Navneet
When the Berlin Wall collapsed the more affluent West Germany and her citizens did not want to share their wealth and privileges with East Germany who suffered much more as a nation post World War II.
“We did all the hard work,” these guys on the one side said. It took diplomatic efforts by leaders to convince the Western side that East Germany had to sacrifice for years on the West’s behalf.
The legacy of Phizo and his men lives on because it is the GUN which enabled Nagas to claim its rightful place. If you had chosen to be meek when faced with aggression, you’d be perhaps selling woolen garments to Indians in dirty city corners, something the Tibetan today are forced to do.
While I have no hesitation raising my finger on any NSCN(IM) topgun or middle rung who has amassed wealth , I can say with certainty that their assets are peanuts compared to some veteran politicians or contractors or businessman. I also know NSCN(K) leaders who live rather simple lives barely meeting their family needs.
“He owns two mountains”, is not an uncommon response by a Naga villager proudly stating about his favourite politician.
The wealth accumulated through legal and illegal means accrues to both Nagas of Nagaland as well as Nagas of Manipur. If someone is trying to compare the wealth with some real estate owners of Nagaland, we’d be in for some rude shock. Some Nagas have assets, land, property, stocks and hard cash (and cars) which are not known by most. If some NSCN Kilonser owns a Scorpio, 2 Gypsys and a bungalow worth 25 lakhs, the overground Naga – a businessman, contractor, politician – owns 7 cars (one worth 70 lakh), 5 Gypsies, 3 JCBs. He owns a flat each in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi worth in crores. He owns about 200 Bighas of land just around Dimapur. He plays golf with the Indian Army in Rangapahar. And he does not pay Income Tax.
A single Angami, Sema or Ao family can feed a hundred impoverished Naga families in Manipur for two whole years without having to go to the bank to withdraw a penny. If you have heard of the tribals of Tripura, you have heard of the Nagas and Kukis in Manipur. The bad roads here are nothing compared to the bullock cart roads the Meiteis calls National Highways. Meiteis have money to travel in the half a dozen Airlines operating cheap flights to and from Imphal.
If a people can be misunderstood, it can spell a historical blunder. Of course, all Nagas of Manipur are not going to heaven, that I can assure you. But, I will not buy the propaganda that they are problem creators.
It is Nagas here, that too, so called “indigenous” Nagaland State people who has been duped by India over and over again. Will you bite the bait again this time?
Look East Policy (LEP) is being described as the only way the Indian Sub-Continent can ensure sustainable and affordable economic growth for decades to come. It will give business and commerce worth trillions of US Dollars and Nagas can enjoy parts of that. The only way to the South East has to pass through the very Naga areas of Manipur, perhaps less than 5 years from now. You need the goodwill of your Naga brethren and must reassure them that the Unification of the Naga Homeland and People is the ultimate destination. I shall conclude that the present confusion shall clear once you analyse and take bold steps. After all, only great leaders can take great and difficult decisions.
