Patriarch Of Naga Politics- R.C. Chiten Jamir: A Eulogy

 

Jongpongchitten, popularly known as R.C. Chiten Jamir, is no more. A congress ideologue, veteran politician and a statesman has passed away on 20th March 2011. A congressman to the core, remained loyal to the party he nurtured despite hiccups, split and merger in the chequered history of congress in Nagaland. He was one congress stalwart, who refused to be identified with any factions in a faction-ridden congress, and remained loyal and steadfast only to the principles and ideology of the Indian national congress. He played a leading role in metamorphosing Nagaland state from a district in Assam. Despite skepticism and opposition from senior party colleagues, including Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Chiten took a calculated risk along with his followers who toed his line and secured the merger of NNO with INC in 1976. He was also instrumental in securing a concession for Nagaland congress with “Functional Autonomy” considering the unique socio-cultural background of the Nagas. In his long political career spanning over three decades, Chiten was one politician who did not shift his party loyalty even once and remained firm till his last breath. He assiduously built the party, nurtured it and instrumental for its meteoric rise and saw for himself the zenith of congress reign in his life time.
R.C. Chitten Jamir hailed from Akhoya village a nondescript village, yet held in high esteem for their political acumen in Langpangkong range in Mokokchung district. Armed with Masters in Arts and a law degree from prestigious Allahabad University, erudite and learned Chitten plunged into politics and went on to become a member of the interim body, which was a de facto Legislature from 18th February 1961. Chitten subsequently became an executive council member, which functioned as a de facto Council of Minister for three years. In the first general election held in Nagaland in 1964, Chiten was elected unopposed from 22 Arkakong constituency. In the second general election held in 1969, Chiten scrapped through in a four-corned contest. During these periods, he was allotted important portfolios such as Agriculture, Industries, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Finance, which he handled with finesse. In the third general elections in 1974, a rejuvenated UDF gave Chiten a run for its money, but manage to show the door to his formidable rivals. Notwithstanding his victory, the ruling NN0 was ousted from the power.
The fourth general elections in 1977 turn out to be a litmus test for Chiten for more reason than one. This was an election where he had to fight with its back to the wall with congress making its maiden foray into Naga politics. Two, it was a period in the country, including Nagaland which had felt the adverse impact of emergency imposed by Mrs. Gandhi that eventually led to the emergence of a strong and united opposition. In this backdrop, state went to the polls. As predicted in certain quarters, Chiten became the first casualty in the post emergency husting and fell by the wayside. This was a maiden defeat and a temporary setback for Chiten. He was holding the post of General Secretary of the nascent congress then. In the subsequent elections held in 1982, Chiten could not retrieve his seat and got defeated by a debutant. This defeat came close on the heels of his promotion as congress chief in Nagaland. Critics and soothsayers had a field day; rumor did the round that his political career had come to a dead end. Story was planted making obituary reference to his political career. Out of the Assembly for a decade, and from the ashes of his defeat, Chiten assiduously rebuilt the organizational base of the congress from the grassroots and paid dividend which is evident from the fact that during his tenure as the congress chief, the party romped home with absolute majority in the 6th general elections in 1987. Chiten too staged a comeback in 1987 and became Deputy Chief Minister. But ill luck would have it; the 6th Nagaland Assembly was cut short due to defection.
In 1989 elections, Chiten returned to the assembly from his traditional constituency-Arkakong. In the post 1987 and 1989 election period, Nagaland witnessed a spate of political defection, instability, split and merger as never before. The formation of splinter groups, defection and counter-defection alliance and counter-alliances ruled the roasts leading to the imposition of president’s rule in the state. In the face of these political crisis laced with personal aggrandizement, Chiten remained composed and despite differences with leadership at the helms, Chiten never deserted the party he nurtured, unlike other party stalwarts. He opted out of electoral fray in 1993 and chose to remain a party ideologue nay, a text book of congress till his death.
He was one rare politician who made a dignified exit from electoral politics once he realized that age was catching up on him. Having been retired voluntarily from electoral politics, he continued to be a tower of strength to the party, providing directions to the party cadres and advising and orienting the party stalwarts. The manner in which politicians of all hues throng his modest home speaks volume of his endowment of political wisdom. In the course of my research, I happened to interview him at his modest home in Khermahal in the summer of 2004. His narration of the Naga politics in sequence without referring to any book or document dumfounded me. What I learned from Chiten in three hour tete-a-tete was much more than what I gathered from Assembly Secretariat Library. He was a rare and important source material for my research work, for which I am deeply indebted. Besides his political discourse, which he could put across with eloquence, his spiritual message was lucid. The exposition of the word of God and the biblical message he delivered through the print media, I am sure had touch the hearts of many. In his death, I cannot but say “A living Library is dead, colossus is no more, long live his ideals” Having said this, I pay my respectful homage to Chiten Jamir. May his soul rest in eternal peace.