The recent gender episode in our society is a shocking development not only for the locals but also the outsiders who once praised the status of women in Naga society.
In this huge world, Nagas are seen an indigenous community that strongly live on customary system which has kept them for centuries; these customary practices are derived from the customs, mores, norms, praxis and way of life which are formulated based on the experiences in the environs of their day-to-day life.
Nagas have accepted that their society is a patriarchal one wherein women are not as privileged as men if we see through the lens of modern world. True! However, Naga system also, to be fair, needs to be seen how it has evolved over time and how the status of women is seen today comparing with the past. Further, Naga system needs to be appreciated for adapting to many new things after English education got root among the Nagas, brought by the American Baptist missionaries since 1850s.
While we fight for women's rights in the Naga context, it is important to look at the foundation - the original Naga Customary System and where it has reached today. It also needs to produce a careful comparison. For instance, comparing Naga women with the women of mainland seems so much unfair (there are a lot of examples to bring out on it). If one looks at the original system (like those famous anthropologists, Fürer-Haimendorf, Hutton, Mills in early 20th century, to name a few), it shows that Naga women enjoy more freedom/privilege than the ones in the mainland. Whether or not, it is an undeniable fact that the original system itself had several rooms for women more than those of the so-called modern nation states. But this is not an attempt to limit the rights and privileges for women in our society. I am fully convinced that Naga women must be as equal as Naga men though not to be measured in terms of physical strength. The gender equality in our context also needs to be expressed or understood in terms of recognizing each role as equal and important as the other, not downgrading each other. No one should be barred from participating in any process or part for being any type of gender, and I think, this has already been seen as part of the evolution of Naga customary system.
As for me, it demands a careful analysis on the recent move for 33% Women Reservation in ULB polls so that we can have a clear understanding on the situation and the layers involved. For some, 33% reservation is a prerogative to Gender Equality. But for some, it has become so much disputed and contested in several ways or seen a political decoy by the Center. To be fair, I think that each event/move needs to be interpreted based on the context and it differs from each other one way or the other way. The struggle for gender equality is part of human rights and furthermore gender issue is a global phenomenon, not just exclusive to Nagas alone, who, by this I mean to say, do not deserve all the blames and ungrounded allegations. Because, Naga context is unique in its own way and Nagas deserve to be understood based on their context. For instance, Nagas are allergic to any imposition from the Government of India. History has proved it and it still remains doubtful on the things that the Govt. of India does on them either good or bad. While the relationship still remains fragile between the Government of India and Naga people, the term "imposition" has become like a bowl of salt to the already serious wound that is trying to recover.
However, I do not mean to reject the struggle for women's right or gender equality. My sincere point is any movement or struggle sans a proper political economy will only worsen the situation. One sincere question I have is: "Can we not create such a reform within our system without being imposed? If I were to analyze the recent episode, I see there are at least four forces with each interest for its own. One: people who genuinely want to fight for Women's Right. Two: people (the external) who try to rob the political right of the Nagas in the pretext of 33% Women Reservation. Three: people (popular politicians) who try to overcome deficit with the package that would come behind 33% reservation. Four: people who think this is a wolf in sheep's clothes so they tried heaven and earth to stop 33% Women Reservation in ULB polls. Those that seriously plus genuinely fought for Women's Rights failed to see the tricks and decoy set by Two and Three, and how WR was abused, instead of promoting, is a sad turn in our history! Three innocent lives were lost, several government establishments burned down and the Chief Minister resigned. What do we actually gain in terms of Women's Rights? Have we not abused the Women's Rights while fighting for it?
Meanwhile, the Land of Nagas once known as one of the safest abodes for women in this part of the world has been reintroduced to the outside world in this postmodern era as the Land of misogynists and thus Naga men are a piece of dirt, abused beyond recognition. They went on to picture our women too vulnerable and underprivileged. But are we truly like they way they describe us?
With love Athong Makury
