Can Naga society survive without proper government?

K Ritse
Pfütsero Town  

A society with a background of a village republic having its total trust on its villagers alone and never bow down to any outside force whether mighty or unmatched power to control over the village never ever surrender and still survived till the time immemorial period of its barbaric existence is the NAGA SOCIETY. The change wave for a better to modernization and civilization plus Christianity step into this unwavered primitive society to main stream of unblocked window of fast global village; having accessibilities to all our wants through a rapid progress of school and college education acquired within a period of less than one century, the people are puzzled in choosing the right path based on the truth because the influence of outside world and its prevalent practices (day to day way of life) are too much contrary to its mental attitude of the past equality of life. The land of classless society having equal opportunity of life based on hard labour with God gifted varied talents was shaken very badly in the consequences of years after years. The social status in the past society was insignificant but the present society is very much right conscious of its status and recognition in the present day to day life.  

The society on equal opportunity and respect to all human beings across the length and breadth of its God’s gifted soil has diluted with lots of social bearers which were created and dominated by few so called leaders of the society just for the maintenance of their superior status in the social strata. The emergence of class society is very near unless the society realizes the impact of the future consequences right now. The have & have not discrepancy is widened year by year and the living condition of the Naga society also widen day by day. It is feared that the elite society as the cream of society might dominate the whole society and control over the whole system if we don’t realize and bear in mind the spirit of oneness and togetherness in Naga society. Beyond the limitation bar of oneness and togetherness there would be no government in the Naga society as practiced for long period in the primitive stage and decorum of the past Naga society of oneness and togetherness in the Naga republican village is not applicable in this era of fast communication world.  

Always blowing our own trumpet and criticize other fellow human beings of the same feather is nothing less than what is called echoing our own name in the society. The appreciation of oneself in the society and never ever admit our shortcoming is a self destruction theory. We can be clever enough to cover our false or misdeeds but others will take for granted that we are a total liar in the society. The best game played among the top leader’s levels that control the society is nothing but equivalent to following a conspiracy theory to knock down each other of the same standard. The leaders in the society are God’s chosen people to lead others by comforting and guide them to have a good future vision for the better society. Such leaders are God gifted & talented person in the society. Such leaders cannot be swept away by mere criticism or mispropoganda. In doing so, it will surely sharpen his/her mind to fight against evils or ill motive human arrogance. Such situation of indecisive attitude of the Naga population is prevalent right now.  

The trust and confidence on various leaders in Naga society is diminishing year by year. Even in the church level, the fear of Pastor and church workers are losing its credibility in the eyes of the public year by year. Finding fault of church workers and pastors are greater and greater and even to the most revered persons like Rev., Dr. and Father Bishops etc are having ugly spots in the eyes of the Naga society. Who is ‘PERFECT’ in this world?. No one is perfect except the living God who is our redeemer and sustainer of human life. Beyond that human beings; though created in HIS OWN IMAGE, are all sinful creature; who have all fallen short of perfectness. Therefore, let us positioned ourselves as sinners who fall short of ‘PERFECTNESS’ but trust each other and rely on the leaders of the society, for they are the one to lead us in the right direction. Falling short of leading the people out of their sheer ill motive or selfishness to retain their living standard will surely be pulled down by own self identity. Therefore, cursing the leaders will lead the society into an everlasting doom of the society. A leaderless society cannot compete with other advances society having vision leaders in this global village scenario.  

Back to the government, the meaning of governing the society is not just a mere administering of rules & laws. The administration and the government cannot be treated the same. The meanings of these two words had a vast difference in dealing with the people. According to Abraham Lincoln, my government is for the people, by the people and of the people. The government Abraham Lincoln emphasized on the welfare of the society by applying the minds of the leaders and the officers to supply the need and aspirations of the people for a better society. In no where the govt. emphasized by him is to dictate the people to follow his footsteps out of forces. Convincing the people for a better living is the sole object of the govt. when stick to the democratic norms. It is far from reality of the real govt. when the rulers under the aegis of the govt. vehemently imposed their mentality towards the society. By hook or by crock if the govt. rules the society applying the rules of law in matter of common interest of the society is equivalent to dictatorship. The Naga society right from time immemorial, never bow down to such forces and will never want to do so for maintenance of unique history and distinctive identity. Therefore, the govt. when opposed the mindset of the people cannot stand before the Naga society. This peculiarity of Naga society has been tested long before in one’s own life time. For that matter brain washed Naga people are never afraid of external forces when applied in the society. Right now the division of social fabrics among the Naga population is being badly divided in choosing what is right and what is wrong. This resulted in many ‘isms’ from among the Naga communities. This is the reason why many factions even among the Naga national parties have been formed and fight for our own wishful thinking of Naga society betterment. Proper govt. is not formed till now to pay our allegiance to the controlling authority of the Naga society.  

The Naga society is dwelled in a land full of Organizations, Associations, Councils and Hohos in the greater circle. Even a small matter when differences occurred; a parallel bodies is formed immediately to counter the parental bodies. The Naga Hoho, NTC, CNTC, NTAC, JCC, ACAUT, ENPO and GB’s Federation in apex body levels are actively functioning for the smooth conduct of the govt. but all these bodies turned into a staunch enemy of the Nagaland Govt. The NSF and ENSF are also working actively to check the govt. in their own line of interest in the student’s level too. The land of many unions and affiliations, setting aside recognized regional and National political parties also have less voice unless it comes to a common platform of understanding.  

The more we have an understanding of each other’s points, the closer we are to have a feeling of oneness and togetherness but in the case of Naga society, the ego and pride problem is spear heading in controlling the society right from the village level to tribal level and extended to Nagas as a whole. We face such enumerable differences; fighting for the best game of individual. The decoration of feathers on one’s own head is not lasted for a long period. Recognition and fighting for pioneership is also just a momentary period because of the fast changing society. But the worriness is the Naga society having love and concern for each other in the long run so as to pass the flaming torch.