Where One Stands

With the last date of withdrawal of nominations from the municipal elections drawing nearer, the stance of the tribal organisations, the government and the political parties have become more intense. However the whole episode has finally mirrored the actual status of the Naga society in the state and has finally done away with the superficiality that was maintained over the years. Some of the organisations and individuals used the crudest of words to make their stand that instead made it more lame. Then the jurisdiction of the landowner villages in the towns were also questioned though subtly by the government. On the other hand some villages like the ones in Tuli area of Mokokchung stated that since the town is under their jurisdiction and their tribal bodies like the Ao Senden has no right to interfere. The political parties also joined the bandwagon, and gave out strict orders to the party’s intending candidates who have filed their nominations not to withdraw else face disciplinary actions. Basically it is an individual’s decision whether to contest or not and the individual seeks for ticket from a party based on its manifesto and ideology. So it is the prerogative and the right of the individual either to contest or withdraw. The direction from the party clearly indicates how democratic principles are being followed within the party or the absence of it. The diktats indicate it is no better than the tribal organisations and the village councils that give out their own orders that these political parties criticise. Likewise many have also joined the debate both in conventional media as well as new media especially the social media. Even in these platforms the typical Naga traits are continually displayed unabashedly. Discourses are always beneficial in disseminating information and the participants acquiring knowledge but for an observer the present case indicates a very disturbing trend of a complete lack of understanding of how in the Naga context an individual’s right is closely knitted to the community it belongs. Moreover all the institutions and groups including the government followed by the tribal organisations, political parties, village councils and the people indicate a very dangerous sign of deficiency. A deficiency not about the knowledge of others but a deficiency in knowing about oneself and from where the rights that the Nagas enjoy now emanated from and where its boundaries lay. This issue just might have opened one of the biggest debate for the Nagas.