Nagas Have Every Right to Determine Their Own Future

“Unless if one is conscious he will not rebel and unless if he rebel he will not become conscious”, So, I am among the people from the second group. Nagas have every right to determine their own future and have a very strong basis for demanding their right to self determination. I will not elaborate on the basis as; it can be seen every other day on the local media. If this is the case; why is it taking so much time to resolve the issue? Is it because of the reluctant attitude of the GOI? or is it because we have failed to put our case at the right perspective? This requires serious introspection and thorough debate? One thing which can be easily gauged and understood is the Nagas’ speak in different tune. According to Henry Ford; “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is the progress. Working together is Success”. Unless we work together Success may continue to elude us. Time has come to recognize each other’s contribution for the national cause and be given due respect. To me, all Nagas count; whether big or small as every single Naga has contributed according to his or her capacity and to my dear Naga leaders, as we are all working under the banner of “Nagas Land for Christ”; every step we take must be as per Christ. The book of Matthew 23:12 says that: “For those whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted”. Let us humble ourselves before God and seek His wisdom and put serious effort to work together to bring success and early solution. It is also true that, cent percent people cannot be brought on board to accept or reject, partially or wholly on any issue but, majority of the people must agree and accept. According to Rick Godwin, “Some people resist change because, they focus on what they have to give up; instead of what they have to gain”. In recent past, we have seen many critics in groups and in person, who were very critical on the likely solution but I accept it as a common phenomenon for when a man in the form of Christ was also rebuked by the man of this world whom he came to save, this much of criticism is acceptable. It is also true that, the Naga leaders use their wisdom and choose what was right for them at the time when Nagaland state was created as they were under tremendous pressure or there were serious humanitarian crisis but, it is also equally true that acceptance of Nagaland state as a 16th State of the Indian Union, was the first nail in the Naga coffin. Let us not allow our prejudices become another nail against the long cherished desire of the Naga people for self determination. Once as I was going around a shopping mall my eye fell on a very catchy phrase, it was sweetly written and placed before breakable glass items. “Nice to see; good to hold, if broken take it to be sold”. I am sure many of you must have come across this lines. Now, I was forced to think how those words were beautifully coined to shift responsibility on the customers in case of any mishandling and later, I also realized that the same lines even applies on the Indo-Naga issue which at least appears to be very interesting (nice to see) but if we fail to raise our concern in unison (if broken or in case of non-unanimity) we must consider that it is a lost battle we are fighting. (sold out) again it will be a complete case of mishandling by the Nagas ourselves. We talk too much of Christianity but do all un-Christian things, preach Christianity but involve in un-Christianity acts. The Nagas need to think seriously as we Nagas cannot waste our time and energy for eternity. One day as I was going through a Myanmar based paper, I saw the noble Laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi addressing a huge gathering of different ethnic tribesman of Myanmar, in her speech Madam Su Kyi opined that; “let us strive and think, what we can give for the sake and cause of the Union and not what we can take from the Union”. Therefore, all the Nagas must also strive and think what we can do for the sake and cause of the Nagas and not, what we can take or make for ourselves from the Naga cause. Secretary, Ministry of Information and Publicity, NSCN –Reformation