The history of Naga has witnessed some of the ablest leaders that people can trust upon them. Their love for this nation is too real and they gave all for the formation of this Nation. Those waves still refresh and enlighten us till today. No force was able to quench their spirit on life and it ignites more. The Naga people were invitingly captivated by those faithful leaders. The honor of Naga nation was at the highest pinnacle. Naga National Army was respected from the core of the hearts. So the Indians were threatened by the united Naga movements. So today along with our National leaders we have to retroactive the past Naga united front. As educated people in this post modern society, we have to learn from the past Patriotic School.
As National Leaders irrespective of any groups, how are you motivating specially the innocent generation? Is our Naga society divided into pieces or not? Do Naga students have different versions about Naga Issue at their school, college, and university? Innocent generations are trying hard to see Naga sovereignty issue like six blind Men give different opinion about the description of an elephant. Is division inside the churches or not in Naga issue? Will the leaders deny or accept those pertaining issue. Today our Leaders have to refresh their course in leading this Nation. Denial of a problem is one of the hindrances in conflict resolution. If the parties in conflict sense that there is an issue to be resolved they will definitely come to the negotiation table like mature leaders, but today our Leaders, are you planning to come together and would you like to talk? Who are leading millions of Naga people?
Probably, is your only option and all what your decision is to command and to kill? Are your soldiers trained to see every Naga as an object to be shot? Liberation for what, people who want to liberate millions of Naga population should first learn about liberation and its deeper meaning. When all what you have is bullet and gun to fire upon another Naga for many years and cannot accept another Naga as Naga to those who have different views and thoughts. Can Love, Justice and Patriotic Will produce this merciless and thoughtless situation for Naga Nation or is it a result of self-righteous supremacy?
The cries of the Nagas in the past were about Indian, Burmese atrocities. Today household talks are about us and Naga killers. The pain inflicted by Burmese soldiers and the untold miseries done to Naga people by India, one of the largest democratic countries in the world – are those not sufficient for our people to break our heart and emotionally we are wound too much. The pains and inhuman acts done to us by two nations are too costly and too unbearable. What leadership quality are you talking about? Is the value of your leadership measured by dead bodies and how much you can write to defend? Remember how many Achan’s (Joshua 7.20-26) are there in the camp, not in other camp. As leaders of this Nation can you provide another viable alternative? If a bullet hits its target it gives another wider chasm for Naga disunity because that victim has his families, well wishers, villager and their own people. Allowing to kill another Naga, and can that bring unity but we see our Leaders talk about united Naga. Well, Naga people are not struck blind and we have stood beside Naga dead bodies for many years. People are becoming active or passive. Our leaders have to study and the effects upon innocent generations. Is killing “new acceptability situation” that our leaders can offer to millions of Naga people? Our leaders can provide a better dwelling to its people than today. Our Nation is sliced into two Nations (Burma and India). Today it is one of the smallest countries in the world and we accept this slice into two. And we ourselves are now slicing in to smaller pieces. Naga people cannot afford to lose even a single Naga. We need every able body to rebuild our broken nation against intruders in the form of Burmese and Indian.
Leadership will change and you are going to leave a legacy for the innocent generation. Will it be a package of blood and a list to hunt down Naga people for another generation? Leaders lead our nation to love one another. Today the cries are real and any blood shed here in Naga-Nation are not Foreigners but Naga’s blood. So any blood spilled will only see a spiral of hatred among our Naga Nation.
Leaders have to refresh their thinking today. They said that God on our side leads them to say it’s okay or in a very subtle ways it is self righteous. It brings us only to destructive thought and tears to our beloved community. But the missing jewel is this. God on our side should bring our righteousness to God’s righteousness. And that will hammer out the best solution for the Naga people. It is really hard and it seems impossibly distant today. But if God is on our side one day a united Naga will emerge. Which the Burmese and the Indian will hate to see.
Today the Naga people have to come together in repentance and we have to forsake it, our personal and corporate sin as well before the mighty throne of God.
(1) God has given us many intellectual persons. Have we chosen to be one sided or decided to remain silent instead of giving our intellectual thought for the formation of our Nation?
(2) God has given good numbers of innocent generation but have we failed to live out as true Christian?
(3) We have been blessed with variety of language and culture and instead of using to our own national advantage, have we become so comfortable in one compartment?
(4) We have been graciously granted by God many theological trained persons. Have we become job oriented, degree oriented and have we failed to be prophetic in our ministry?
(5) We have lots of NGOs but have we become toothless?
(6) We have killed God’s creatures that were created in His own image for many years. And we have no sense to live like a better human being.
(7) As Leaders in the state government have we become too corrupted and have we lived as an antagonist to the People?
For all these and many others we have to acknowledge God. The liberation from our inner struggle, Indian and Burmese can become a reality if we invite God in our National formation. If not our National formation will be no better than the builder of Babel (Genesis 11). Our National formation will be confounded and we will be a laughing stock today. And that reproach will be preserved even for the upcoming generation. For Nations cannot rise up unless the divine hand of God is acknowledged.
H. Apise
