Witoubou Newmai
Naga society’s failures to focus on broad reach requirements as well as on purpose-specifics of the time are, indeed, ruining the whole state of affairs. In other words, localized issues atop our high desks are so high that we are not able to see the course of our common goal before us. As localized issues engulf the whole affairs, each group within Naga society banks on the weaknesses of another immediate group for temporary gains, and in the process, we often fail to build our collective strength. This trend is only to hasten in disorganizing our collective efforts to build the collective strength of the Naga society.
We may want to investigate whether today’s Naga society is subconsciously or consciously working against its unifying self-image. If this is the case then we may ask whether dearth of leadership in Naga society is responsible for it. We may further ask whether lack of faith in the collective Naga course is responsible for the whole farce as suspicions rule the roost. The presence of any one of the reasons mentioned has the potential to trigger-cause the germination of more recalcitrant elements to complete a diseased society. The combination of these reasons is all the more a fertile ground for the growth of cynical leaders who manipulate, often in ways that are hard to believe. Thus, the structure of Naga society has become grubby with sordid lucre.
The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe deals something on this subject in 'Things Fall Apart'. Though the novel has multiple themes we may want to learn on the reasons for the decline of the Igbo society. The protagonist of the novel, Okonkwo who is known for his rigidity, is also to be noted. Our society urgently needs discourses that lay emphasis on this problem today.
We have organizations and leaders in Naga society who are unreasonably rigid. This is definitely a problem to the society. However, the larger problem is the society’s failure to collectively dismiss such recalcitrant elements. Here comes the question of our rationality.
Selective reactions which have become a standard practice today are also signs of the decline of our society. Even silly reasons can trigger in getting things polarized on tribal lines. If our society fails to recognize this concern then we are really in a very serious situation. This trend also questions whether our passion for human rights and democracy has diminished.
The Nagas’ campaign for human rights was one time synonymous with the Naga society. The connotation of this human rights campaign is to appreciate the dignity of life. However, of late, things seem to have gone haywire. In other words, this indicates that the Naga ‘struggle’ for dignity seems to be operating today without ‘unitary wholeness’. As stated earlier, in any people’s movement ‘unitary wholeness’ is a vital feature.
