Alemtula Longchar
“The test of whether you can hold a job or not should not be in the arrangement of your chromosomes.” – Bella Abzug
Naga women are not burnt for dowry. They are also not ‘discarded’ by husbands with the repetition of a single word. They are not required to cover their faces before men who are not their husbands or to shroud themselves in public. They are free to wear whatever they want and, in fact, some choose to wear very little.
They have the same right to education, food and medical facilities as their brothers, can apply for almost any job and basically enjoy many liberties that their counterparts in many societies cannot.
Naga men deserve a pat on their back: the level of their ‘enlightenment’ and their ‘magnanimity’ in ‘giving’ all this freedom to ‘their’ women is singular and must be acknowledged, which it is: usually by themselves and usually repeatedly.
And now that women want to be in governing bodies and want to be a part of the decision making process at some levels of governing bodies, it has come as a ‘death-blow’ to our culture. In our culture, ‘since time immemorial,’ women have enjoyed very high status, at par with men. This is true because Naga men say so. This is beside the fact that, even in a fast changing world, Naga women cannot have inheritance and cannot become clan-elders or members of the village council. But only because they are ‘unfit’ for such matters. The patriarchal assumption is that there is something lacking in the mental make-up of women so they cannot be trusted with either property or issues that matter to, and affect, an entire society or community.
Women may be trusted to raise the next generation, they may excel in all sorts of fields and careers, but neither wisdom nor intelligence or ability is the criteria for governing over, and leading, Naga society: gender is. This is becoming another Naga ‘truism.’
Nagaland State is 53 years old; our Christianity is even older. We pride ourselves for a lifestyle which is at par with the most advanced societies, looking down on neighbours who are not as ‘cultured’ or ‘westernized’ as ourselves. But whenever any attempt is made for women to acquire actual, meaningful rights we fall back on our ‘time immemorial’ culture and tradition to deny and reject social equality. Keeping women in ‘their place’, a place which is only slightly above the children’s ‘place,’ seems to be the all-important key to preserving our ‘culture.’
53 years of our men folk at the helm has brought our State up, or down, to this level. Perhaps it is time for Naga men to steer with the help of the other half of Naga society because gender cannot become the criteria for leading a society.
As for those men folk who are concerned about the preservation of Naga culture, let them demonstrate their sincerity by putting aside their smart phones, getting the bowl hair cut and strapping on their loincloths before they speak. After all, this is also a part of our culture.
From November 10-December 10, 2016, The Morung Express will feature a series of ‘Guest Editorials’ every Thursday.
