Aheli Moitra
It has been 100 years since so many things. World War I ended. Women of Great Britain and Ireland achieved the right to vote. Latvia became an independent country. Nelson Mandela was born. The Naga Club was formed.
And each year, of these 100 years, the fabric of world politics has been twisted, tweaked, needled, stitched, torn, stretched and worn out. Much like Naga politics, which have been knotted in unfathomable ways to reach their present juncture of complexity.
The recent 'controversy' over the centenary of the Naga Club is essential to these politics. It was insightful for Naga government employees in the early 20th century to come together and create a Naga Club, and even more insightful for them to be joined by the returnees from World War I, together making an appeal to the Simon Commission that shaped the Naga future. They set the ball rolling but that was not enough.
Collectives that sprouted up along the way, the Naga Students’ Federation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Naga Mothers’ Association, All Naga Students’ Association Manipur, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, Eastern Nagaland Women’s Organization, Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation, Eastern Naga Students’ Association, Naga Hoho, Eastern Naga People’s Organization, United Naga Council, to name a broad few, played a critical role in sustaining what the Naga Club began. They spoke openly for the rights of the Naga people. They rallied against the violence perpetrated by the State in overt forms of killing and maiming as well as in its covert forms of corruption in all nooks and crannies of the State project in the Naga areas. Despite their drawbacks, they have shaped the politics of the Naga people by staying true to the visions of the Naga Club’s erstwhile members.
The Nagas of Nagaland will testify to the sweetness of fruits that resulted from the efforts of peoples’ collectives. Such collectives also led to the formation of, and sustained the functioning of, the Nagaland State. A poorly drawn out Article 371-A would not have been heeded to the extent it was if not for the consistent pressure from these organizations nor would the heavy militarization of the Nagas areas have receded if not for their intervention. It is in the collective strength of Naga people everywhere where the powers of the Nagas of Nagaland lie.
It was important for someone to establish this and put an end to the rapid conversion of what the Naga peoples have termed ‘artificial boundaries’ into real ones. The Naga Students’ Federation may be getting brickbats for taking a firm stand but their insistence on recognizing all Naga peoples as encompassed in the Naga Club’s visions was necessary. It may not have stopped two different ways of recognizing and commemorating the Naga Club’s institution but it has led to the inclusion of Naga representatives from east, west, north, central, south Naga areas in the commemoration fold of both. Inadvertently, both the centenary celebrations have been legitimized.
It is laudable that Naga elders have decided to re-ignite the Naga Club. 100 years down the line, there is no better way to begin this journey than to be reminded by the youth that this step must be taken together.
Comments can be shared at moitramail@yahoo.com
