Dr. K. Hoshi
Naga national politics:
In my last article on the same title, I had outlined the historic political steps taken by the Naga people that stood as solid and valid grounds for our right to sovereignty. Yet, even if India chose to ignore the historical and political rights of the Nagas, just the expression of desire to be a separate nation on the basis of race gives us the logical right.
The old political theory of hoping to attain sovereignty on India’s departure, voluntarily or under world pressure, no longer finds acceptance. It is foolishness to hope that the mighty India would concede to our aspiration without a struggle. Despite the fact that the Nagas had never regarded India’s Parliament as the ultimate arbiter of Nagas destiny, negotiated political settlement through mutual respect has become inevitable because Naga national politics can no longer be disengaged from Indian State politics.
There was a time that the general behavior of Indian military towards the Nagas was so intolerable that no Naga with a grain of self respect could help feeling the desire to be free from India’s yoke. Yet, that element is fast disappearing today because of the systematic campaign that it had put into practice to train up a nation that would be Indian in everything, except in race. Indians and Nagas are now deeply connected in many ways. The Nagas and Indians have come too close to each other that now; parting will be more emotional than hostile. Yet, India must not forget that the color of our blood will never be able to hold us together forever. Sooner or later, we have to part ways. Our goal is for “complete independence” which was explicitly declared on 14th August 1947. This reality need to be appreciated by India.
In national politics, it is important that we time and connect our movement with one or other world liberty movement. We missed some opportunities. As of now, the Naga national politics is not connected with any world movement for liberty. We are in a situation in which we have to work our way through alone.
In such given political scenario, what are our options? The Naga national politics is groping for new method and looking for new leader. Naga intelligentsia will do better to contribute new ideas than waste time arguing on the history of who was right and who was wrong. Our objective for future course of action needed to be focused on finding new tactics to fit into the changed global political situation. If non-violence is still the principle, we need to formulate new tactics and build new road-maps on the ideals of non-violence.
Nagaland included all the contiguous Naga inhabited areas and not the present State of Nagaland. Naming the new State as Nagaland was a historic blunder. It demoted the broad outlook of Naga national politics because thenceforth, outside people perceived Nagaland as the present State. The Pan-Naga face of Naga national politics need to be restored and put into international domain once again.
Nagas want sovereignty but there seems no more passion for it. If we still feel sovereignty is our goal, passion need to be re-evoked. “In political movement, when one can no longer evoke passion, it is time to call it a day.”
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his book “The Indian Struggle” said (quote); “In the affairs of nations, it often happens that the appearance or disappearance of a single personality means a new chapter in history” (unquote). Our leaders need to appreciate these facts and encourage generational evolution of leaders. If we still desire to win our independence through non-violence; diplomacy with Indian and international intelligentsia are essential. The new generation leaders should be allowed to follow-up that path.
We have solid grounds to fix India in the arena of world politics. The inhuman living conditions in eastern strip of Naga land is one such ground that needed to be brought to the attention of the world community. The abject neglect to develop the border areas and subjecting our people to still live in sixteenth century conditions is a gross violation of right to live honorably. Nagas can no longer be deprived of development on the pretext of continued unrest when bilateral cease-fire has been in place for over one and half decades.
Going by the population of India, not even 0.1% of Indians know about Nagaland State, let alone the Naga national politics. We have failed to tell our story to Indian intelligentsia. Nothing or too little is known by them. The tiny circle that knows about the Naga national politics is the military top echelons in the northeast, negligible number of political leaders and the bureaucrats. When India had given us too insignificant representation in its Parliament, outside parliament approach is the only option.
The average Indians look down upon us as savages, straight from the jungle with low I.Q. We should strive to find opportunities to take on Indians intellectually and philosophically. We need to win the intellectual war by winning their hearts. Serious attempts needed to be made outside the Parliament to sensitize India’s intelligentsia individually, as well as her civil organizations. The diplomacy needed to be taken to the doors of Indian Diaspora taking into consideration that it would be easier to touch the hearts of those in similar situation. We need them to bring home the world opinion on the right of the Nagas.
If sovereignty is still the goal, we need to appreciate that we need to change our tactics. However, if we choose to maintain “no change” posture even in changed global politics, we only have to leave it to fate because Nagas will not achieve anything honorable in this shape.
Nagaland State politics:
Statehood or “legislature entry” was one channel on which we failed to capitalize. Had the “legislature entry” been guided and stirred by the principle; “within the house if possible” as was desperately needed at that point of time, “legislature entry” might have been taken as a positive step. We couldn’t expect the first generation educated Nagas to be equipped with all that political far-sight. Other than ushering in some semblance of peace in times of extreme situation, the demand for, and acceptance of statehood lacked objectivity on the future of Naga national politics. It is late but “better late than never.” Henceforth, the “legislature entry” needs to be taken full advantage in all earnestness.
Clause 7 of 16-point agreement gave us the power to reject parliamentary laws in relation to sub-clauses (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv). It was understood in its narrow perspective as the protection given to Nagas. Deep down, it recognized the entity and existence of the Naga as a separate people. It gave the base for landing the “Policy of non-cooperation within the legislature.” that could have been well-used to our advantage but we failed.
“Legislature entry” had its own flaws. While, many had entered the legislature innocently, others had entered with complex political conspiracy for selfish political interests. The entry of such undesirables had only helped India because through their support, India was able to demonstrate to the world that in their policy of repression they had the support of the elected members of the legislature. Serious attempts needed to be made in future to prevent the entry of undesirables from doing mischief in the legislature.
The Naga country and its people have been ruined economically, politically, culturally and spiritually. We have not been given the full opportunities of growth. Even in its 50th year of statehood, the State is without a Medical College and Engineering College, or a single profit making industry, etc. Peoples’ representatives in future would do better to develop these things rather than waste their time on something that is not their priority subject. Every Naga leader harps on peace, solution, reconciliation; some without knowing but others with hidden selfish political agenda. Such lip service did not help the Naga national politics in any way.
“Solution before election” has been the most popular slogan in the past several months. It is a matter of time that the schedule of election for Nagaland State will be announced. In all probability, State general election will be held as scheduled. If it is so, the Naga people will be completely fooled once again. Three consecutive State general elections in a span of fifteen years cease-fire looks more like a joke than reality.
The Naga quest for political settlement is to achieve the goal of sovereignty and not solution. Solution is an antonym of problem. Where there’s problem, people look for solution. Naga national politics may be a problem to India but not to Naga. If the search for solution is to that problem, we will be giving more than we receive. Solution is provisional in nature while settlement is permanent.
If the State legislature still wants to talk about the Naga political issue, instead of paying only lip service, it’s time to revisit the road it had treaded and fix its objective in clear terms on the future of Naga national politics. If not, it is better for the State legislature to concentrate in development issues within the confine of present arrangement. The State is in bad shape and at this juncture, the Nagas need civic sense more than independence.
The mid-players:
The Naga reconciliation has served its time with end result still not clear. If the current trend of stagnancy continues in reconciliation, will it be wise to waste more time on an exercise that has reached its climax and is already on the descending track? If leaders of the Naga political groups are not prepared to converge to one political platform and one line of unified leadership, reconciliation in the principle of maintaining separate identities will in no way help the future of Naga national politics. If the national leaders chose to remain divided, other Naga leaders have to think hard.
All Nagas are stack-holders in Naga national politics. An environment has to be created where like in the past; the democratic republic practice of seeking the will of all Nagas in choosing the national leaders was firmly founded. Convergence of powers alone will revitalize the Naga national politics, re-evoke passion and help achieve our goal of sovereignty. This should continue to be the central objective of reconciliation.
In the past, discrete divine revelation had so much influence on Naga national politics and it would not be wrong to say that divine intervention in dire situations had been the inspiration of Naga nationalism. Today, too many divine revelations are confusing the Nagas. Men of God are creating more divisions than unify. The plan of God for Naga seems to be sabotaged by rush of divine revelations. We must be disturbing God too much with Naga national politics. Since Nagas have chosen mammon, we better leave the Living God alone for sometime and allow Him to act in His own way when the Nagas come back to their senses.
