It is extremely saddening to observe the present leadership in various fronts gradually losing focus on the bigger picture of the collective well being the Nagas. Many at the decisive helms of affairs in government and various NGOs are addressing hoards of burning issues with compromised honour and honesty dictated by vested interests while maintaining a very hypocritical relationship with truth. Starting with issues such as (1) The opaque "Framework Agreement"; (2) The Rongmai recognition as an Indigenous inhabitant Tribe of Nagaland; (3) The emerging controversy within the Naga Hoho; etc., the overall response of our leaders has been far from satisfactory.
(1) Let us first deal with the "Framework Agreement" issue yet again. The joint statement issued by 'NSCN (IM) leaders on 'Framework Agreement' published in all the local papers on 1st September 2016 was a literal denunciation of "Nagas of Nagaland" into the realms of irrelevance. However, let it be affirmed that without the "Nagas of Nagaland" the core subject of "Naga Sovereignty" would not have existed in the first place. History reflects that political consciousness or the collective pride of 'Naga identity' as an independent people amongst our Naga brothers elsewhere was non-existent when thousands of Nagas of Nagaland were already being butchered by our adversary because of the NNM. There were still others who failed to find courage to join the National Movement at its most trying hours even though the National call had unequivocally been sent out to them. Anyone with an honourable sense of pride would therefore customarily consider this joint statement of NSCN (IM) leaders as the mother of all insults to the Nagas of Nagaland... questioning the rightful place of Nagas of Nagaland in Naga History by those who joined the 'sovereignty' band wagon only after ensuring it was safer for them to do so. Having said that, it is amply clear that the Nagas in general are not against the "Framework Agreement" per se but are decidedly averse to the lack of transparency concerning its contents; As stakeholders, the common view being upheld is that the essence of the very principle of 'Naga freedom' gets violated and rendered meaningless if fundamental right to information directly linked to their future wellbeing and fair opportunity to be heard, is arrogantly and autocratically trampled to the ground even before achieving the goal. Lasting solution in real terms will be hard to find within such vicious environment especially without official participatory space being afforded to all the warring Factions in an honourable capacity. Whether big or small, productive or unproductive, all Factions have played a role in the NNM and deserve a role to play in the closing chapter of the NNM. Therefore, instead of taking an unbiased proactive initiative to find an acceptable middle-ground of reconciliation to reinforce the efforts of FNR or go beyond the existing parameter to deal with this complex factional equation the trend amongst the so-called leaders in government and NGOs has tilted towards joining 'blind endorsement' band wagon dictated by fear or self-perpetuating motivations rather than by dispassionate reasoning. We are fast becoming mere spineless race devoid of courage or vision, divorced from honesty and honour.
(2) Coming to the Rongmai fiasco: Other than handful of Rongmai families brought in by the British for some specific nature of labour requirement, the Rongmais as a Tribe has no historical or territorial presence within the State of Nagaland...period. No one is questioning the legitimacy of Rongmai as a Naga Tribe but they are not officially qualified to be declared as "Indigenous inhabitant" within the State of Nagaland. Showing specific consideration for posterity of those authentic Rongmai families who settled within Nagaland before a certain cut-off dateline on an individual case to case basis would be a fair dispensation but recognizing the whole Tribe because of a few would be a huge miscarriage of justice. Subverting this factual historical and territorial ground reality to give them "Indigenous inhabitant Tribe of Nagaland" will definitely open the floodgate for all other Naga Tribes from other States to claim the same distinction. Can a Government grant an unfair status to Rongmai Tribe and yet refuse other Tribes like the Maos and the Tangkhuls whose cases we understand are also pending consideration? This is a fundamental question of dispensing equitable justice for all that will haunt the Government now or later? Adopting irrational action will dangerously upset the delicate Tribal equilibrium and seriously deplete the already scarce resource-base and employment opportunities for the sons and daughters of the legitimate Tribes of this State. Therefore, since each Naga Tribe is enjoying democratic rights and privileges from the regions they presently belong, selfishly seeking "dual benefits" beyond their current defined location must firmly be put down with an iron fist. The sanctity of the original status must not be disturbed until territorial integration becomes a reality. Accusing Nagas of Nagaland for being uncharitable would itself be an uncharitable accusation. Decisions guided by dishonest ulterior motivations can only result in contradictions and confrontations as is being faced today. This must be undone in all fairness.
(3) Finally, let it candidly be stated that the present nomenclature of "Naga Hoho" is a misnomer. Naga Hoho was originally created as a common platform for the 16 Tribes of the Nagas of Nagaland. That the membership eventually expanded into a Pan Naga representation was a welcomed necessity but should have appropriately been re-christened as a "Pan Naga Hoho" that aptly describes the broader base better rather than to continue within the limited confines of Naga Hoho despite this change of circumstance. By not doing so, the much needed "exclusive voice of Nagas of Nagaland" that once existed was surreptitiously sabotaged and wiped out to a status of a 'submerged minority'. This 'loss of voice' is disadvantageous not only to the Nagas of Nagaland but to the larger family of Nagas beyond. This has seriously compounded the already confusing picture of a complex tribal tapestry. There seems to exist an apprehensive misgiving that such an effort would lead to disintegration of the present Naga Hoho. This is far from the truth. The crux of the matter is to simply change the nomenclature from the present "Naga Hoho" to that of "Pan Naga Hoho" with proportionate representation of all the Naga Tribes from Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Myanmar including Nagaland.
Pan Naga Hoho can then forthrightly address the desired subject of "integration of all Naga inhabited area under one administrative umbrella" as envisioned in the 16 Point Agreement with a more forceful legitimacy and also coordinate other equally important aspect of cultural and emotional integration of all the constituent members in a sustained manner. The Naga Hoho of Nagaland can then meaningfully participate in all the proceeding of the Pan Naga Hoho as equal partners with all the rest even as it regains empowerment to address problems endemic to Nagaland and usher in a fresh lease of sensibility within our own kitchen in a similar way that UNC is making its presence felt in Manipur.
The sorely needed honourable pride in us as a people has well been amplified by the walkout of Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho from the present Naga Hoho even if it was for a limited but important agenda of withdrawal of recognition of Rongmai Tribe as 'indigenous inhabitant'. Although all the 'elected' Legislators as usual are unthinkingly scrambling to convince their respective Apex bodies to rejoin Naga Hoho, the unwavering stand of these three major Tribes is being applauded by most right thinking people in Nagaland! For a starter, it has at least caused the government that seems to only function under the pressure of 'ultimatums', to form a Cabinet Sub-Committee to try and clean up the droppings of the earlier Cabinet. This in itself is a laudable accomplishment whatever be the end result produced by this 'Ultimatum Government'. It also serves as an eye-opening opportunity to consider restructuring and reforming the present Naga Hoho by re-naming it as Pan Naga Hoho with an acceptable proportionate representation from all the Naga inhabited regions. The Naga family can then honourably regroup and move forward together in one united voice and vision divorcing our present clandestine relationship with truth and legitimately marrying truth in Church.
Khekiye K. Sema IAS (Rtd); Upper Forest Colony, Kohima E-mail: kksema@gmail.com
