Pakinrichapbo (Advocate)
Greater Nagaland broadly means the whole contiguous Naga territories to be brought under the administration of future Nagaland government post final solution whereas Mini Nagaland implies to present Nagaland state and other Naga districts under administration of neighbouring states governments.
Naga Integration appears to be the most mentioned matter in media but the most important agenda has so far been the least discussed or debated topic in public forum.
Practically speaking Integration is not the sole responsibility of single party in negotiation with GoI, it is the responsibility of every Naga residing in four Indian states. Still if you are not getting the idea; Manipur territorial integrity remain intact even after seven decades of Naga intensive struggles for Naga Nation and Kuki Nationalists demand of Kuki Homeland i.e. Zale’ngam is largely credited to the contribution and participations of loyal citizens of Manipur, the mass participants of its citizens largely composed of ethnic Meeteis during 18th June Uprising 2001 and their present stands regarding Manipur territorial integrity is a great lesson for all, when general public of Manipur can sacrifice that much for safeguarding its territorial integrity, what Naga general public are waiting for?. By writing memorandum alone to GoI, dreams cannot be fulfilled.
Nagas talked incessantly on its integration but so far has not given any serious thought nor debated on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public speech promising the people of Manipur while addressing a BJP’s election campaign rally at Langjing Achouba ground in Imphal West where he publically declared that ‘there is nothing in the peace accord signed between the NSCN-IM and the GoI that would disintegrate or break the territorial integrity of Manipur’, Imphal Free Press, 25/02/17.
The only way now is pro Naga integration groups like Naga Hoho, NSF unites Nagas putting pro integration groups in majority and then only people’s movement can bring something. Integration may be top agenda in negotiation table still the people can not commit blunders by solely depending on the results of peace talks. In addition, integration touches the boundaries of three states which make Naga integration appears complex and in face of such complication one wishes to see Nagas rising above all odds.
Some of the practical steps which I believe can put Nagas in advantage in dealing with its neighbouring states governments are mentioned points by points below:-
1. NSCN IM have been in peace talks with GoI post ceasefire for 21 years and counting, till then it cannot risk bringing in third party again to quell the Naga aspiration and this third party is the Indian military, who has start hunting cadres of armed factions even after Naga leaders had gifted colourful Naga traditional attire like waistcoat, shawl etc as a token of friendship to PM Modiji, cabinet ministers, interlocutor etc. But do heads of Indian military forces really care about those traditional attires given to Prime minister? In fact gifts were made untimely and friends don’t hunt to kill friends after receiving a gift. For this reason, Naga people has to do it lawfully to secure integration after all they have no solid support from any foreign Nation or powerful international NGOs to support their cause and prevent recurrence of inhuman war crimes committed by Indian military forces like in the past. This is where provisions of Article 2, 3 & 4 of constitution must come into play. Nagas knew they has no option but to invoke constitutional provisions and launch non-violent democratic methods to fight for integration which would be a good start on the path to integration but refuses for countless reasons. Even if Naga representative win it out in negotiation table it is apparent that GoI would not take further risk seeing the stiff opposition of other states, this is where they need to help themselves by launching civil disobedient movement legally boycotting their respective states government like the Telangana people did to then Andhra Pradesh state during struggle for separate Telangana State. Nagas has no required number of MLAs and MPs to win it out in states assemblies and parliament so as a supplement to the current peace talks, civil disobedient movement can bail Nagas out, also implement self reliant economic project to avoid remaining dependent on others. For example in Manipur, Naga people employed in Manipur government has to resigned from state service, boycott Imphal in advance totally giving up the comforts of Imphal and return to Hills their ancestral lands and invest with available resources to develop it, build proper road connectivity between all Naga populated districts to connect Nagaland and Assam, in that way completely boycotting Imphal valley. In fact such steps was suggested by one Meetei writer stating that though Nagas demand separate administrative unit in Manipur, not single of them has ever resign from Manipur govt. service. And they could not as they are not economically independent and unless Naga people settled in Manipur implement such steps, they would soon be fully integrated with the Manipur state by virtue of economic packages and better infrastructural developments. It’s time to decide whether to be fully in or out of Manipur, the current would only create extra chaos into the lives of economically poor Naga people living in Manipur.
2. Time has come for Left out Nagas to start boycotting respective governments at the earliest before the flame of integration died. When it happens one has to accept the reality and give total allegiance to its respective governments as citizens of that particular state.
Many opposed integration but having keenly observed the consequences of communal centric and religious politics of the mainstream Indian politics and its side effects equally felt in North-eastern region, I honestly feel land integration is in the best interest for the relatively small Nagas. No matter politically blind people living in four Indian states are satisfied with the status quo and very much wary to preserve their current positions thus refusing to see the larger picture. By now, whole Nagas must forced factions to compromised and merged into one single cohesive unit, civilian populations has to reorganize themselves as a Naga nationality not as tribe people anymore before the sooner or later political result of win or lose finish the Nagas forever.
