[dropcap]D[/dropcap]uring the middle of 1960s, a cousin (he is still active today) of mine who returned from China, extensively shared his experiences with me. According to him, beside physical training, Chinese political teachers used to give political classes. The teachers used to teach about the philosophy of Mao Tsetong on revolution. I forgot a lot of interesting stories heard from him, but I vividly remember one axiom ‘The Revolutionaries are fish and the people are water’. My cousin, being illiterate, could not explain the byword to me at that time. Myself being quite dull and young, I did not understand its implication except the retention in memory. After few decades when I recollected it, I could understand what does it mean to Revolutionary movement like Naga political movement. What a relevance.By the way, a very recent incident which was highlighted in local papers refreshed my memory on the aforementioned maxim. The news item was related to an incident at Khensa village in Mokokchung district published on 5.6.2014 in local papers. The incident happened when few cadres from two factions were apprehended and detained by the village youth volunteers who were reportedly provoked. Subsequently, the mob gathered and demanded the cadres be handed over to them. Had not the Civil Administration and 31-Assam Rifles intervened and rescued them from the wrath of public of Khensa village, it could have given birth to some other different story.
The incident might be minor as no untoward situation ensued. I am sure the matter was amicably settled already. Nevertheless, this piece of incident at a Naga village generated a small still voice which is a solid message for us to learn now. This is the cent-percent reversed role played by the villagers contrary to our past. In those golden days of Nagas having unity in undivided house, the Villagers in all Naga villages were the protector and the refuge of revolutionaries whenever they face threat from enemies who were Indian security forces and State administration. Thousands of Naga revolutionaries and their protectors were arrested, tortured, jailed, tortured to death, raped and killed by Indian security forces without intervention of Civil administrative authorities. Today, Naga revolutionaries are no more hunted or wanted by Indian security forces and civil administration. For a very long period we have not heard any revolutionary being killed by Indian security forces or any confrontation between them in Nagaland. Thank God.
Of course, I do not think Khensa Village has strained relationship with any faction. I believe that Khensa Village youth did not have any predetermined motive against those two factions whose cadres happened to be at their Village at that particular time. I also believe, had the cadres from other factions been there and committed similar acrimony, the same reaction of the youth would have been there. Why Khensa citizens dared to show resentment in action knowing that any faction has the capability to be reactionary? To me the following factors are contributing to the Pond getting dry:
a) Out of wrongs rights are established. Though universal it varies from case to case with merits and demerits.
b) The ideological determination to live by the past and the refusal to live for future.
c) Putting the Divisional Cart before the Nationhood Horse is suicidal.
d) Wasting decades on nurturing the ego is avoidable.
e) The rigidity in un-forgivingness has become the cornerstone of disintegration.
f) Preferring myth to reality. Will myth ever emerge real is the question.
g) Causing irreparable damages to Naga common properties of image, of morality and of pride is as worst as burning down the Naga villages by Indian army decades ago.
h) The famine of magnanimity of revolutionaries causes doubt on their determination.
i) The frequent announcements on ‘home coming’ is found to be more embarrassing than comfortable. What pride can be accrued out of such defections and counter defections. It repels rather than attracting. After all, whose home is home and whose is hunted.
j) True revolutionaries know, care, guide and promote the growth of its economy. Serious introspection imperative.
k) Unconsciously the Nagas are in a perverted democracy laced with Aristocracy coupled with substantial percentage of Anarchy in our land. (Needing elaboration).
Beside, had it been sometime ago, one cannot imagine those individuals, namely, S.Pahru Sapa, Pastor, Liyai Village (Manipur) and Elijah Chara, Research Scholar from Mumbai would give their satirical comments as seen on 19.6.14 and 21.6.14 respectively or one can never imagine about the formation of ACAUT. Had it been some time ago, would the organisations and the village authorities dare to come out openly in support of the contractor Vilelie Khamo. I am sure worst treatments than that were meted out to several contractors, business people and individuals earlier and yet none had gut to voice against it. Unfortunate for GPRN/NSCN, Lotha Region to bully the contractor at the wrong time.
To read the signs of time is relevant. The true revolutionaries have unconditional love for the water in the pond knowing the natural law: the fish cannot survive at the dry bottom of the pond. The Khensa episode and the voices are prelude to the Drying Revolutionary Pond.
After all who will be happy with those who brought cyclone of disappointments.
Z Lohe
