For quite some time now the Naga skyline has been replete with criticisms and accusations, outbursts of anger and frustration against the existing state of affairs in Nagaland State. These strong emotions are not without basis. While Nagaland State and the powers that have reaped maximum benefits for itself from the prolonged peace process, they have not reached the people. And, rather than trying to facilitate a comprehensive process to help recover the Naga economy, Nagaland State has plunged the entire society into further financial debt, further breaking the people’s backs with this burden. The dominant State structure continues to tighten its grip while the people struggle to even survive.
Indeed these conditions are overwhelming, and in the midst of these pressing problems it becomes a luxury to even think objectively, leave alone find solutions. Eventually some of us give up, becoming complacent and indifferent to the situation, even to the extreme extent of accepting the oppressive status quo.
In times like these the story of the humming bird as told by the Nobel Peace Laureate from Kenya, Wangari Muta Maathai can inspire us:
“One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest - a huge woodlands was suddenly engulfed by a raging wild fire. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream they stopped to watch the fire and they were feeling very discouraged and powerless. They were all bemoaning the destruction of their homes. Every one of them thought there was nothing they could do about the fire, except for one little hummingbird.
This particular hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the stream and picked up a few drops of water and went into the forest and put them on the fire. Then it went back to the stream and did it again, and it kept going back, again and again and again.
In the meantime all the other animals, much bigger animals like the elephant with a big trunk that could bring much more water, they are standing there helpless. As they watched in disbelief; some tried to discourage the hummingbird with comments like, "Don't bother, it is too much, you are too little, your wings will burn, your beak is too tiny, it’s only a drop, you can't put out this fire."
And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird’s efforts, the bird noticed how hopeless and forlorn they looked. Then one of the animals shouted out and challenged the hummingbird in a mocking voice, "What do you think you are doing?" And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, looked back and said, I am doing the best I can."
Indeed the Naga forest is burning brightly. Each and every one of us is caught up in it, but seem unable to move and escape from the flames that are consuming us all. The longer we remain silent and indifferent to the fire, the more it rages and grows bigger destroying everything in its path.
We can all be like the humming bird “doing the best” we can by strategically placing our drop of water on the flames. Our collective voices and responses can make a significant difference that can confront, if not put out, the entire fire that is ravaging the Naga forest.
