Atsung Imchen
Kohima
Much before Nagaland Government understood the power of social media in reaching out, much before our Tribal Bodies/NGO’s understood the same, the younger generation from every nook and corner under the Naga’s land have been utilizing this platform for sharing our resentment and grievances and reaching out beyond our boundary related to our socio political condition and we have seen many changes that came out because of people utilizing this platform the way it is supposed to be, to bring change.
With the change of time, this platform is now accessed by every decision-making body of our society, the over ground Govt, the underground Govt and the Tribal bodies, ever since COVID-19 became the reality their presence have increased tenfold. 3-4 years back their visibility on social Media was next to none. Now this brings in the good as well as the bad part of it, the good will mostly remain on the lines of how easily people can reach out to those leaders/bureaucrats or how easily we can get their attention with issues that concern the general mass. The bad part is the recent surge in Tribal Hoho’s or clan imposing restriction on individual right to expression.
Leaving aside the Government tactics to impose such restrictions which has obvious legal Limitations for example the Supreme Court of India Revoking section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, relating to restrictions on online speech, as unconstitutional on grounds of violating the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.The main area of concern is the misuse of our Customary Laws in restricting individuals from expressing their opinions and concerns mostly because the person in question is from one particular Tribe, Vis a Vis “The Apology Trend”. This move is nothing short of imposing a dictatorial rule over its citizens and as far as I know, our Customary laws are not dictatorial in nature of course it has its own highs and lows which should change with the course of time by this I mean areas where logical reasoning is required instead of border line head hunting mentality, for example the denial to inherit property unless gifted to a Naga woman and the restriction of woman in decision making bodies (though we see some changes in this aspect we need extensive progressive approach on these issues). But overall our society governed by their respective tribal bodies has been progressive in nature, traditionally too.
Speaking in terms of what I know there is this process or approach in the Ao community where everyone is huddled in a Morung to discuss about issues and seek feedbacks from all the participants both young and Old members. I do not know the exact terminology of this, but such practicesdo exist. Maybe it’s not the same across the tribes or it is but feedback, criticism and opinions of an individual were traditionally were never oppressed or we can’t go on to say that our Customary Laws are oppressive in nature. This just goes on to show that the current trend of a tribe or a clan seeking apology from a person who have criticized an Individual who may or may not be holding a high position either in the Govt Sector or some other relevant field was recently created after the advent of Democracy and the concept of Ministers or Bureaucrats came into the picture. One possible reason why we see a sudden surge in this action is because of the way our society has started giving importance to such people just because they became a Minister or holds a high position in an office.
Our forefathers were honest and straight forward people, they governed with wisdom which unfortunately cannot be said so for all the current leaders of our controversial state. Just because an individual is a Minister or became an officer does not mean he/she will carry the same wisdom and charisma as a leader, with 57 years of statehood (even if forcefully) looking at the current situation of our state, what more proof does one need?
Once an Individual is elected as a Minister or holds the highest position in an Office. He/she is no longer the representative of a single Tribe or a Clan nor working for that respective Tribe/Clan alone, they now serve the Naga People. Let me Repeat “The Naga People” irrespective of Tribe and Clan. If they do not perform the duty or carry out their responsibility as given unto them judiciously, they are eligible for all the scrutiny and criticism that is available regardless of whether the Criticism is from inside or outside.
If I have the power to end wars but do not do anything about it, do I justify the power vested in me? Should I expect my Tribe to make a stand for me? No right-minded person would do that.
Just like that, do our Tirbal Hoho’s/Clans think a person holding the Post of the CM of Nagaland either past or present does not have the power to end corruption in our State?
Do our Tribal Hoho’s/Clans think that each of the Cabinet Ministers past or present does not have the power to correct the wrong that each department is currently facing?
If you say No, then please come out in the open, declare in the Newspapers and every social media relevant to our state that MR or MRS. So and so, Minister of this/HOD of this representing this TRIBE is pure and is not responsible for any sort of corruption in the state. Make it public, let us know.
If you say yes, they can then when criticism, feedback or displeasure in the way the duty was/is performed are shared against an individual sitting in the “Change Making Chair” DO NOT COME DEFENDING IT. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to progressive thinking and change in our society is the DEFIANCE of any wrongdoing by Clans/Tribe of the said person. The moment you defend what is wrong, you become the very reason why corruption in our state has been flowing ever since the inception of the Forceful Indian State called “NAGALAND”. Corruption affects everyone, it is not secluded to a region or a tribe, and it impacts each and every individual living under the influence of a corrupted governing body.
Can Anyone Representing Any Tribe Claim That There Is No Corruption In The State Of Nagaland?
Every voice of concern, every voice of dissent, and every voice of displeasure are the Voice of the People. Those voices that long for change in our society, which is ultimately for the betterment of all, not only for the Tribes represented by the Chair holder. We cannot allow vested groups or handful of individuals to manipulate our Customary Laws just to silence the voices of the people, it will never work and while doing so it will only Tarnish and undermine our Traditional Values which is completely unacceptable.
Feedback, criticisms and opinions are integral part of our society for that matter any society that is democratic in nature, for us to see our people and our land progress we need leaders with wisdom, we need leaders who will heed to the voices of the people not leaders who tries to find every manipulativeway to curb the voices of the mass regardless of what position they hold, they are not exempted from it.
