The supreme sacrifices made by our uneducated first Naga generation men and women can unquestioningly be described as the finest example of honour, dignity and valour across the board. We, the present generation, have however done nothing much more than to chip away the past glory and goodness…a brick at a time. We have been bartering our honour our identity and our dignity for the past 70 years for money and have yet not learned a lesson. Rather than be a true example of a Christian State to the non-Christian majority we have lost sight of every possible Christian values in our routine dealings to such an extent that even a street dog would bark at us…the so-called Christians. We have depleted our self-respect but still expect Mainland India to respect us as equals.
GoI is absolutely clear in their reading of the present generation of Nagas as a race that can be compromised with economic packages and have patiently and leisurely played a game of ‘divide and rule’ with us. The gullible and disunited Nagas have voluntarily played this game for 70 years. Are we the faceless Nagas shamelessly acknowledging this status? The die-hard old breed amongst our National Workers have stood as firmly as humanly possible against all odds, despite their respective individual shortcomings, by not totally compromising the dignity and identity of the Nagas. They deserve our undivided attention and backing. GoI knows that it has all the time in the world to phase out the last bastion of old guards and then purchase the remains with their economic packages. This is a crystal clear picture for the GoI even as we grope around in the darkness sans unity.
In a challenging environment such as this, can the Nagas find it in us to stand together as one solid house and speak as one and act as one? At this stage the only picture that is emerging is the level of hypocrisy at its best with all the clandestine pre-poll alliances being attempted to be forged by all political parties especially with the BJP. It clearly shows yet again that we are not sincerely focused on “solution before election”. If we mean what we say…preparing for nomination should not even be an effort. Our problem is the lack of confidence in ourselves and in one another.
For the very first time in a very long while our elected representatives in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Apex Tribal Hohos/ENPO and all the known Naga Civil Societies along with our National Workers are all on the same page to unambiguously proclaim in unison…”Solution before Election”. It is most unfortunate that BJP failed to attend even a single consultative coordination meeting in the past including the latest one where other Political Parties had responded to the call of CCNTHCO on 27th Jan 2018…after confrontationally announcing “Election for Solution” which is diametrically opposed to the will of the masses. A very strong wind of suspicion is now blowing that the State BJP unit will shift their kitchen responsibility to their High Command like the National Congress had done in 1998 and file nomination with Central Forces protecting their action. In an event such as this would the Civil Societies be prepared to face the challenge head on? Would the NNPGs make a united effort to stem the tide?
The ultimate resolve is to have all Political Parties sign a pact and ensure that their respective intending candidates abstain from filing the nomination. The NNPGS can then collectively oversee and influence that this is practically followed through by all concerned. Independent candidates will follow the general trend. Once this is voluntarily executed by all the Political Parties the road ahead will be a nonviolent one and a blessing for all. GoI will definitely understand the ultimate stand of the Nagas without ambiguity for a change. The spirit of 1951 plebiscite will be revived.
Unlike the past, India cannot blackout the news of what is happenings in Nagaland from the International Community. Thus far India has been able to claim that the Naga issue is just an internal domestic issue but this subject will get to be scrutinized internationally this time not only of the present status but of the past. The admitted “Unique History” of the Nagas by India will have to be explained to the entire global family to qualify their aggression into the Naga Territory. These are some of the ramifications if Nagas can stand our ground for once. This is the moment of truth. This is the hour of reckoning. Do we have the courage to act together? This is a million Dollar question.
Khekiye K. Sema IAS (Rtd)
