S VARAH
Agreeing to discuss the issue (the case between India and the Naga) at the highest level, free from any conditions and so on, was, when the announcement first came, captivating. More than four scores rounds of talks inside a decade and half have been conducted.
The earlier zest seems now dwindling; the appealing thought as to experience a new lease of life after having gone through immense sufferings, fears, tears and uncertain future, becoming bored again. Is the GOI seriously committed, true to the terms first agreed? Or, is the GOI regretting, thinking that other establishments in North East India having, as some say, separatist tendency, will ask for ‘Naga model or Naga type’ should India concede to the idea of Naga for solution? There need be agreement and settlement to this problem (one of the longest unresolved political conflict in Asia) between Naga people and the Government of India.
GOI’s admission to Naga’s case as different from others on the basis of history as well as political merits, and its agreement to settle the matter accordingly, is comforting. The irritating question is, however: who, among these powerful political parties and who, among arrogant Indian leaders, would sacrifice his/her position for the sake of this very tiny and yet unyielding Naga? Naga leaders coming out to meet, shake hands, hug, cry and smile under the banner of ‘Journey of Common Hope’ is, indeed, renewing and inspiring; to discontinue fight and bloodshed among brothers.
A massive convergence of Naga from all over different locations to witness this happened in recent past, speaks of one thing: their ache for oneness & total stop of violence! It was thrilling experience for the Naga; nevertheless, that may not disturb imagination of Indian leaders as did Uncle Anna Hazare’s fast or that of Baba Ram Dev or Irom Sharmila. The statement does never target to belittle FNR’s achievement. We are already late, very late! Many unwanted things are eating Naga’s inside out all the while. Will solution come around through these present political talks? Many are doubtful. Many are unhappy that they are not party to the talks. Many think so called NSCN-IM does not command Naga’s mandate, and so on.
We do believe God, trust God. He is real. He is serious with Naga people. He understands our sufferings. He is not giving up on Naga people. God knows where to start and straighten up our wrong. Would God who loves us so much withdraw His defensive and powerful Guiding Hand from His professed people who pledge staunch loyalty? On the other hand, is God compromising to live together inside the same temple with people who love power and worship money, and at the same time, shout to the full volume of their lungs that their ‘land is for Christ’? It is foolish to test the love of the EVERLASTING by claiming to be His elect, while living the life style of rebellious Cain, consciously.
That is absurd; rather, blasphemous. It is also habitually stupid to expect hundred angels coming down from heaven to fight for the Naga for a just cause. The God Naga trust well understands the way we mismanage and misuse ourselves. We can never hate ourselves and love to serve God at the same time. What did go wrong in the past, that wrong generating disagreements, tensions and killings among ourselves then, was that our leaders placed themselves first rather than they were to believe Him, His way and His method of management(speaking the Bible term). God is not interested with namesake. Granting delay out of overwhelming love in order to put things right once again does not mean God appreciates and approves our human way. Here we do often make sanctimonious error.
God’s eternal pronouncements for the welfare of the whole universe can never be reduced just because Naga people have suffered too much, and that they are still resisting and struggling to yank off system they think oppressive, alien and unacceptable. God’s love for Naga people, Indian peremptory answer to Naga’s expressed longing for rights to self determination and Naga’s headstrong temperament with God’s Covenant demands critical re-examination.
The heavy casualties are consequences of both inside and without. We are rotting; we are ruining, our downfall from where the idea of our eternal right to self-governing will be but a regrettable history. How far are we to the end of this stubborn and yet searing conflict? Let us first separate our love for power, money and God. Let us go to Indian leaders as one piece with our ancient fire for freedom, sitting on the heap of our rights to be ‘left alone’. Let powerful India disagree; we will present ourselves agreeable with our own merit of a free people, keeping pace with the realities happening around us today. What is not workable, achievable be abandoned. New perception with actionable framework will surely provide opportunity for this obstinate and freedom loving Naga if our leaders finally appreciate the heartbreak of the present generation that the same differences and disagreements should be inherited by the offspring. They do not deserve them.
We are shamefully a dry state. We are dried of hope and future, too. We are bankrupt morally, socially and economically. What is left is just this corruption institutionalized state with plenty of holier-than-thou. Everywhere influential one or two or selected few making decision to add more to their expensive whims, huh? How far we are from the end of these wicked associations? Many are not passionate after negotiated settlement if at all this state of affair is to be trans-shipped. It will not be a new set of life. It will be another nightmarish domain.
It can be one of the reasons hundred and thousand talents and frolicsome young Naga in Indian metro polis and overseas opt not to return to their own home front. What is there to be desired of, after all? Leaders, either of underground, over ground or middle ground must, in order to be people-based, depart from the thought of owning up any order. Leaders are followed; followed because one is worth to be. One who proclaims infallible in one’s own right in polity, religion and social life is but a committee of one.
A church leader professing infallibility always goes too far of moral auditing. A political leader maintaining oneself being impeccable and therefore unputdownable is but a ruler as per one’s fancy. Naga common majorities are too timid to stand up against these malignant fundamentals. Are they running low of perspective? If they are, they are to nobly admit so. We are too frightened because Indian armies had already punctured our hearts in the past. We are shit scared of our own people who have power, guns to shoot and kill when one disagrees with them.
No human is immune from the universal pronouncement: THOU SHALL NOT KILL--- I mean, if one is Bible-believing. Why God even sanctioned killing under variable situations and circumstances in the past----is a matter of serious theology. We can not compare all that took place in the past with today Naga’s background. Naga people have already claimed all the prerogatives of God; there is no more heaven’s department in our society. The answer my friends, to the question: how far we are from the end of all these, is blowing in the wind.
