We talk about Naga solution but still harbor ‘ism’, laments Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio

Dimapur, Nov. 7 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, on Monday, shared that the way various tribes of the state celebrate their respective festivals is getting better with each passing year and that it helps revive the culture and traditions.

Speaking on the occasion of Tokhu Emong festival at Lakhuti village in Wokha district, he said ‘when you lose money, you lose nothing but if you lose your identity, you lose everything’.

He, therefore, said it is apt for the Land of Festivals to come together and culminate at the Hornbill Festival to promote the state’s rich traditional culture to showcase the Naga identity.

While extending Tokhu Emong greetings to the people on his maiden visit to Lakhuti, Rio said the village has produced a lot of leaders, officers, educationists and many different eminent personalities, as well as lauded the people for maintaining harmony between different (Christian) denominations.

However, he lamented that the Naga society is “thoroughly divided”, be it the general public or the Naga political groups, being split into so many factions, organisations and clans. We talk about solution to the Naga political issue but still harbor “ism” in us, DPRO Wokha quoted him as saying.

He went on to say that if the people have ‘Nagaism’, God may bless the people and resolve the Naga issue.

He further expressed hope that the festival would spread the message to all the Nagas to come together and work in unison to solve the Naga political issue.

Today, we are celebrating this Tokhu Emong signifying the hard labour and the sweat you have put in, because of which you are making a harvest, he said while expressing the need to thank God for all the blessings.

‘Our forefathers, they worshiped nature but they were conscious that some superpower is controlling the universe and whatever they did, they did it with care and thankfulness, seeking blessings; so even today, though we are Christians, we have carried forward this tradition, the rich culture of the Nagas, and therefore it is right thing to do and enjoy our hard-earned harvest, and also celebrate, protect and promote our culture and tradition,’ he said.

He also expressed happiness that the state has come up with a compilation of documents on ways to preserve tradition, culture and important festivals.

Rio stated that when the British came to Naga Hills in 1833, they found Nagas to be ‘very simple, honest and hard working with a strong tradition and culture. They observed that though Nagas were ‘savage’, ‘we had been surviving with mother nature, caring for one another with rich cultural traditions’, he said.

Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873, passed in the London Parliament, Nagas were given protection to upkeep ‘our Naga identity and also protect other tribals’. Further, in the Constitution of India, Article 371 (A) protects our cultural traditions, and no non- indigenous Naga can buy immovable properties in the state, he added.

‘Till today, we are made very proud of ourselves and even the constitution respects the customary laws and traditions, therefore it is the right thing to do to protect and promote our rich cultural traditions,’ he continued.

Advisor for Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, while extending greetings on the occasion, thanked the chief minister of Nagaland for attending the festival and expressing love and concern for the Lotha people.

Yanthan said despite many challenges faced over the past two to three years because of the pandemic, reasonable achievements have been seen in the area under his leadership. He shared some of the projects that had been taken up like the Sanis to Lakhuti village road construction covering about 18 km under PMGSY-1, construction of road from Pyangsa to Koro, and Mangmetong-Doyang road to be taken up under PMGSY-3 during this current year.

He also thanked the CM for taking up the playground project at Lakhuti village under Khelo India, which is expected to be completed shortly.

Tokhu Emong festival is also a time to forgive, time to reconcile and a time to build relations besides festivities and merry making with songs and dances, he said while urging the gathering to emulate the principles and values of the forefathers that were passed down through generations.

The chief minister was accompanied by Minister for Agriculture G Kaito Aye, Minister for Rural Development Metsubo Jamir, Advisor of Law and Justice Dr. Chumben Murry, and a host of dignitaries and party officials.