Naga leaders and intellectuals from different walks of life have been pointing to the need to develop emotional integration among our people. And it is true that without emotional integration there can be no genuine Naga solidarity and complete unity. This emotional integration will require a conscious process of the reinterpretation of collective aims. The objectives and wish-fixation which so long has been the tribe, groups, regions, organizations etc have to be replaced by a new thinking-mindset build on the symbol of a common Naga heritage emphasizing unity and common consciousness of our one people, one race and one future and destiny. As Emerson put it succinctly, ““A people which has no emotional solidarity, which is bankrupt of emotional values of integration has no right to grow, it must meet its inevitable decay relapsing into an oblivious degeneration”.
Obviously Naga unity through emotional integration will not happen just like that. This will involve the reconstruction of values, systems and more importantly of our cultural heritage. For this to be effective, an intellectual basis for emotional integration must be built in schools, colleges, churches and other levels of civil society. In order to foster the much needed sense of oneness among our Naga people, we need to start building on our common Naga heritage. Also we must not only learn, teach and spread this message of oneness but more importantly we have to live this echo of unity by emphasizing our common heritage rather than harping too much on tribal units, interests etc. Are we prepared to say that I am a Naga first and foremost? Loyalty to our Naga race must take precedence over our loyalty to our different tribal units.
To provide a greater purpose and direction for emotional integration of the Nagas, we already have the institution of the Naga Hoho, although the latter has not done justice to this calling. Some novel ideas that have been talked about to reduce conflict in our society include inter-tribal marriages, cultural exchange programmes and even the prospect of a common language, although this has not been given serious thought. Evolving a common language is not impossible. There are people who learn even difficult languages within a year (French, German, Spanish even Chinese). Through a language committee, chosen vocabularies’ may be drawn up from our various tribal dialects to enrich the common language. Unless a dialect is picked up for common use and buildup, Nagas will continue to face the problems for a common cause. A common language may also minimize the tribal tensions and undercurrents of tribalism which is becoming acute and sharp, hindering the progress of Nagas.
While we speak of unity and integration it is a matter of some regret that we cannot speak of a policy or initiative on a common language so as to bridge the diverse elements of the many tribal dialects for communication and interaction among Nagas. All our tribal dialects have an indigenous store of knowledge worth offering to a common language. When the NNC session was held at Mokokchung in 1946, this issue of a possibility of a common language for the benefit of Nagas was discussed but no clear decision was taken. However we all know that the Naga underground set up started collecting some important vocabularies and they still use it. We can easily increase the words for common usages. A common language among the Nagas will act as an important symbol of group consciousness and solidarity. The highest ideals we are aspiring for will remain unattained if there is no emotional integration. Today we need emotional integration of Nagas first and foremost.
