By - Asangba Tzudir
The recent murder of a 22-year-old girl in Nagaland’s Capital city has stirred Nagaland’s conscience. Her death, especially the brutal way in which her life was cast off this earth is a piercing reminder that even in a society that prides itself on community, faith, and kinship, the sanctity of human life is being eroded. The brutal extinguishing of a young life raises two serious questions. How could such a tragedy happen, and most importantly, how we, as a people, choose to respond.
For a very long time, Naga society has been numbed by repeated reports of killings through factional violence, domestic disputes, mob justice, and senseless individual crimes. Each time, there is an outpouring of anger and griefs on social media, spark of outrage, but then slowly dissipate into silence until the next such tragedy jolts us again. This nature of apathy has turned compassion into short-lived emotion, rather than a moral responsibility.
Our response must not begin with misplaced idea of justice but with an honest self-reflection. As a collective, we cannot call ourselves a Christian or a Christian society if our faith and beliefs does not translate into respect for life. Churches, civil society organizations, student unions, and tribal bodies must express not only in condemnation but in collective responsible action. We are angered and also mourn the dead, but as responsible citizens what is more important is for us to safeguard the living.
This issue questions our moral values — our empathy, accountability, and reverence for the image of God in every human being. The killing of a life is not just a crime against an individual, but a crime against the very moral fabric that binds us together as a people. When we look at the various forms of crimes today, many of it is met not with shame but with justification, silence, or negotiation, and we end up trading morality for convenience.
While the law must take its rightful course, and justice must be swift and impartial, yet, beyond legal justice, there is a need for moral renewal. Parents, teachers, and Church leaders must reemphasize the value of life, respect for women, and the dignity of others. While Social media ‘outrage’ is easy, building a culture of respect as an end in itself without any consideration is harder, but it is the only way forward to begin the process of respecting life.
Let the death of our dearest sister be not forgotten in the hustle-bustle of our daily life. Let her name serve as a reminder that every act of violence diminishes us all as a human being. If Nagaland truly wishes to call itself a land of faith and believes in community, it must rise above anger and indifference, and be vigilant while reclaiming the moral courage to say ‘no more’. Her death must awaken our sleeping society and become the spark that reignites our humanity.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com).
