The Nagaland government has given the slogan Land of Festivals to our State keeping in mind the diversity of our tribal hues and colour and the equal number of festivals. The plurality of our Naga family is something that is an essence of our history though not necessarily an asset, although the slogan unity in diversity should encourage us to pursue common goals and objectives while maintaining the unique identity of our tribes. Having said that it is becoming a matter of deep concern that we as a people, we are more and more losing our common Naga identity. We speak of integration, unity and a shared future but through our action we are moving in the opposite direction of disintegration, fragmentation and factionalism. Thankfully, at least our Chief Minister Mr Neiphiu Rio seems to be well aware about the negative churning taking place in Naga society, which is dividing and not uniting our people. Addressing the Angami Public Organisation (APO) Conference on 20th May 2011, Mr Rio remarked about tribalism, selfish interest and factionalism. He went on to propound the idea of “Nagaism”—of the common goals and ideals that we as a people ought to pursue. Strengthening our common Naga identity is the need of the hour.
Today we have very few frontal organizations, which are representative of common Naga interest. We have some many organizations, unions and groups, each promoting their own interest. In a democratic society we must definitely give voice to the diversity of interests. But a limit has to be there otherwise our Naga identity will get drowned in the multitude of disarray. Working in a newspaper gives us the opportunity to observe the dynamics of our social and political life. We are astonished by the number of unions. Obviously many of these unions must have been registered under the State government. Still thousands of self styled unions are operating without any proper checks and balances. Something must be done by the authorities in the State Home department to put a check on the proliferation of such unions. When so much of different unions are allowed to operate, even the authority of the government is weakened.
Having said that, one should also find out as to why all these unions are being formed. The State government should also reflect upon whether it is performing its role of dispensing its services for the welfare of all sections of people. Many of these unions are formed in order “to get justice” from the government. This means that either people do not trust the government or that the latter is failing in its duty to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. This is a serious question for the State government to answer. Just take the example of the little known group called the Zeliangrong Volunteers for Forest and Environment Protection (ZVFEP), which is a completely new development. Going by its objective to protect in particular the Ntangki National Park, it is obvious that the common man has run out of hope. The State government’s failure to protect people’s right against land encroachment seems to have pushed these helpless citizenry to mobilize themselves determined to fight and protect and preserve the National Park at all cost with or without the help from the State government. Emergence of such self styled groups is the direct result of the State’s failure in performing its basic duty of law and order. The State government under the present ruling dispensation will have to get its act together and start performing its assigned duty in a firm yet tactful manner. There is a saying that a lawful society is governed by its laws while a lawless society is ruled by power. In a lawful society, the law applies to everyone. In a lawless society it does not apply to those who are in power. May be the correction must start from the top.
Today we have very few frontal organizations, which are representative of common Naga interest. We have some many organizations, unions and groups, each promoting their own interest. In a democratic society we must definitely give voice to the diversity of interests. But a limit has to be there otherwise our Naga identity will get drowned in the multitude of disarray. Working in a newspaper gives us the opportunity to observe the dynamics of our social and political life. We are astonished by the number of unions. Obviously many of these unions must have been registered under the State government. Still thousands of self styled unions are operating without any proper checks and balances. Something must be done by the authorities in the State Home department to put a check on the proliferation of such unions. When so much of different unions are allowed to operate, even the authority of the government is weakened.
Having said that, one should also find out as to why all these unions are being formed. The State government should also reflect upon whether it is performing its role of dispensing its services for the welfare of all sections of people. Many of these unions are formed in order “to get justice” from the government. This means that either people do not trust the government or that the latter is failing in its duty to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. This is a serious question for the State government to answer. Just take the example of the little known group called the Zeliangrong Volunteers for Forest and Environment Protection (ZVFEP), which is a completely new development. Going by its objective to protect in particular the Ntangki National Park, it is obvious that the common man has run out of hope. The State government’s failure to protect people’s right against land encroachment seems to have pushed these helpless citizenry to mobilize themselves determined to fight and protect and preserve the National Park at all cost with or without the help from the State government. Emergence of such self styled groups is the direct result of the State’s failure in performing its basic duty of law and order. The State government under the present ruling dispensation will have to get its act together and start performing its assigned duty in a firm yet tactful manner. There is a saying that a lawful society is governed by its laws while a lawless society is ruled by power. In a lawful society, the law applies to everyone. In a lawless society it does not apply to those who are in power. May be the correction must start from the top.
