Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes, what we have today is not customary law. Its rich old men trying to decide their own way. The real customary laws respected women rights and it always took a holistic view in which men and women were seen as being complimentary to each other, and not competing with one another. Its high time that men and women must fight to restore the sanctity of Naga customary law and get rid of these one sided interpretations.
• Customary laws are not meant to be frozen in time. They are not meant to be locked up in a freezer. Customary Law needs to evolve and grow with time. The very nature of customary law is to continuously develop with society, because customs are changing all the time around some core values. It is very right to say that few patriarchs and matriarchs have misused and abused customary law for their own interests.
• Because we are capable and people are becoming much aware of things around them
• Human rights is over and above cultural rights and so when it concerns customary laws that violate the rights of women, than the cultural rights must not be implemented. It is high time for all right thinking Nagas to stop the abuse of customary law by few bald men.
• Coupled with Patriotism and patriarchal system is a deadly combo that killed our women silently.
• Yes, our customary law is being interpreted by old men, rich people, and matriarchs who have nothing better than to see that their power is protected.
• YES....Many educated Naga men are getting the "wrong end of the stick"... it was misconstrued and aftermath apprehension appears in their mind which leads them to disrespect the women.
• Yes. Deliberate misinterpretation of customary laws subjugates Naga women. Patriarchy and patrilineal systems are fine but women must be treated as complimentary partners to the system, not rules and discriminated by a few bad men. Majority of men are sensible and okay. It is only few leaders who are power hungry that demonizes men. It does not do with few western feminist influenced Naga ladies who scratches the backs of some male chauvinists. May good sense prevail and help maintain peaceful, non-discriminatory and complimentary existence of men and women. God made us to be so.
• Naga women are equally placed among men & duly respected like men folk.
• In the real sense, naga women are just trying too hard to compete with men...Y the hulla bulla about 33%.
• When there is no written record and an oral tradition exists, it could be very easy to distort things to suit a party who is more in control. Just like Chinese Whispers when a sentence or subject is passed on by word of mouth for centuries, along the way some versions may just be distorted and the next generation who hears something, might hear it a little differently then what was perhaps their grandparents version... In the old days when life was not what it is today, when roles were singularly defined, certain laws may have suited that period, but today, it cannot remain the same... There is a traditional and cultural policing that quietly exists which may actually end up being the cause for the demise of our traditions. When something is too rigid and refuses to acknowledge that a change is required for the well being and welfare of all its citizens, disaster does loom its head. Misinterpreted laws, usually to suit an arbitrary decision is an evil that does exist and should be done away at all cause. Most Naga women are educated and enlightened today to be able to decipher that certain traditional laws do not protect them as a human being, but rather for an idea that a man has to be superior still and his rights to be protected more...
• Subjugation of women in Naga society is an undeniable fact. Gender discrimination and sexual bigotry in our society is MORE than a simple case of 'Misinterpretation' of customary laws. 'Misinterpretation' wrongly suggests that the Customary Laws are themselves Just and sensitive to gender needs. In fact, Rosemary Dzuvichu did hit the nail on the head when she said that it was a myth to think that women enjoy equal status in Naga society. Naga women are usually treated as lesser humans. Inheritance Laws, which are biased against women, is one example. Customary Laws are seldom based on elevated insights about human nature or on any principles of justice. Most kinship laws that exists are just ploys to maintain the patriarchal tradition. To say that systemic injustices against women in our society are only due to 'misinterpretation' of customary laws is a sinister exercise to manufacture a consensus to maintain the illiberal status quo or an insensitive effort to downplay gender injustice.
• Yes some how the society is also responsible for subjugation of women.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• From my liberal perspective by analyzing the present scenario of our Naga society at large in respect of your poll question where the subjugation of womenfolk by customary law is concerned, this gender issue is a sensitive subject matter and needs to give a serious thought on it but so far as no law or system in the world works perfectly in a flawless way to deliver poetic justice to one and all, it doesn’t sound fair for me to make Naga customary law a scapegoat. In fact, the customary law is widely applicable at lower societal strata and prove to be resourceful or for that matter effective in assisting the day to day functioning of the administrative machinery of the state. Yes, now a days its great to increasingly see the participation of womenfolk in the decision-making process at all levels, albeit ruefully, her involvement in electoral politics is negligible. Being raise and grown up in the male-oriented society where the attitude and mindset over it influenced on the impressionable minds like mine in the past is now destined to be a thing of the past. Thus, by reflecting the current reality in the contemporary world, the customary law isn’t that responsible with the subjugation of womenfolk.
• Customary law is our identity. Women are God gift
• No, Nagaland is a Christian State and its very Biblical. Naga Women are respected.
• Customary Law itself is discriminatory. No human law is totally unbiased and fair
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• The weak nature of the judicial system in Nagaland and the complete lack of political will on the part of the Naga government, and the ignorance of the Naga society has ensured the continued subjugation of Naga women. It is very sad that the judiciary in Nagaland has been able to say anything at all in reference to the status of women in Nagaland. The government too is playing a double edged sword when in comes to women empowerment. On one hand it pretends to empower women and with the other hand is nullifying the rights of women.
• Unfortunately!! Interpretation of customary laws differs from person to person. i wonder what type of interpretation was when Article 371 A came into exist.
• The extent of Naga customary laws was village boundaries. So there is always room for different interpretation.
• If Naga women are not being treated fairly and equally, than Nagas have no right to say that they are democratic. There was a time in the Naga history where because of the necessity of the situation, both men and women had very fixed roles, yet they were very complementary and that is how the society evolved. But today in this 21st century there is no excuse that the Naga women do not enjoy equal rights. Its time for change.
• How can the Nagas progress if women are being denied their most basic rights? They have been at the forefront of Naga society. Both Naga men and women must have the equal opportunity to be part of the political decision making. It is not fair if it is only men making the decision for all. In the same way it will not be fair if it is only women making the decisions for all. Both men and women need to be part of the process.
• Customary law has been misunderstood and misrepresented in the Naga society. Customary law must be based on ethics, justice and morality. It cannot be interpreted by any individual for their own whimps and fancy. The very concept of customary law is to do justice and to provide fair judicial process according to the ethical values and principles of each village. This unfortunately has not been follow and this is the reason why everyone is doing according to their own will.
