Benito Z. Swu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot be more transparent and clearer in showing to the Nagas, the people of india, and the world at large that when there is a will, there is always a way. Modi’s approach towards securing the north eastern part of India and make up for the neglect suffered by the region as a direct consequence of the, now, many violent secessionist movements and the half-hearted approach of successive central governments to this problem, is indeed unprecedented and pathbreaking. It is the beauty of democracy that enables individual citizens and the various pressure groups to either question or even severely and seriously criticize policies of the government of the day. It is equally the beauty of democracy that enables a government to over-ride critics and the opposition in the implementation of its policies for the greater common good. In Narendra Modi we have a prime Minister with a spine who does what needs to be done. Modi, like his very illustrious fellow Gujurati and father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has in sharp departure from the hegemonic attitude of some earlier Indian Premiers, has empathized with the human sentiments of the Naga people by emphasizing the spirit of equality and respect, trust and confidence. Infact, PM Modi’s language of not just healing the past wounds and resolving problems, but to also engage in partnership with the Naga people to restore the Naga pride and prestige clearly demonstrates the caliber of his statesmanship and sincerity.
While the Naga people, pleasantly surprised at the sudden sweet turn of events and cautiously optimistic (once bitten, twice shy – no wonder), the genuine great concern and political sincerity of the BJP led NDA government has not only nudged but have also pulled the heartstrings of the North East people, winning it all over. Prime Minister Modi knows and means it. By reaching a “framework agreement” with the Nagas, he has strengthened the weakest link in the North-East chain to the road of peace, tranquility, and development. It is not for nothing that he mentioned about the recent “Framework agreement” signed between the Nagas and the Government of India during the course of his visit to the UAE, delivered to a massive audience at the Dubai cricket stadium.
Yes, there are some from amongst us who are apprehensive as to what the “framework agreement” is all about, and even speculating it all to be a sell-out. It will only do us good to remember that, always with the dooms day prediction mentality, can surely make us blind. It has been made amply clear by every conceivable responsible leaders, now and then, that the “framework agreement” signed between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) is not the solution, but as the very term suggests, a process to work out and bring forth an acceptable settlement steps for inclusive Naga political solution. To this end, it is for a more clearer understanding of the agreement that the Naga consultative meeting and interaction is to be held on the 25th of August in Dimapur. With the due legitimacy that the NSCN(IM) has at home and as bestowed upon by the GOI, this Naga Consultative Meeting is an opportunity to meet, dialogue, narrow down and trash out differences. It indeed can prove to be a solid beginning, a meeting ground for all NPGs, Hohos, and all other tribal apex organizations to bring forth an inclusive mindframe before giving body to the frame.
Nagas today cannot afford to always behave like Pakistan. Just the other day Pakistan called off the National Security Advisory level talks with India on the flimsy charge that India wanted the talks to be only on terrorism and not Kashmir. Yes, why should India talk about Kashmir? Kashmir has been and will always be a part and parcel of India. The only agenda on which the National Security Advisor of Pakistan and India can talk is on Pakistan sponsored terrorism and nothing else. India even has a Pakistani terrorist, captured alive, to show the world.
Allow me to present below another aspect of Pakistani hypocrisy. The passage below, within inverted commas, is an excerpt about the 1965 India-Pakistan war, from a textbook approved by the Pakistani government. It is currently used by all government schools and a majority of private schools in Pakistan. “India committed an open aggression against Pakistan to facilitate its expansionist intentions and attacked Pakistan on the night of September 6, 1965. Although Pakistan had far less military and economic resources as compared with India, the armed forces of Pakistan, filled with the spirit of jihad, forced an enemy many times bigger than it to face a humiliating defeat….” This history lesson lists four points which led to the war: One, the Hindus saw Pakistan’s progress in the 1960s and were not happy about it. Two, India was not happy with Pakistan’s “moral support” for Kashmir. Three, India had faced defeat in its war with China in 1962 and, therefore, wanted a war against Pakistan to restore its lost dignity. Finally, general elections were being held in India at that time and the Congress wanted to win the elections by conquering Pakistan. The book goes on and on glorifying Pakistan and its army. Such textbooks have fabricated historical events and are teaching children lies about not just this war, but all wars fought by Pakistan. The result has been the radicalization of the Pakistani youth and the widespread belief that Pakistan is at perpetual threat from India. This allows the military to avoid any questions with regard to its mistakes, failures and lies, and allows it to remain relevant in the eyes of the Pakistani public.
Many a times, we the Naga people too go the Pakistani way. We have to restrain ourselves, take pride in the facts, admit our mistakes, our weaknesses, while celebrating our positivity and strengths as we march into that maze of political dialogue with the Government of India for a better, bigger, prosperous, peaceful and tranquil Nagaland for all.
Bengaluru, the garden city of India has literally become the garbage city of India. In the recently concluded Bengaluru Municipal polls, the percentage of the votes cast was so low that Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys made this comment; “The first step in cleaning up our city is coming out to vote. If you don’t vote, you should not complain.”
