What is the most significant value Nagas seek?
Vikuosa Nienu
Man was not born for himself alone but for his country - Plato (Epistle to Archytas, 385 B.C)
Why are the Nagas so disillusioned? Where are the Nagas headed? What is the most significant value Nagas seek?
Is it freedom, wealth, politics, unity, equality, education, employment, culture, religion, or what? These are not just questions but reflections of our collective concerns and aspirations. Hopefully, you all share these concerns about the above issues and much more to deliberate on.
Naga tribes, identified as distinct ethnic groups of people, are based primarily on certain identifiable traits and characteristics common to all, such as (a) the physical [biological] features, (b) language, (c) customs and traditions, (d) social organization and leadership/governance (e) belief system and worldview, (f) art and architecture, (g) dress and adornments, (h) dietary patterns (food & drinks), (i) common habitat patterns, (j) intimate knowledge of their environment—nature, (k) ceremonies and festivals, (l) common sentiment and distinctive mindset, and so on—developed as tools for adaptation. In short, it is the culture that defines who they are.
Our heritage is everything we have inherited from time immemorial that we value, cherish, and wish to preserve, refine, and enrich for future generations. This responsibility of preserving our heritage is a commitment we all share. Our heritage, while diverse, is exceptionally rich and cannot be replaced by simply modernizing it. It comprises priceless gifts for our own and future generations. Heritage is more than old buildings and monuments. It is a living legacy that helps us understand our past, provides context for the present, and influences our future. It encompasses every aspect of our life – cultural, intellectual, moral, ethical, socioeconomic, and political. Heritage also includes our natural heritage, such as forests, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and geological land formations, remains or deposits (e.g., minerals, oil, and natural gas), as well as land and aquatic animals and birds—all a vital and significant part of our future. A living legacy, therefore, not only includes human lives but other natural resources such as tranquil and teeming forests, providing refuge to rare or endangered species (like bosfrontalis, commonly known as Mithun) and nesting birds (like hornbill and Blythe’s tragopan).
Heritage consists of both tangible and intangible aspects of the people.
Intangible cultural heritage, a community-based property, covers a plethora of intellectual reservoirs, including language, oral traditions, folklore, knowledge of arts and crafts, customs, worldviews/beliefs/rituals/festivals, and so on.
UNESCO states that "intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization."
Because of its fragility, extra care and diligence must be given to protect each community's intangible cultural heritage. It's your heritage; you lose it, you lose your identity.
A Juxtaposed Paradox and Dilemma
Nagas do not have a common language, as each tribe speaks its dialect. English is the official language; Nagamese is a common language. This is no mystery.
So, what's the use of preserving old-fashioned languages and dialects, especially in Nagaland, since our current needs are being met? Why care about dying tongues in this sophisticated, globalized world? Leave the old-fashioned, uncivilized archaic dialects behind. It's too cumbersome to relearn dead languages.
Why not adopt Nagamese?
Nagamese is easy to learn, and everybody speaks it; it's already commonly used.
For all practical purposes, doesn't it make sense to adopt Nagamese as the official and common language, which is far easier to communicate than the Rural and Backward People's Dialects? Besides, there are too many dialects in Nagaland, and none is likely to be adopted as a common language. Besides, politics, as usual, is sure to play its dirty game here, which will ruin our heritage. If Nagamese is used in oral or written form in the Legislative Assembly Sessions, shouldn't it become Nagaland's official and common language? Conversely, Nagamese should be adopted as the medium of instruction in schools from preschool to postgraduate level. This will open plenty of opportunities for job seekers and business-minded people; after all, Nagamese was invented for Naga sporadic traders with the plains people of Assam during pre-colonial and pre-Christianity. Post-Western contacts magnified manifold.
Sounds terrific, right? Before prejudging, pose for a moment and consider the following:
The Nagas did not arrive in their land prepackaged. Each Naga tribe is a unique amalgamation of many villages, with some as large as hundreds of villages forming into a single tribe; others are only a few dozen or so villages. These villages were unified centuries ago, utilizing identifiable shared traditions, customs, culture, and language. This shared heritage fosters a sense of belonging and unity among the tribes. Each tribe has its unique characteristics that set it apart from others. This tradition prevailed to this day.
Let's take a step further and ask ourselves.
Let's focus on something all the Nagas deeply care about. Nagas have been fighting to regain their sovereignty for decades, and many lives have been lost at the hands of the oppressors. I also lost my youngest brother. Suppose Nagas attain their goal next year. What language would this newly created nation use as the official and common language? English will continue in the unforeseeable future, but it does not represent the actual characteristics of the Naga people. Besides, English alone will not serve the practical needs. Would that mean Nagamese will continue to be used as usual? Or is there one already in place as a common language I did not know about? If so, my sincere apologies. If not, how do you leaders plan to govern a nation without considering critical factors such as this? Each of you claimed to be the legitimate one out of multiple groups.
Please answer the question thoughtfully.
Language is an indispensable element of culture. Your language (not the bastard one) is an asset; it is a cultural heritage.
In the US, English is mandatory for becoming a citizen through naturalization unless exempted for exceptional circumstances, e.g., age. English proficiency is essential for integrating into American life and culture.
Hebrew is Israel's official language and medium of instruction, while Arabic and other minor languages are spoken, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its population. Why did Israel retain its native tongue despite facing a constant barrage of external aggressive forces throughout its existence? You know the answer. Turkey still speaks its native language for thousands of years before Christ. Similarly, Italians, French, Greeks, and many other nations retain their original language, which began thousands of years ago before Christ. Each of these nations has dozens of different languages and dialects besides. China spends billions of dollars every year to preserve its identity.
Why didn't non-speaking nations adopt English in this globalized world? After all, English is spoken everywhere, globally.
The simple answer to this critical question is that they are preserving their cultural assets. What we leave behind as a heritage matters most.
Are Nagas smarter than these people?
You got the point.
Nagamese is not a language or even a dialect. Hutton, the most knowledgeable authority on the Nagas, dubbed Nagamese a "bastard language of the Assamese." The Ahoms also lost most of their original language in favor of Bengali-Hindi-Urdu, whose speakers dominated then.
Let's face it squarely: When you speak Nagamese, you speak the Assamese language in the most degraded manner, a form used to address their servants, mostly bastards.
Are Nagas bastards? A bastard doesn't even know who they are!
A nation that does not remember what it was yesterday does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about. - Woodrow Wilson (28th US President)
I don't allow Nagamese in my house, but I cannot force or prohibit others from using it; they make their own choices. That's the world we live in now.
The Challenge
The introduction of Nagamese became one of the most damaging forces on Naga culture. The Nagas began adopting Nagamese in favor of their original tongue out of pure convenience more than anything else because they live in a mutually unintelligible multi-dialect society.
While finding a common language for the Nagas can be daunting, it is not impossible. Nagaland has produced superior, talented, and educated youths in various disciplines. Nagas can find people willing to dedicate their talent and service to devising a common language by bringing words and phrases from various Naga dialects. Decades ago, I communicated these issues to some key leaders. Nothing has happened. Some are still alive, while others are long gone. But I know that there are plenty of Nagas who will be willing to undertake this urgent task. It's time to settle this critical issue before it's too late.
Calling All Nagaland!
How will you respond?
Naga culture, which includes language, sprang from living in the ecosphere.
Language, our primary tool of thought and perception, is at the heart of who we are as individuals - Christine Jourdan and Kevin Tuite (Language, Culture, and Society 2006)
The mind creates and invents natural language.
No brain is needed for a clone.
