Excitement is emotional. Anger is danger to Peace. Misreading and mistaking creates needless problems. Reactive and critics are explosive. Human mind must be awakened to resolved human problems in a humane way. Analytic reasoning and understanding the nature of human mind and the problems must be employed to squarely find solution in the right perspective. Anything sort of assumption and unprincipled speculation without rationality will end up as a mist.
The frame-work Agreement signed between India and Naga was not the solution in view but a process to work out an acceptable settlement steps for inclusive Naga political solution. Speculations and apprehensions about it are creating problems which are not of the spirit of the Agreement. Negative mind will take positive steps negatively. Positive mind that makes things happen is called faith. Faith can turn negative to positive; impossible to possible.Media’s propaganda creates public opinions and is not the actual substance. It can create adverse situation and complicate the matter. Rumor often creates ruining news. People need to be informed, aware and mind controlled for good when certain political transition is taking shape in the society. Nation cannot grows and prosper when its people are too allergic to new change and development. Any development is an opportunity to create a positive growth. Nation prospers when its leaders lead its people toward Peace and onto righteous path.
The current political development of the Naga-India relation for Peaceful amity can be an opportunity for the Nagas to develop themselves to a distinct national identity and for India to shine out globally; its height of humane understanding and magnanimity as a civilized nation among nations. Both creates and leads to higher ground and status of humane civilization. Bilateral understanding and relation must be built to make Peace a reality. Peace for one must also be peace for other. Peace for the Nagas is freedom to exercise their right to self determination. Let this truth be actualized by both the parties in true spirit and in truth to be a model to the world.
This vision and hope has been often-time pronounced by A.Z.Phizo and Naga Leaders of the past and present. Nagas need to complete the inclusive politic of fulfilling their aspiration by denouncing the existing mentality of factional pride and fight. Taking credit and profit makes a nation dry. Giving pride and credit to the people makes a nation healthy, wealthy and wise.
Peace in a defined form and structure be established through understanding and respecting each others’ right to life and self determination. It is the foundation upon which any settlement can be materialized. There is a line of distinction to be drawn between the logical action and wishful assumption. While trying to understand the mind of India carried by their chosen leaders, I perceive that, a Nation as India with its high sense of world class status would not stoop down to create needless contention over meager matter. The new Peace truce that has been entered into between Naga and India may be looked upon as a new change for a new start. It is perceived as a framework for building a mutual amity between the two entities that can be developed for lasting settlement of the long drawn conflicting political contention. The spirit of understanding that Indian and Nagas can be a neighborly friends through knowing each others’ need and right and help promoting and fulfilling each others’ aspiration is indeed the crucial need of the hour. This desire has its root in the mind and vision of A.Z. Phizo the visionary founder of Naga nationalism. He once stated in one of his letter written to Shri. C. Rajagopalachari, “If we look at the present problem realistically with a long view for peace and goodwill toward one another, we can see that we are living in a wonderful opportunity to bring two people closer than ever before… It is not time to suspect or accuse one another” he also said, “A nation standing on her birth right seeking to get back her liberty and freedom cannot be pushed aside by the march of time …Real peace can be created and preserved only through mutual respect and understanding”
Nagas must go slower but with steady pace. Ephemeral and excitement emotion may create a negative climate. Let us avoid it. Rome was not built in a day. And all roads lead to Rome. Somewhere and somehow Nagas will surely land on a secured ground. Envisioning something great is not possible till or unless we get to doing it. Nothing can happen without our effort put in the right way. Solution not in view does not mean it does not exist. An idea such as ‘Naga nation within Nation’ can be materialized. What matter with the Nagas is not opposition but positive outlook and united anticipative effort concentrating toward achieving the desire goal. We must look and act positive. It is possible only when our history of struggle is remembered, valued and mindful when we all keeping working out our salvation together in a well charted direction. Our goal is not victory through might but right and not by power but by the indomitable spirit of truth. Nagas have paid the price of freedom yet it is not realized because the other party in time past have been suppressing into submission or subjugation. Precious lives and blood of the Naga people have been sacrificed as the cost of freedom. Now is the time for all Nagas to create a mass united and concerted effort toward realizing our common goal and future.
My humble appeal to all Nagas east and west, north and south is to put aside our ideological differences, factional interest, tribal prejudices, pride of tribal identity, and go for national sentiment. Let us put free ourselves from all that holds us aback and strive toward achieving what is ahead of us.
G.Gwangphun
A social peace activist and researcher
