During the last few weeks we have heard a lot of wisdom from best brains of Naga people. I believe Naga people have learnt many lessons from Naga thinkers who have expressed their views concerning the current issue. Let us thank God for reminding us of our failure through all that has happened ever since this conflict situation took its root. Nothing will happen unless something happened in the past. The Scripture says, “People will reap exactly what they sow” (Galatians 6:7).
More than eight decades ago, Naga People decided to have Sovereign Nation. To that end, 99.9 percent of the Nagas took thump impression with their own blood which became Lead of plebiscite on 16th May 1951 and reframed Republic Day on 27/4/1955 at Lakhuti. “Any person or persons who in order to destroy or undermine and who for the purposeful act about or set up organization against or oppose the Political Administration and Traditional institution of the Nation or on attempt to do so, whether into or without the aid of another country or countries shall be deemed to have committed treason.”
Let us not forget that Nagaland State is not a gift from India. It is purchased with precious blood of our patriot, whose blood, tears, and sweat are too precious and too costly for us to forget. If Nagas come to senses, the sacrifice made by our national heroes for the future of Nagas will not be taken for granted. Above all 90% Christian who call themselves sons and daughters of God purchased by the blood of Jesus must not take the redemptive work of God on the cross lightly, through which our society is delivered from darkness to light.
It is true that down through human history every politicians and rulers forget all lists of people’s rights; they were resisted by rulers who claim the sufficiency of the pledges and yet promises were forgotten. Even documents of edict and table of law were frequently violated by ruler for thirst of power. But God delivers justice to people according to his own time because God hates wrong scale. He is the God of justice. But the Naga people Convention brought 17 point agreement against the will of the Naga people. The draft of the Constitution was on discussion when Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, suggested the election of their leaders in their own traditional way. But Naga delegates said that they want Indian election system thereby Constitution was enacted in Indian Constitution. Today this Act became the bone of Contention, thereby Chief Minister T.R Zeliang has been saying we have Constitutional obligation. This obligation brought the situation into confrontation.
This is not the first time confrontation between Government and Civil Societies. We have had several confrontations with State Govt.; Churches had conflict with state Government on liquor prohibition; NSF with State Govt. on certain issues but differences were amicably settled because the State came forward and accepted people’s demand. But today our confrontation seems to have no meeting point. At this juncture, we are inflicting suffering on ourselves. No conflicting party be it State govt., political parties, or people groups seems to be interested in solution. Everybody is standing their own ground for personal gain and not common welfare of the people of Nagaland. If we continue to allow our own ego to drive us to achieve our own ends, the general public (for whom every party is claiming to be fighting for) will gain nothing out of this situation. I believe that God never allows a problem without solution. And “Where there’s a will there’s way.” What is happening now is all because Naga people have forgotten our covenant with our Creator. Naga people have gone through this kind of circumstances, because we are slow to learn the purpose of God. Let’s there be peace, and let it begin with each one of us!
Rev. Dr. V. K. Nuh,
Chairman, Naga Archive and Research Center
