The Naga Nation needs healing. Victims and survivors of traumatic and violence incidents need healing; perpetrators are in their own way victims of a violent system; and they need healing as well. The need to heal and reconcile emphasizes presence of polarized opinions and it occurs in the backdrop of a history that has witnessed much hurt and suffering. Hence it is essential to place the issue of trauma within our broader desire to live together as one people in the spirit of respect and equality.
Here I am once again reminded of the story of one Cherokee elder who was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me...It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride and superiority. The other wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
This same fight is going on inside of you and every other person too.” They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied...”The one I feed.” This striking metaphor has been imbedded on my mind and I keep asking myself, which wolf are we feeding? Which wolf are the Nagas feeding? Are we feeding and nurturing the forces that will create a shared humanity of respect, dignity, justice and hope. Or are we only fueling the forces of prejudice, hatred, oppression and the ‘isms’ that destroys human dreams and hopes? When will we ever realize that we cannot begin building a future that is founded on ‘fear’ ‘hate’ and ‘exclusivity?’
A nation seeking healing must invariably address Reconciliation, Resolution and Reconstruction as interdependent realities that must be pursued simultaneously. It is said that what politics offers at its core is what life offers at its essence – relationship, communication, conflict, discovery and growth. By this one understands that broken relationships which resulted from differences must at one point or another muster the will to enable a political process that leads to re-communication and re-discovery and growth. In effect, it demands a new way of life, governed by principles of respect and dignity. The outcome depends on the process.
For the sake of future generations, lets us for once transcend the isms that ail Naga society, and let’s put into perspective the need for Nagas to recognize the necessity of a dignified existence that will be made possible through mutual respect and understanding. For Nagas to be able to transcend the narrow walls, we must not forget to address the traumas which prevent our ability to see things clearly. It is our traumas that blur and color our lens with our own assumption and distrust and unless healing – both personal and collective – takes place through both a private and public process, our traumas will hinder our need to shed the burdens of traumas, which has chained us to our past.
We Nagas are a tired lot. We often fail to fully comprehend and appreciate how the traumas of our past wounds have become such a heavy burden, that they often impede upon our future. In fact, sometimes, we even relish in our traumas. It has become our comfort zone. Is this not the reason why we as a people are often unable to visualize beyond our present? Is this also not the reason, why most public discourses around the Naga issue revolve around a divided and hurtful past? It is time for Nagas to address our traumas, so that by addressing them, we can begin envisioning a common future in which every Nagas can find their rightful and dignified place. It is time for us to recognize the need to heal, so that by recovering our humanity, we can build a humanity that will empower Nagas to contribute positively to the world.
