Nehemiah Rong
Nagas’ inheritance was and is freedom, their land, independence and democratic governance, economic self reliance, quick and just delivery and disposal judicial system based on traditional customary laws, egalitarian, casteless and classless society, rich cultural and traditional heritage, the participatory approach and communitarian in decision making, planning, execution and dispensation of affairs with sufficient natural resources.
Nagas’ dream is rooted in history of fierce resistance and warfare to the colonial powers. Naga dream is to put stop to external rule, the coercive invasion and to build its own nation state. It is everybody’s dream. It was started with a non-violence principle. It did not at first subscribe guns as its weapons but mutual understanding as equals, practicing democratic ways and means to defend their birthright.
It is built upon people’s mandate, consent and endorsement (15th May 1951 Plebiscite). It is built upon sweats, tears and blood of its suffering people. It is a sacred dream. It is a precious dream. It is a worthy dream. Indeed a most noble dream for all those who belong to the land by reposing their faith in goodwill, respect, equality, justice, inclusivity and mutual understanding, unity and reconciliation.
Nagas were dreamers, great dreamers. Never had a common kingdom yet each Naga village was an independent entity or kingdom, each village has got its own chief or elected leader to govern their land without any outside interference. These people had consented and dreamt together for common homeland. Never had a country army but believed in its citizens to guard their land, never had industries and factories but have sufficient land and natural resources. Never had a common economic agenda but each village was a self reliant with its production. They were wooden platters, head-hunters in the past, pierced ear people having rich culture and tradition, never had a police or a beggar in the past, fierce warriors yet humble folks, histories woven in the form of folk lore and oral narration past down from generation to generation through morung system (common dormitory in every village), having common boundaries, sharing common streams, rivers etc. spread across in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal and Myanmar belonging to Sino-Mongoloid stock.
Nagas’ dream believes in ‘all men are equal; there is no high or low class, everyone according to one’s capacity and character.’ It upholds the ‘ethics of work culture’. Nothing can beat the hard work. It envisions for vibrant, progressive, collaborative, community oriented society. It seeks to protect and preserve the natural resources, the forest, the land, water, minerals etc. All the resources belong to the people and not to some few. Nagas’ dream must set to make the maximum benefit to the villagers who own their resources.
Nagas’ dream is not betrayal and division but of brotherhood and dedication to the nationhood. It dreamt to free every individual as a free human being. Naga dream never believes in factionalism and partisan society. Naga founding fathers were a great dreamer, they dreamt of united Nagaland and not a divided one. They dreamt beyond tribes and sub tribes. In pursuit of their collective dreams, they fasted, prayed, they toiled, they bled, they cried and they died.
Nagas’ dream was tested in fire (many villages were burnt down for several times) and bullets-many precious Nagas lives were fallen for the land, and dream------ a dream of freedom. In fire and water Nagas’ dream continues to live.
Nagas’ dream had and is being facing the fiercest and longest arms resistance in South Asia. Well pursuing their dreams, the Nagas caught up in the factionalism and tribalism. They have among themselves killed each other and exclude each other. People no longer have trust or have hope. But Nagas’ dream was and is always beyond factionalism, tribalism and division because it is the people’s dream, it is their birthright. It was people’s dream and people must and needed to recapture that big dream of united people and be radar of the movement and not the mere follower. People should guide and control the faction(s) and let the later work out what the former want not the other way round. Here it means not to undermine the sacrifices of the leaders in various factions. Only through their sacrifices, dedication and devotion towards the Nationalism, that the Nagas are coming thus far. So much have been in done in the past and so yet to be completed.
It goes beyond the present geo-political arrangement of separating the Nagas with the authoritative and coercive administration without the consent of the people. It is inclusive of all the people who called themselves Nagas and the land they live in. It leaves room for its neighbours to live together with the Nagas’ dream. It does not seek to destroy others to win the Nagas’ dream. It envisioned fighting their justice without hating their colonial rules.
It is beyond mere taxation, it is beyond arms supremacy, it goes beyond present pride and pursuit of personal gain but it is a noble dream to be pursued with humility and discipline to achieve the birthright which is their inheritance. Any sort of luxury and contentment without achieving the Nagas’s dream, the birthright, is just but thinking to be the greatest kings inside the prison bar. Any person inside the prison is never a free man. Are the Nagas becoming self-contented prisoners with the due bread and butter supply by the subjugators? Are the Nagas contented themselves with the recognition of their history as ‘unique’? Are they contented with the present divided people placed in different states? Are Nagas contented with their past glories? Try to dream beyond.... just dream beyond the present.... the present scenario of violence and present arrogance and aggressive pursuit of personal gain make many young Nagas impossible to have any dream. It is like those vehicles driving in the thick foggy roads. They have fuel and driving capacity but those fogs restricted them to drive further....
Many young Nagas have intellectual power, knowledge, information, innovative ideas to contribute for better society politically, economically, socially and culturally, and great potential of building diplomatic relations with other countries especially those studying or working abroad and within the India but they were left neglected for systematic consultation, genuine opinion collections and they are stuck up in the roads due many unfavourable circumstances.
It (Nagas’ Dream) is facing two prominent problems among many others. They are political problem and human problem. Political problem (Naga-Indo-Myanmar political issue) has got time frame whereas human problem (like jealousy, hatred, greed, power craziness, factionalism born out of power tussle, discriminatory factors etc) is timeless. The former (political problem) has to be settled or solved within limited time frame whereas the later cannot be clearly drawn out where to end, it has to be a constant change for better, renewal, and revival individually, collectively as Churches, Tribes and People. In other word, the later can be best said as the moral bankruptcy. The human problem has adverse affect in the political problem because, until the people themselves are humility and honest enough to realize their own weaknesses, mistakes and listen to each other to unify and fight with united voice, it is very vague to pursue the dream without specific goals, it is like a football game played by a team playing to one’s own conveniences without the team target to put maximum goals to win the game. The factions are in to unending killings and unceasingly opposing each other, Naga people must unite to bring all the groups to understanding and healthy dialoguing among the factions for unification and reconciliation. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation’s activities to unite and reconcile the warring Naga Factions in the form of soccer is a ‘change’ that is taking place in the land. The initiative is very important and crucial in the history of the Nagas’ journey towards achieving their dreams through reconciliation process.
Therefore, it is time for the people to realize their position, other’s position and the team’s position to continuously build a team spirit by following the rules of game (to reduce the human problems, like factionalism, tribalism, greed, superiority complexes, jealousy etc.) accommodating each other, submitting to continual reconciliatory, revival and renewal processes (both underground groups and overground Tribal Hohos, Civil Societies/Organisations, Politicians and Individuals) to enhance, optimize, expedite the political peace process to be solved in the minimum time within hand without losing so much lives that are perishing in the name of ‘tribalism and factionalism’ everyday leaving behind many women weeping widows and children helpless orphans.
When Nagas stand united, Nagas’ dream is never far away. Rather it can be said freedom is knocking at Nagas’ door, it is up to Nagas whether, are they willing to open its door by coming together and stand united and fight in unison integrating every possible means at their disposal? Are they (Nagas) ready for that? When Nagas fight with one voice no one can stop them, because they have their historical and political rights.
May be it is the time that critical but positive policies and plans are formulated and actions taken towards the internal reconciliatory and unifying process. For the future, a vision plan must be in continuously evolving process so that the most refined and best thoughts are produced, well written and followed to fulfil the dream. By this it means that, Nagaland as a dreamt Nation-State to be must have its own well written governance system (basing on the democratic system of the past), laws (basing on customary laws), economic and industrial policies (based on the self reliance village economy. Each Naga village can be a centre of one kind or the other of small scale industry unit like the past. Each Naga village can be the centre of development and prosperity while building the Nation Wealth at the same time.), preserving the past culture and heritage, protecting the natural resources (forests, minerals, land etc.). This may sound like putting a cart before the horse but until Nagas have such clear roadmap, how can they be proud to work hard and sacrifice for their future. These documents may subject to changes and amendments from time to time but will be guiding principles in the nation building process. Such clear and well written documents will give clearer roadmap for post political solution/settlement arrangement even. If such well written documents already existed earlier, it is felt that it needs more elaborate public scrutiny.
It can be suggested here that economy, development students, entrepreneurs can be assigned to bring out the best written proposal for economic and industrial policies, for codification of Naga Customary Laws in the best way in aligning with international laws, Law students and practising Advocates can be assigned to study the customary laws while doing that all the tribes (Naga tibes living in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal and Myanmar) can be called together for exhaustive consultation, political science students, researchers and others can be assigned with the assignment for the political framework studying the political situations and international relations of other nations so as to draw out the best workable political framework for Nagas. Also in other cases like agriculture, art and culture, literature, history, geography, geology, computer programming, information, communication technology, education, health etc or other such related subjects can be assigned to the respective students or practising fellows among the Nagas to produce the best work suitable to the Naga people. Also the missionary sending plan can also be formulated, Nagaland being a Christian land. That is Nagas’ bounded duty towards the immediate neighbours, those struggling people and for the humanity at large. The funding of such projects can be done through proper setting up of Foundation or Trust for Researching and Archiving by forming Consultative Committee for Common Policy Formation, may be comprising of bodies like NSF, ANSAM, ENSF, Naga Hoho, UNC, Eastern Naga Hoho, Religious Institutions and Nagas in Myanmar (formerly Burma) combined together with experts (like young professionals, media persons, activists, thinkers, intellectuals etc.) (Sorry for my ignorance if orgn. names are quoted wrongly). Further, it can be suggested that the selection of eligibility for the committee can be done through selection process by giving forms where, the personal statement, personal commitment, in-depth knowledge in the subjects, leadership capacity at regional and village level, mobilisation capacity to draw the voices and opinions from lowest grass root level i.e. village level are asked to be submitted. Such selection process is required not to mess up the initiatives (not to make it everybody’s business is nobody’s business) but to make it genuine and sacrificial work for the people and nation building. The based headquarter can be set up through consensus and the regional offices can also be set up for timely coordination and consultation. For instance, Headquarter at Dimapur and branches can be opened in all Naga inhabited districts and also extension branches like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc. and even a forum for those Non Resident Nagas can be created. This will allow fullest participation among Naga people. The functional mechanism can be worked out properly. This initiative should not be felt as a threat by any groups in Nagas society but should be broadly understood for systematic and proper documentation of common policy formation for the betterment of whole Nagas and not for the few. The fund raising can be done from the Naga people themselves, which in other way is a challenge for independency willingness to be on their own feet. It is felt that this movement must begin. It must start. The time is now. It is Nagas who should do it and not others. The change and transformation must begin now. Change and Transformation must start from ‘Within Nagas’ and not from ‘Without’. World may observe and support Nagas, but until the change and transformation do take place ‘inside’, ‘outside’ alone cannot solve the Nagas’ problem. Once again it can be repeatedly said, freedom is ringing at Nagas’ door, the question is, are they willing to be united and it flow to their land? Is it too hard for them to be united, and let freedom go away? What is the hardest thing for the Nagas to get freedom?
It is believed that the Nagas dream evolved from and endorsed by its people, and it should be realized and put to realities by its people. At the ground it is the people who have to work although outside other people may support. Until and unless the, Nagas, as people know and learn their own situation, conditions, histories, mistakes, achievements, potentials, resources, hopes and scopes it will be just a few men’s job to pursue the half hearted dream. It is the time for all to dream beyond.... for everyone without the exception for those who positioned themselves to be the leaders of the society....
Nagas’ dream demands of very strong research and analysis, effective self criticism and evaluation, a constant positive dialogues and debates, planning and strategy making. It demands of cohesive coordination between the policies makers, national workers/leaders and young intellectuals/professionals to bring out the best out of the past to meet the international norms be it in customary laws, governance system, economic policies, international relation without losing the past identity and system. It also needs wise diplomacies with the international agencies, unions, countries not undermining the necessity of united and reconciled Nagas back home. Upon broken home no peaceful and prosperous family can be built. It is felt that is an inclusive dream of the children of the soil. It demands the people to work more and not less. It is not a dream of sitting back and to enjoy the ‘falling manna’. But it is a dream of hard work with sweat, proper resource management, constant confidence building among themselves (Nagas), building partnerships with other countries and strong economic ties with India and other friendly countries etc.
Nagas’ dream envisions for well informed society, it believes in the education of its younger generation, economic prosperity, democratic governance, best and quickest judicial system based on the codified Naga customary laws, strong social and cultural integration. It seeks to stand for the rights of weak and downtrodden. It seeks justice and peace. It seeks to give a space for an individual to exercise one’s freedom and pursue one’s dream. It seeks to provide a security to the poor and ignorant villagers and not to robe away their simplicities. It never dreamt to use power to abuse and misuse but to use power to usher in equality, justice, peace and prosperity.
Nagas’ dream demands the students to study more and not less, to think more and not less, to dream bigger and not smaller. It demands the younger generation to pursue their goal vigorously with a mission to uplift their suffering people. May be it demands from the younger lot to ask themselves what they can contribute to society and not what the society can offer to them. It is the time that younger people are to be motivated to bring positive change in their society. It demands from the students to be ambassadors of goodwill and peace makers among themselves and towards other people. It demands the youth to search for social entrepreneurship, self employment to help eradicate poverty to bring development with environmental sustainability.
Nagas’ dream is not only a rich man’s dream or a poor man’s dream, it is a common dream, a common and collective hope for common destiny. Above all it needs humility, discipline and dependence on God who gave Nagas their land, race itself and their dreams. When all argument fails, reasoning fails, diplomacy fails and all human efforts fall short, God’s grace come in through divine’s intervention. May God bless Nagaland once again.
Building a Naga dream needs young and old minds, learned and unlearned and indispensably the Nagas people. Wherever you may be working or studying, you must know where you belong to, your inheritance, your people’s dream. Nagas, as the people are the ones to fill the gaps and build bridges to reach their long cherishing dream. As Nagas you belong to the land, the sons and daughters of the Naga soil, you are the heirs of the great inheritance, you must, as a Naga pursue a dream, the great Naga dream.
Through this humble piece, it is attempted to present the voices of the young Naga(s) and suffering people carrying a mar of atrocities and humiliation living a very pathetic lives, those who are dying from illnesses born out of thrashing by rifles butts, being buried alive, orphans and widows, smeared with chillies power, letting to give birth in open ground etc yet trying to dream Nagas’ dream and humbly put forward suggestions and some vital points to remind the whole Naga society and others to truly understand the Nagas’ dream basing on their historical and political rights. If some positive points to be noted, it is felt, the time is now for the Nagas, leaders and citizens to take right action and if any shortfall and error(s) in the write up, it is solely the writer’s weakness. Indeed, it is felt Nagas’ dream is not lesser than any nation’s dream.
(Views can be sent to neherong@gmail.com)
