Thepfulhuvi Solo
Keren R. Rose
Some say his very name spells controversy, while others open their morning papers and look forward to his hard hitting articles (some which have invited death threats and serious imperilments to his life). He is not known for sugar coated writings and yet his articles make people nod their heads in agreement (sometimes subconsciously?). He is one who has seen and lived an age, a time, that has leaped from NNC to the innumerable factions today and yes he has not stopped himself from the occasional indulgence in word play. A figure respected by many and yet again a figure equally despised by many, ladies and gentleman, brace yourselves, I bring you Thepfulhuvi Solo (Retd. Principal Secretary) unplugged.
Morung Express (MEx): Let’s begin with the writing. Why do you write? Do have a special purpose for writing what you write?
Solo: The love for writing was natural. I grew up writing for school and college journals. I also wrote a lot of articles for the Indian Wildlife magazine, but I would say I really started writing after the Emergency in the 1970s when Freedom of Religion was passed. I wrote because I was not too happy, you see, it was not Freedom but suppression if you were to think of all the baggage/ hassles the act came with.
The things I write about are a reaction, an answer to the things I see in the Naga society. People like truth. It is individuals who are not exactly into truth. I don’t know why people like truth rather than falsehood. You are telling me that you know of people who are huge fans of my writing? Well then, I can only say that I am an extension of what they want to say in public, I am just an extension of their ideals. Perhaps I touch some central truth. If people share the same ideals they will get together. People who use force are a curse on the brow of the Nagas. All my writings are aimed at removing this curse.
MEx: Can we go back to basics. Can you tell our readers about your educational background, your work etc
Solo: I studied at LP school, Mission Compound then Govt. High School. I did my B.Sc (Hons) in Cotton College and then my M.Sc in Delhi University. I appeared for the UPSC exams then. I am from the first batch of I.F.S (earlier it was called Imperial Forest Service). In the year 1967 it came to be called as Indian Forest Service. To my credit I am the first Naga IFS and yes I got through the General List not SC/ST quota!
MEx: It is presumed that all writers are also voracious readers. Whom and what do you read?
Solo: I read Bertrand Russells. He is one who impressed me a lot. Then there is Leo Tolstoy, Albert Schwztner, Stevenson…let me just say I usually read historical books.
MEx: Any hobbies? What was growing up like? Any fond memories?
Solo: I played football from my childhood. I remember representing Mission Compound, my khel, my village, my college and my university. I even participated in the D.C.M tournament where our team went till the semi finals. I was quite a sportsman, an athlete. I remember Lt. Vamuzo (the ex C.M) and I represented our school in the one mile race in Inter High School tournament in Assam. But yes, my love for sports affected my academics a lot.
MEx: Do you consider yourself a writer? And while we are on this topic, what do you think of the Freedom of Speech? Should a writer throw all caution to the wind or is there some limitation that one should observe while writing?
Solo: I don’t consider myself a writer. I love talking instead. I love talking with simple villagers. I am most uncomfortable with pretentious characters. I am a Jack of all but master of none.
I believe in the Freedom of speech. Without it no society can progress but everything must have a limit. Enough said.
MEx: You are credited with discovering the world’s tallest Rhododendron. Can you tell me more about it?
Solo: In 1980, while on training in Captive Breeding of Pheasants with the World Pheasant Association (WPA) in London, one evening, my host Mr. Keith Howman, President WPA casually mentioned that Nepal holds the record for the world’s tallest Rhododendron. An avid hunter in my youth days before conversion from poaching, I remember seeing tall Rhododendrons in the Saramati and Japfu mountain ranges and hoped some of them may be taller than the Nepal specimen. Coming back I was informed by a labourer that there is a really tall Rhododendron in the mountain jungle. It was located beyond the extreme north side of the Japfu peak. After a long perilous hike and a shivering night in the deep jungle (in which my sons accompanied me), we got to the spot where the tree was. It was surrounded with dense mass of entangling tropical climbers, lianas and obstructed with other trees. I searched for various positions to cover the whole tree in my camera lens but it proved futile. The tree is an amazing specimen; big, very tall, the basal portion completely covered with ages of moss and its branches festooned with beard like lichen. I had to take photos in two sections, first from the base and then the top portion next. I took the girth measurements, the angle of collimation to the top of the tree and entered them in the pages of my diary dated January 1 and 2, 1989 to make trigonometric calculation of the tree height at home. After reaching home I made the calculations checked them again. Finally, I found that I have discovered the tallest Rhododendron in the world. I wrote to the publishers of the Guinness Book of World Records in London. The measurement of the tree at DBH (4.5 ft above the ground) its Girth is 2.41 meter (8.2ft) and height is (79.11 ft).
MEx: Getting to some important questions…the events which took place last year, which I will not mention here again, what is your opinion on Community Policing?
Solo: Community Policing is good but it should not have unchecked unlimited access to power. We are a Kith & Kin society if you know what I mean. Community Policing should work under the law of the land. If you remember around the time when the entire issue was happening I had written an article wherein I suggested that both parties should be able to come and talk on a common table. The issue must be addressed truthfully if a solution is to be arrived at. The spade has to be called a spade. If an issue is communal, call it so and address the issue accordingly.
MEx: The Naga political issue has become like a bad toothache that never ends. Do Nagas have a right to a separate land? Do you think there is a solution to the Naga Problem? And if so, what in your opinion would be a solution?
Solo: Foundationally Nagas of Nagaland have every right to be a separate life. Before any other people in the North East realized it, Nagas realized the desire for a separate life and this was expressed in black and white to the Simon Commission of 1929. In 1832, the Nagas heavily objected to the white man entering Nagaland through the Angami territory. The white man was in search of a direct route from Imphal to Golaghat and they had no choice but to pass through Angami territory (according to Officers Diary). It is said that this move of the white man was opposed to tooth and nail. Now if you ask why? I will tell you this simple fact that civilized people have a trespassed law- the idea of a ‘trespass’ was already there in Nagas. When we go to visit someone we always stand at the door and announce our arrival and only when we hear a welcome response to enter do we go inside the house. If one is not welcomed one goes away quietly.
The very idea of a trespass law is this.
Therefore Nagas have a right to separate. Nagas of Nagaland were never ruled under any king or leader.
As far as a solution is concerned, we have only two options- fight or talk.
Now fighting and waging a battle with India is not possible, the only way then is to convince India of our rights- our political right has to be inherited. If it is developed then it is natural. Our political right has to be democratically, logically accepted and recognized. We have to accept each other’s concern.
In fact I’d go ahead and say that it should be called a ‘political process’ and not ‘peace process’. The term ‘peace’ has been hijacked by people who represent the Church. Peace has been mixed with political matters.
MEx: Well, we come to hotter waters here but you have never been too fond of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). This is clear from articles you wrote some time back. Your writings have hinted at confusion in role and also mixing peace with politics. What is your issue with FNR? Can you make a clear stance here?
Solo: FNR as an organization should be clear in their jurisdiction. Theirs is Peace not Politics and there is a very thin line between the two. Sometimes our organizations are led by people insufficiently inexperienced in the ways of man. The main trouble with the Nagas is the killings just because of political differences. FNR tells groups not to fight, it is trying to bring peace between warring groups and FNR has to be very strong to do this. A weak person cannot separate two wrestlers fighting violently. And if one intends to do so, one has to establish respect first. Where did FNR originate from? From Shisha Hoho! I can only say…those who do not have what it takes to make peace cannot make peace.
MEx: There has been a lot of talks/campaigns et el for clean elections and we went to polls on the 23rd of February. Is the church body doing the right thing by getting involved in politics? Should the church spread its concern to political salvation as well?
Solo: The Church better not go where angels fear to tread. Political parties undermine established government rules. I doubt if parties will respect the church or church generated moves. They will obviously do what is best for them. The church should learn from what Jesus said on this matter. One man came to Jesus and requested him to settle a property inheritance issue with his brother. Jesus replied- who made me a judge?
In the same manner I would also like to ask who has made FNR a judge. When Jesus would not settle worldly issues, it is a lesson to church organizations in Nagaland who came 2010 years later.
MEx: The women reservation issue has been debated, fought, dissected, boiled, fried…you get the picture. What are your thoughts on this?
Solo: Article 371 is a very important article for Nagas for all times to come. At the moment, women would not be very relevant as office bearers of village councils in decision making. Simple villagers will not accept it. In village councils, the presence of women in decision making would weaken it. The Naga village is very unique as I said before that we are a kith & kin village. Therefore in Village Councils women maybe in clerical/ supportive functions but in Municipal Councils, the time has come for women to join. Women should also not be asking for reservation in State Assembly seats. They should contest, I am open to this idea.
(From Violence to Peace & Prosperity: Nagaland, a collection of 77 articles written by T. Solo has been published in book form and is available at Western Book Depot and Living Tree, below Post office Kohima Town)
