Finally the dust has settled and the state is returning to normalcy after nearly a month of complete breakdown of the government machinery since the death of 3 persons during the protest against the ULB elections and the ensuing violence. However the protest where people from all walks of life came out on the streets will be the biggest that the state has witnessed in its 53 years of statehood. It was unlike the other protests in the state, mostly led by students’ unions and the youth. This time it was endorsed and led by the very tribe organisations. It finally made the government to nullify the elections of the ULBs although it came a bit late leading violence thereby resulting in the resignation of chief minister and his cabinet.
The only other such mass movement from the people of Nagaland was the earlier movement led by the NMA and the NBCC against the manufacture and sale of liquor in the state and succeeded in forcing the government to enact the NLTP Act 1989 that came in effect in 1990. The reasons cited were the usual ill-effects of alcohol prevalent in almost every society. Nagaland being a low populated state with the general population that was in the lower income bracket compared to other societies, the negatives would have been more pronounced. The church on the other hand was on a losing battle as the strict code enforced on converts was being slowly threatened and the future of an intended Christian State became uncertain. Another very important component leading to the protest may have been because that time the state had just conducted two elections within a span of just 3 years. The usual flow of money associated with elections in the state with increased indulgence by the youth would have been quite high than witnessed earlier. There have also been allegations over the years by those in the government then, the Congress party, that the opposition, the regional parties, also had a big hand in the protests. All in all the majority of the people agreed that in such a scenario the future of the people was bleak. It might have been perceived or even the truth but there are very few scientific data available today to prove either way without reasonable doubt.
The other notable protest was the one led by the NSF against the increase of superannuation age for persons in government service and were successful twice in making the government change the law. The decision of the government to raise the age of superannuation to 60 years like the rest of the country, especially the central services, greatly alarmed the student community because the government was the biggest if not the only employer at that time. The real or perceived threats by the student community of being unemployed was the driving force of all the students’ bodies across the state and succeeded in making the government to change the law not only once but twice.
Likewise, though there are varying voices out in the open opining about the recent protests there is a silent majority who actually participated in the protests and were also successful. The one thing that the Naga population will come together is that when they feel that they are being imposed certain laws that threatens their identity and their land. A movement against corruption may also not generate such responses because corruption somehow has penetrated almost every sphere of the Naga life. The initial response to the movement led by ACAUT against multiple illegal taxation by armed groups was massive but then it became thinner and thinner when it changed it directions more towards fighting corruption.
This current episode is still debated in the media getting the attention of the rest of the Nation and some parts of the world. There have also been intentions to add different colours to it even after the issue is almost settled, at least for the time being, leading to some media only focussing on certain areas. However one important aspect of such mass movements is it also always invites people with selfish motives also to join the cause but considering such isolated cases as the actual intention of the movement will be fallacious. Some organisations trying to portray the whole episode as men against women will be too farfetched though such elements do exists. On the other hand there are also views, opinions and facts related to the status of women in the state which should also not be cast away just because the protest was not only about the 33% women reservation. The status of women do differ from tribe to tribe and it will also be a good time to relook by each and every tribe led by the tribe organisations. When the country is looking forward for a uniform code, it is time our tribe organisations are made more powerful and accountable so that every tribe can come up with their own code before the next law is imposed again. The time has come.
