We were told time and again that the issue of the Nagas cannot be settled any time soon mainly for two reasons: (1), for fear of hurting the sentiment of neighbouring communities and (2), the security of India that cannot be kept in jeopardy. Let us start with the first point. If New Delhi has concern for the sentiment of neighbouring communities, then what about the Nagas whose sentiment has being hurt for so many decades by not only denying their political rights but also keeping them in different states and countries? Does New Delhi think that Nagas must continue to suffer to keep its neighbouring communities happy? What have the neighbouring communities done for the Nagas when Naga villages were burnt down, villagers grouped together and relocated their villages, hundreds of their women raped, thousands of their men brutally assaulted and killed by Indian armies? Did the neighbouring communities sacrifice anything for the Naga cause or did they face hardship because of the Naga freedom movement? Is there any logic for the neighbouring community(ies) trying to slice a piece of cake from the share of the Nagas? Naga people must get what is rightfully theirs.
It is also a dilemma why the Government of India is trying to please every community with the issue of the Nagas? Does ‘all stake holders will be taken into account’ mean that all the aspirations of the neighbouring communities will be met before settling the issue of Naga people? If that is so, then, is it not the neighbouring communities who decide for the destiny of the Nagas? That is simply absurd as it invalidated the sacrifices made the Naga patriots. Only the Nagas has the legitimate right to decide for their future. The heartfelt aspiration of the Nagas to live together in freedom is on the edge of ‘disappearing’ because it has been mixed up with so many other issues. If the Meiteis, Kukis, Assamese or Arunachalese has issue with India, let them do it separately. Nagas has no right to stand on their way. The Naga people expect the same response from the neighbouring communities. As long as the Indo-Naga talk pulls together all the concerns of the neighbouring communities, the talk will remain complicated and could cost another decade or more to reach its logical conclusion.
The second point is equally perplexed one. We are told that they security of India cannot be compromised in any way for the sake of settling the Indo-Naga issue. Did thousands of Naga martyrs shed their blood for the security of India and not for the Nagas? Is New Delhi holding talks with the Nagas to placate them with a kind of minimum ‘autonomy’ so that Naga nation acts as a buffer state for India and its ‘enemy-ied’ countries? Today, many Naga youth, like me, are confused whether the right of the Nagas had been superseded by the concern of India’s security and the neighbouring communities. How many more years will the Naga’s freedom be kept in captivity of India? Or has the concerned Naga Political Group (NPG) that is in talk with Government of India (GOI) still fail to do its homework? For viable and sustainable Naga solution, consolidated effort of all Naga people is required. The opinion of Naga intellectuals (includes old people who are the treasurers of Naga culture, scholars, politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, etc) must be taken into consideration and not merely rely on the law experts of India and foreigners. At least 75% of the solution must be based on the unique culture of the Nagas. Otherwise ‘Solution’ will be simply imposition of foreign culture on the Nagas.
Let me conclude with a story. Once upon a time, a hunter (say Naga community) went to the jungle for hunting with his Dog (say NNWs). To hunter’s satisfaction, the Dog started chasing after a Bear (say Sovereignty). After sometime, somehow, a Deer came on the way of the Bear. The Dog lost track of the Bear and started running after the Deer.
Unfortunately, a rabbit came by and disturbed the track of the hunt again. Finally, the Dog was barking at a hole. When the hunter reached that place, he saw his Dog barking at a Rabbit in the burrow. The hunter did not get the Bear or Deer. He has to be contended with a Rabbit. Today, what are the Nagas hunting for: Bear or Deer or Rabbit? Whatever may be the ‘prey’, the hunt must come to an end and give space to the people to think and decide the future course of action to be followed according to the ‘prey’ they get.
The thoughts shared here are that of the writer and did not represent the views or opinion of any particular organisation or institution.
Z. K. Pahrü Pou, BTC, Pfutsero
