A month back my friend called me up to tell me about a threat call he received from a certain organization. I was quite annoyed and assured him that I will write an article ‘as soon as I go home’. A week back I was preparing for an end semester exam when my brother called me and narrated an incidence where he was, on the ground of replying back to elders, slapped by an official when he was arguing for his rights. Initially I was, after reaching home, quite confused about condemning the act, that of the organization and the official. The observation of World Human Rights by Nagas and subsequent coverage by the local dailies (dated: 11-12-2011) provides, I believe, a suitable ground for me to share my view and contribute, albeit narrow and polemical, to the larger discussion on human rights in the context of Nagas.
By examining the above two incidences I endeavor to show that if we Nagas are to build our nation on the principles of human rights we need to be more critical, question and problematize all the facets of our culture, beliefs and practices. Rev. Dr. Wati Aier has rightly observed the aspect of rampant institutionalized violation of human rights. The dailies also recorded him stressing on the, ‘responsibilities of the government, civil societies and church for educating the masses and creating an environment conducive to public rights.’ Although I would not agree with him on the part of church, I would like to further state that the responsibility lies with every adult individuals who should set an example to the younger generation. In fact this aspect of adult/elder is where my point of contention lies.
Uprooted from our archaic culture and hurled into the process of capitalism/globalization, Nagas are at a peculiar situation. The older generation still haunted by the ghost of their old beliefs and practices which they have mysteriously blended into Christianity is increasingly becoming a nuisance for the younger generation. The idea of, practice of, and demand for ‘respect’ by older generation are becoming insufferable. At the onset I would like to apologize to individuals, belonging to older generation, who have to bear the brunt of my polemic generalization with regard to the perversion of the idea of respect.
The idea of ‘respect’ that the older generation has is quite frustrating. This frustrating idea of respect is further exacerbated by the infusion of decadent Christian morality into the existing order. The defining condition of respect is the notion of ‘elder’ which is even more infuriating than the idea of respect. I am not discrediting the essence of ‘elder’ that once helped our forefathers prior to the advent of colonial rulers. Yet today the power and responsibility of being an ‘elder’ is misunderstood, misused and abused. The justification, imposition, and demand for respect, subsequently punishing younger generation for ‘not respecting’ elders is ludicrous.
Age which by default seems to attach the notion of virtue to it does not necessarily make a person more knowledgeable or wiser and it does not, solely based on age, in any way make him/her ‘right’ from the perspective of human rights. However Nagas are suffering from this delusion of ‘elder is right’. Their disregard for knowledge justified on the ground of being an ‘elder’ epitomizes the heights of stupidity among Nagas. The essence of respect is reduced to simply accepting whatever elders say. Questioning elders is considered as a show of insolence and arrogance towards elders and/or authority. Children or young people are presumed to be wrong while everything in the Bible is right, that elders, church leaders etc. are right and those who question, especially children or young people are reprimanded with dire consequences. This is a direct violation of human rights and as long as such attitude does not change it will remain a potent hurdle in promoting and cultivating a genuine value of human rights. This is also one of the main causes for young generation becoming hypocrites.
Coming to the institutionalized violation of human rights through their vulgar exercise of power, an organization, which should not be named (to avoid an, obvious yet, anonymous call from ‘big brother’ like my friend), that claims to be working for Nagas and fighting for our rights and freedoms threatened my friend. My friend, who should not be named, is a research scholar and a promising Naga intellectual. The reason for getting an, obvious yet, anonymous big brother call was because my friend, a reasoning individual, condemned the act of that organization’s involvement in bestial activity. Now the anonymous caller belongs to an organization so powerful that the lives of other (non-member of that organization) are at their disposal. They start threatening and silencing intellectuals; twisting and distorting their rights, denying them their freedom of speech and expression.
On what grounds are they dictating the citizens? Even the constitution of Nagas- Yezhabo gives each and every citizen the freedom of speech and expression. If any organization(s) do not want to be criticized then they should not involve in those bestial activities such as assassination of various people, rather they should prevent such acts in our society. But if organizations indulge in such activities then they are bound to be exposed and criticized. It is easy and evident for any sensible person, even children, to distinguish between real revolutionaries whose purpose is to liberate people and fascists who only want to exploit and oppress people. Dictating people at a gun point is easy but at the end they too will meet the same fate and there is no glory in simply living for either dictating or being dictated. On the other hand if the citizens give legitimacy and support any organization with a hope that the organization will provide and promote development, protect citizens’ rights and freedom, and if the organization fulfills people’s hope then the need to dissent or criticize will not arise.
Nagas are at a crucial junction as we are on the verge of either a bloody civil war or a meaningful united revolution. And it is this moment in Naga history that all those political organization fighting to represent Nagas should make the most out of it keeping in mind that resisting India physically with a belief of overthrowing India without any development is narrow and futile, even stupid at some point.
An analysis of structural oppression; oppression on the basis of class, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, disability, culture and age must serve as the basis of human rights. We Nagas must strive to address these issues of structural oppression and subsequently work towards assuaging oppressive structure that serve to deny many people basic human rights.
By examining the above two incidences I endeavor to show that if we Nagas are to build our nation on the principles of human rights we need to be more critical, question and problematize all the facets of our culture, beliefs and practices. Rev. Dr. Wati Aier has rightly observed the aspect of rampant institutionalized violation of human rights. The dailies also recorded him stressing on the, ‘responsibilities of the government, civil societies and church for educating the masses and creating an environment conducive to public rights.’ Although I would not agree with him on the part of church, I would like to further state that the responsibility lies with every adult individuals who should set an example to the younger generation. In fact this aspect of adult/elder is where my point of contention lies.
Uprooted from our archaic culture and hurled into the process of capitalism/globalization, Nagas are at a peculiar situation. The older generation still haunted by the ghost of their old beliefs and practices which they have mysteriously blended into Christianity is increasingly becoming a nuisance for the younger generation. The idea of, practice of, and demand for ‘respect’ by older generation are becoming insufferable. At the onset I would like to apologize to individuals, belonging to older generation, who have to bear the brunt of my polemic generalization with regard to the perversion of the idea of respect.
The idea of ‘respect’ that the older generation has is quite frustrating. This frustrating idea of respect is further exacerbated by the infusion of decadent Christian morality into the existing order. The defining condition of respect is the notion of ‘elder’ which is even more infuriating than the idea of respect. I am not discrediting the essence of ‘elder’ that once helped our forefathers prior to the advent of colonial rulers. Yet today the power and responsibility of being an ‘elder’ is misunderstood, misused and abused. The justification, imposition, and demand for respect, subsequently punishing younger generation for ‘not respecting’ elders is ludicrous.
Age which by default seems to attach the notion of virtue to it does not necessarily make a person more knowledgeable or wiser and it does not, solely based on age, in any way make him/her ‘right’ from the perspective of human rights. However Nagas are suffering from this delusion of ‘elder is right’. Their disregard for knowledge justified on the ground of being an ‘elder’ epitomizes the heights of stupidity among Nagas. The essence of respect is reduced to simply accepting whatever elders say. Questioning elders is considered as a show of insolence and arrogance towards elders and/or authority. Children or young people are presumed to be wrong while everything in the Bible is right, that elders, church leaders etc. are right and those who question, especially children or young people are reprimanded with dire consequences. This is a direct violation of human rights and as long as such attitude does not change it will remain a potent hurdle in promoting and cultivating a genuine value of human rights. This is also one of the main causes for young generation becoming hypocrites.
Coming to the institutionalized violation of human rights through their vulgar exercise of power, an organization, which should not be named (to avoid an, obvious yet, anonymous call from ‘big brother’ like my friend), that claims to be working for Nagas and fighting for our rights and freedoms threatened my friend. My friend, who should not be named, is a research scholar and a promising Naga intellectual. The reason for getting an, obvious yet, anonymous big brother call was because my friend, a reasoning individual, condemned the act of that organization’s involvement in bestial activity. Now the anonymous caller belongs to an organization so powerful that the lives of other (non-member of that organization) are at their disposal. They start threatening and silencing intellectuals; twisting and distorting their rights, denying them their freedom of speech and expression.
On what grounds are they dictating the citizens? Even the constitution of Nagas- Yezhabo gives each and every citizen the freedom of speech and expression. If any organization(s) do not want to be criticized then they should not involve in those bestial activities such as assassination of various people, rather they should prevent such acts in our society. But if organizations indulge in such activities then they are bound to be exposed and criticized. It is easy and evident for any sensible person, even children, to distinguish between real revolutionaries whose purpose is to liberate people and fascists who only want to exploit and oppress people. Dictating people at a gun point is easy but at the end they too will meet the same fate and there is no glory in simply living for either dictating or being dictated. On the other hand if the citizens give legitimacy and support any organization with a hope that the organization will provide and promote development, protect citizens’ rights and freedom, and if the organization fulfills people’s hope then the need to dissent or criticize will not arise.
Nagas are at a crucial junction as we are on the verge of either a bloody civil war or a meaningful united revolution. And it is this moment in Naga history that all those political organization fighting to represent Nagas should make the most out of it keeping in mind that resisting India physically with a belief of overthrowing India without any development is narrow and futile, even stupid at some point.
An analysis of structural oppression; oppression on the basis of class, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, disability, culture and age must serve as the basis of human rights. We Nagas must strive to address these issues of structural oppression and subsequently work towards assuaging oppressive structure that serve to deny many people basic human rights.
