Jack T. Chakhesang (EMN)
Youth means not only young age. It means the prime, the bloom, the green years, the tender years of one’s life. Youth is a term that embraces from the cradle to the teens and adolescence bursting forth into young manhood and sometimes to old young manhood followed by young old manhood and if we get to be quite old, we become youthful again.
When we are young, the fires within us burn bright. The whole world lies before us—it is our oyster—and nothing is too awesome to be done, no challenge too great. For, we are too young to rust and should make hay while the sun shines.
Then suddenly the years roll swiftly by and they are gone and the time that remains is little indeed. For no morning sun rises without its risks, no day at work without its share of headaches, problems and the like. And time has a way of stealing strength from a man, and even before that, his swiftness and agility. The same applies to a woman also. And yet, there are also good times in between it all.
The Transition
It is during this transitional period that the quality of the youth stems forth. Much will depend on the requisite qualities imbibed by them through their parents, elders, basic education, environment and sense of identity ensuring how they are equipped to face and shape the future.
Eventually we wonder where go the years? Down what tunnel of time are poured the precious days? And who knows? Who can read what is in tomorrow’s wind?
But life still goes on—if not for you and me in case we have already crossed the gates to the eternal hereafter whichever one it may be depending on the legacy we leave behind during our brief sojourn on Mother Earth—just as our forefathers left whatever they thought was best as per the vicissitudes and glory of their times.
From this it follows that we must not lose touch with what we (as a people) were, with what had been, nor must we allow the well of our history to dry up, for a child without tradition is a child crippled before the world. Tradition can also be an anchor and a shield to guard us from irresponsibility and hasty decision.
And yet, most of us are innocent victims of vast compulsions. Insatiable forces squander us. All men and women battle the forces that create evil, laziness, lust to conquer, greed to own, hurt others. And all men and women, save a few, find an accommodation with our compulsions, come to control them, and try to live as normal people.
Role of history
As such, we must also go along, or adjust, with the times. We have to flow with the tide of history to keep our ship afloat. For, the only constant factor of life (apart from death) is constant change. And yet history is the most powerful intellectual tool society possesses. Clearly, history is not a dispassionate record of dead events. Nor is it a playground for scholars to indulge their trivial disputes.
As a renowned physicist asserted: “The purpose of history is to explain the present—to say why the world around us is the way it is. History tells us what is important to our world, and how it came to be. It tells us why the things we value are the things we should value. And it tells what is to be ignored, or discarded. That is true power—profound power. The power to define a whole society.”
As such, the future lies in the past just as the present will be the past of the future. And what we do and achieve today will definitely affect our tomorrow—for better or worse.
The Present
The present generation has been buffeted by political, social, economic and even cultural storms as well as advanced forms of violence compared to which the millennia of our head-hunting ancestors seem relatively mild. Things have been imposed to fit the human politics that have nothing to do with God’s morality.
Those of us in the age group of 50 to 70 years and more have had to assert our identity as never before due to the onslaught of other imposing cultures and superior military power. War and peace inter-mingled interminably. Simultaneously, education and development also progressed slowly but steadily and such that today’s grandchildren and even great grandchildren have rarely, if at all, tuned into All India Radio, Kohima or any other station. They are more tuned into various TV channels and/or CDs almost to the point of addiction.
Another instance of the present is the advance in all kinds of technology. For example, when I took to journalism in early 1980s, I did not know how to use a typewriter. A typist would sort out my hand writing and the sheet of news would be sent to the press section where the compositors would then assemble the alphabets imposed reversely on mini zinc slabs and manually compose the news. It was a slow and dreary process but was the norm at that time.
Ten years later, came the day of computers and photo offset printing of newspapers, magazines, books, pamphlets, posters and the like on a vast and profitable commercial scale. This was improved with news agencies sending their news through satellites direct to computers in the news room. Almost side by side, cell phones (or mobiles) made redundant the PCOs (Public Calls Office) and online telephones which did have their day once upon a time. So also, fax and e-mails have encroached on to the domain of the postal system. While yours truly used shorthand when VIPs spoke, the young journalists today use tape recorders which they have to keep rewinding.
In a similar vein, to own a Jeep during the 1950s and 1960s and even 1970s, to own a Mahindra Jeep was status symbol then the Ambassador car overtook it followed by the Gypsy. By the 1980s till date we are treated to (over) influx of SUVs of all kinds and even excess of them such that our roads in the big towns have traffic jams.
Such advancement has been convenient for consumers but prices keep increasing nevertheless. And so on, all aspects of life including women empowerment, not being the least, have been affected for better or worse.
For women to the fore
Women the world over, have distinguished themselves in practically all spheres not only now but throughout history. They have become ruling Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament and Ministers. Our Naga women have also distinguished themselves in various spheres except in the political arena. Only one of them, late Rano Shaiza, got elected to the Lok Sabha in mid-1970s.
Almost half a century has elapsed and no woman has been elected in any general election in Nagaland. Did they even try it? It is only in very recent times that our women folk have decided on the battle of the ballot. True, some have been elected to the Village Councils but this is a long way to the Legislature and beyond. One reason is the rigid mindset of most Naga men.
Now, the bone of contention is elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs) like the Municipal and Town Councils vis-a-vis the 33% reservation for women. Five years ago, my article on The Rise of Women in all Naga Affairs was published in Eastern Mirror in its issue of March 31, 2012. In it, I had stated: “In the last few weeks there has been an overdose of views for and against 33% reservation of seats for women in the Municipal and Town Councils, in the media not to speak of discussions and arguments in private. In our democratic entity each and everyone has the right to express his or her views without fear of being arrested by the secret police. The Naga Hoho and ENPO have demanded certain amendments in the Naga Municipal Act (Amended 2011) failing which they would voice their protests through ‘befitting course of action’—which can mean anything. This is the beauty of the English language. At least unlike some factions, they did not threaten ‘dire consequences.’ Several other public organizations like Kohima Village Council and Tribal Council, Chumukedima, Pfutsero Town Council to name a few and concerned individuals have also expressed their opposition to the 33% reservation for women. The Ao Senden has even imposed a ban on the Ao Watsu Mungdang.”
No nominations
In the aforementioned article I had also mentioned: “If the 33% reservation is to be implemented, then the State Govt. should under no circumstances go in for nominations to the Municipal and Town Councils. Rather, all interested political parties should select their women candidates on the basis of their potential to win within the 33% reservation and in this Independent candidates may also try their luck. Nomination implies conditions and not full autonomy.
“If women are hesitant to contest the proposed elections without the crutch of nomination, then how can they take crucial decisions when they occupy seats of power and authority? It is like taking a short cut very easily and without the hard work and sweat and accountability involved. Besides, reservation as well as nomination in politics may not be the best answer to empower women.
“In addition to their reserved quota, women may also contest in the (non-reserved) free for all elections against men if they have the potential to win. However, they must bear in mind that the reservation system is also on rotational basis to cover all the Wards over a period of time and is temporary, not permanent.”
Since then, much has happened in the past six months and needs no dwelling on them.
As of now, the State Govt. has made its stand on the urban local bodies (ULBs) but had requested for time to bring all contending parties to a consensus (with some amendments, if necessary) in this regard after having declared null and void the official notification on the proposed polls. However, nothing concrete has materialised in this connection so far. The basic aim is to uplift women so as to enable them to come up at par with men. And then, after that it should and must be free for all.
Customary laws
There are points to indicate that 33% reservation does not infringe on Article 371 A in the Constitution of India contrary to what certain sections of society insist. There are also certain quarters that reiterate that the 16 Point Agreement of 1960 was signed by some Naga “collaborators” but this gave much respite to the people especially in the rural areas from counter-insurgency operations by Indian Army and Para Military forces. It also paved the way for legislating Article 371 A and thus inception of Nagaland’s statehood as the 16th State of Indian Union on December 01, 1963 and for which all of us are benefitting from—no matter whatever arguments anyone may propound against it.
The Shillong Accord of 1975 has also been much denigrated but it too, gave respite to the rural population who comprise three-fourths of our population. Thus, the Agreement and Accord at least ensured some measure of peace and development process. Our customary laws are intact but now the time has also come for some relevant modifications.
If at all we want to assert ourselves again, then we must first deal with the issue of why Naga affairs were shifted from Foreign (now External) Affairs Ministry to Home Ministry by Govt. of India. This is a relevant issue as it affects Naga political aspirations for sovereignty.
Also, a senior Govt. official in New Delhi recently asserted something that infringes on a clause of the 16 Point Agreement which clearly states the “land and its resources belong to the people.” This official had said that what is below the ground does not belong to the Nagas. It was particularly in reference to the oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation in Champang in Wokha district and part of Peren district. It also refers to other mineral resources on our land. So, did the official mean that when we bury our dead underground then we don’t own them to revere?
True, oil and natural gas come under the Concurrent List thus making it a Central Govt. subject. Perhaps when the 16 Point Agreement was signed, no one could ever have visualised that Nagaland with be rich in potential mineral resources. However, the State Govt. can still seek ways and means to sort out this impasse in a manner and spirit of the Agreement.
Other factors of which we have so many including Uniform Civil Code which may infringe on our customs warrant separate write-ups.
Patriarchal mindset
Naga society is staunchly patriarchal in nature. This is so because of the practice of head-hunting for pride and prestige in those days when Naga society comprised independent Village-States and was often at loggerheads with other villages near and far although they also had fraternity with some of them. A woman’s chopped head was very difficult because of the strong protection of women and so a successful head-hunter in such a case acquired laurels. Women were restricted to the home, hearth and help in agricultural activities. Today, the gun culture has evolved from dao, spear, and bows and arrows—in defence of whatever political ideology.
Our ancestors also adhered to Animism because they believed that nature is animated by spirits good as well as bad. Christianity took a long time to convert all the tribes in stages. In fact, in 1964, newly baptized Christians in my village were excommunicated by the Church for attending and participating in festivals such as Sekrenyi (Festival of Purification) etc.
It was only about 40 or so years ago, that Christianity of all denominations accepted that such Animist festivals were essentially linked to agriculture and have been assimilated by the Church in spite of initial condemnations.
Similarly, certain customary laws and practices were bypassed in order to keep up with present trends the world over. It is in this sense that our men folk have graduated from the kilt to trousers, jeans, shirts and even suits and neck ties and latest fashion in footwear.. Our women folk too are not so far behind—for them also jeans and currently what they call skinnies which in the 1960s were called drainpipes! Plus new styles based on traditional shawls and makhelas and all kinds of designer outfits for all.
As of now, we have many of our women in positions of authority in various Government services including the Police not only in the State but at the national level as well and they have proved their mettle by doing well and earning accolades. Why, in the last few years girl students have been doing better than boys in the HSLC and HSSLC examinations also.
It is also to be noted that in spite of being staunchly patriarchal society like that of the Angamis and related Tenyimia tribes, it is undoubtedly remarkable that they should have a female as their supreme deity whom they refer to as U kepenuopfu which literally means “the one who gives us birth” and it stresses the feminine aspects. This implies that our male ancestors were indeed aware of the role of women in the society of yore. Surely other tribes also have similarities in this connection?
Yet it must noted that despite it all, our Naga women are much better off than their sisters belonging to many other cultures and countries.
As such, it is to be expected that in view of a fast changing world on all fronts our rigid patriarchal, and even parochial, mindset must be softened and adjusted to give our women who hold up half the sky, the unreserved opportunity to prove their worth as equals to men in today’s context. Otherwise, we will only be setting back our march to advanced civilisation. In fact, we should drive our (all purpose) social, cultural, economic, political and historical vehicle concentrating on looking forward and not keep glancing at our rear view mirror.
The next stage
It is also to be expected that sometime in the not too distant future we shall have a Lady Chief Minister also followed by a Lady Governor, even a Lady DGP (Director General of Police) and so on.
Therefore, it goes without saying that in the present we are in a position to set things in motion in the right direction so that the events of today will be the past in the future and will become part of our history. So, it is high time for women to take over the baton in the real sense of the term.
Right now, we have the opportunity to shape the future. So let us make the best of it. According to an Arabian proverb, “Four things come not back—the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.”
