pro-accords and vice versa. While the pro-group believed in the infallibility of its leadership on the issue, the anti-group has been hell-bent in its demand that the pro-group should disown the accord. There was never any meeting point.
There was an opportunity when the anti-accord groups might have reverted to the parent political institution, should the leaders of pro-accord group disowned the accord at that point of time. That time has passed. The demand to disown the accord now has lost its relevance unless otherwise all groups are still willing to reunite under the parent organization. In such a scenario, the Naga publics need to question seriously as to who has the greatest fear to let Shillong Accord be buried forever.
Enough of debate among ourselves on Shillong Accord! The focus of debate should shift to a debate with our adversaries who may still like to make an issue of it. More than Shillong Accord, we have a lot of convincing to do to the world in why and how Nagaland State came into being that it gave India the right to claim its affairs as India’s internal matter. This reality has put us into a situation that no nation will be willing to help us unless we can convince India first. It is time to envision contemporary strategy to meet that challenge instead of wasting our time and energy on a subject that even India doesn’t give credence anymore. To still say Nagas don’t need the consent of India to attain sovereignty would be utopian. We need India now more than ever. If this reality is unacceptable to Nagas, we have no option than to revert to hostile policy as in the past.
