Our attention has been drawn to an article published by the Australian newspaper The Age on February 1, 2017 captioned “Nagaland, where men are on strike until women go back to the kitchen”. All throughout the fighting months we have witnessed our civil societies’ reasoning the infringement of Article 371A where taxation would be imposed upon our individual properties, land etc… for which Nagaland shouldn’t go ahead with ULB polls (with WR). But now the story is totally something else, very loud and clear that Naga men opposed 33% WR because they want women to stay at home and not enter public life. Interested readers may follow the link: http://www.theage.com.au/world/nagaland-where-men-are-on-strike-until-women-go-back-to-the-kitchen-20170214-gucdtw.html
Here are some of the quotes of Naga men taken out from the said article (the words of JCC, CNTC and a volunteer respectively during interview with journalist Amrit Dhillon)
“Naga women work at home and in the fields. Men go to war. Men make the decisions. That’s Naga culture for centuries and we won’t allow anyone to destroy our culture.”
“In Naga society, a woman is not equal to a man. We give women all respect but they cannot make decisions. Even in our village councils, women speak only if they are invited to give their opinion to the men. Giving women equality will destabilize our society and our ancient customs.”
“The only women demanding change are spinsters and divorced women. Other women accept our system in which decision making is done by men. Women can only take kitchen decisions. We take the big ones.”
I wouldn’t say ‘discrimination’ when we talk about gender rather, I prefer to say traditional attitude towards women. Finally the outcome appears to be a slap on the face of hundreds of women in traditional attire seated alongside the volunteers in the streets. It is also a mockery to entire Naga women who supported tribal bodies and not NMA.
Dear men, kindly take trouble to trust Naga women that we wouldn’t put the entire Nagaland into forced taxation for want of WR. We can’t afford to lose property rights being indigenous and protected people. It should be the collective effort to protect our rights together at any cost, if at all, the interpretation of Law is constitutionally true to the claim of tribal bodies. We sincerely stand by you if 33% WR in ULB should bring disaster to Naga society. But judging by the standard of interview, we regret to disagree if your traditional attitude is an obstacle that Naga women should be in confinement till Jesus comes.
Naga women are no doubt on the disadvantage side when it comes to Naga customary practices since our ancestor’s time. It was head-hunting era where women leadership was out of question but still women’s role in society is hardly a matter of concern in 2017. Does it mean preservation of ‘ancient custom’ in Naga version? I believe we should also stress on traditional practices that have been dropped out drastically over the decades. We know modernization has brought tremendous changes in the system if we look back at original religion, traditional wedding, indigenous lifestyle, attire, food habit, vanishing culture and language etc. If so, where’s the talk of equality for preservation of Naga culture passed down from forefathers since time immemorial? Why do some people ONLY feel the pulse against women leadership while talking about preservation of customs and traditions?
Customary Law has no written document but only practised down the ages and we respect that. Those were the days of head hunting when Customary Law was framed. Forefathers never dreamed women would one day excel and shine in the society with leadership skills. Men would bring home war heads with pride and women were not more than housewives. Remember our ancestors were warriors and they were never dependent on women for living. If traditional responsibility of men for family’s survival has to be taken into consideration, how many men walk the talk unlike forefathers?
In many household today, women’s earning makes 50% of family’s economy. Husband and wife earn together, sponsor children’s education together and develop properties together. Look around, the number of homes that solely depend on women for bread and butter is interestingly very high in Nagaland today. Many jobless fathers and unemployed sons are fed by working women. Despite knowing the fact that women are traditionally bounded to have no access to property rights, women continue to be the backbone with no expectations or returns. But the talk of Naga custom dominates society if women were to talk about their place in the society.
Coming to equal treatment, equal respect and equal opportunity, the word EQUALITY is yet to take shape practically for Naga women belonging to some community. I’m proud to be a Sumi woman the way Sumi menfolk protect, love, respect and take care of women. I must admit not all are fortunate like Sumi women, we should think for general Naga women not getting deserving place in the society.
Equal respect-- Respecting an IAS, IPS, NCS, NPS woman officer or HoDs is by virtue of designation, she is a self made. By the way educated man and woman are treated equally, but not others. Please read in between the lines.
Equal opportunity -- Women are never given opportunity in community decision making body. When general meetings are called in villages/colonies/wards, irrespective of brain or no-brain, all men are mandatory for attendance. If at all only menfolk are to be invited to a meeting, why do they term it “general meeting”? Why gender plays a role when it comes to general participation? Womenfolk are called ONLY to cook and serve them hot meal and to clean the dishes. Where is equality?
The best example of equal opportunity is reflected in education. Nagaland has produced many women bureaucrats and professionals. Their success doesn’t mean triumph over gender bias that they compete with men but equality in education is the outcome.
Many say the names of Indian women politicians like Mamata Banerjee, Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje, Jayalalitha etc. I’m sorry if my ignorance is at fault but I failed to connect our situation to their level of upbringings. Ours is a society where women weren’t encouraged to take part even in grassroot level decision making. There’s no ground for comparative study.
Equal treatment -- We have some men in the society who are very impartial and true in their dealings. Meantime, we also have some section of menfolk who do not believe in women, hence, do not accept women leadership. Who knows how many of them would even go to the extent of preventing wife and daughters from voting for women candidates? And most importantly, only God knows whether or not women candidates would be even allotted the precious party ticket in the midst of male counterparts. Come next ULB election, the much awaited talk of equality is yet to see the light of the day.
This write-up is in no way political but a practical-based opinion reflecting on the contents of ‘The Age’ article. Gender has no potential but it absolutely rests with individuals. There are many modern Naga women whose contribution to the society is much more than men. The 21st century women would definitely consider it as mockery to our education and our contribution to family and society. Olden days have long gone and therefore, old thinking and traditional attitude should also be done away with.
I fully agree that there are many area of concern we present generation should go back to roots and embrace our culture. We have abandoned half of Naga customary practices or more due to shortest route to civilization. Practices that need to be carried forward should continue but we need to be a little sensible wherever necessary. Most importantly, we need to have a serious thought on visible extinction of languages and culture amongst the Naga tribes. Modernization and preservation of culture should go hand in hand and neither should supersede the other. Together we share responsibilities, progress together, build family and society together. Naga men may please avoid labeling us back to ancestor’s time; that TAG hurts.
Vikali Shikhu
Dimapur
