There is a similarity between the condition of the Kuki tribe in Nagaland and the Minority communities like Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and others in India. Similarly, the Hindus are the majority in India and the Nagas are the majority in Nagaland. In areas where they are in majority, how has the Hindus and the Nagas taken care of its Minorities? A comparative analyses shows that the Hindus have taken better care of its Minorities than the Nagas.
As per the Census, the Hindus constitute 80 % of the entire Indian population. In spite of certain drawbacks, India has given many Constitutional safeguards to its minorities. For instance, by a Constitutional Amendment, Art 371 (A) was inserted to protect the customs and the land of the Nagas. As such, even 99% of India's population cannot buy our land. Thus, whether we are poor or at war, our land belongs to us. The Indian Constitution guarantees it to us. But within Nagaland, there has been no protection for its Minorities. For example, during the Kuki-Naga conflict in the 1990s, the Kukis in Nagaland were threatened to leave Nagaland and were served 'Quit Notice' by a Naga group. Many villages were burned down and many Kukis were murdered. In a hurry, many people sold whatever they could at cheap rates and ran away from Nagaland to neighbouring states. Some got themselves transferred to safer locations. Some Government employees did not run away with the hope that when they are killed, atleast their children will be given some money by the Government. Some did not run away,not because they were not afraid, but because they were very poor. They painfully realised that to even become a refugee, they need money but they had none. While many also stood their ground preferring to die fighting in their homes.
With the return of some normalcy, the Kukis returned back to the State only to find that they are now almost landless in their own State. Having sold their lands during the conflict, many villages today have Kuki names but much of the paddy fields and lands surrounding the Kuki villages are owned by other tribes. Thus, more than anyone, the Kukis in Nagaland are in need of similar protection like Art 371(A) within the State.
As mentioned earlier,80% of the country are Hindus. But what will happen if every year all the IAS, IPS etc are only Hindus. What if the UPSC selects only Hindus year after year? But unimaginable things are happening in our State. The last Kuki selected as EAC through NPSC was way back in 1991. Infact, for the past 21 years, not a single Kuki candidate has been selected for the State Civil Services. For many things, our State has pointed finger at the Centre but we ourselves have become worse than what we criticise.
In India, the Sikhs constitute only 1.9% of the country's population. But we have a Sikh Prime Minister. The Muslims constitute only 13.4% but we have a Muslim Vice-President. On the issue of religion or competition for scarce resources, the Hindus have bitterly fought with the Muslims and Christians on many communal riots. But the majority Hindus have always allowed or given reservation for the minorities and as such, year after year, STs,SCs, Christians, Muslims and all other minorities are selected for jobs conducted by UPSC,SSC and other recruiting agencies like Universities. Also, members of the Anglo-Indian community are scattered all over India. Yet, the Constitution reserves 2 seats for them in the Parliament. Likewise, if population criteria are strictly followed, then Nagaland will not be eligible to elect a MP in the Parliament. Yet, the Constitution provides that our State get one representation each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Here in our State, the Kukis are less and are also scattered. But there are many Kuki villages in Molvom areas under Gaspani Constituency in Dimapur District and in Ahthibung areas under Tening Constituency in Peren District. In the spirit of giving representation to the most marginalised section of the State, the Constituencies must be redrawn to favour the Kukis and one seat each must be reserved for the Kukis in the new Molvom Constituency and Ahthibung Constituency. On an average, all other tribes have 5 MLAs or so, but the Kukis do not have a single MLA. Peren District should be given atleast 3 seats with one seat reserved for the Kukis in the new Ahthibung Constituency. No doubt, the Kukis can be represented by MLAs from other tribes. It was hoped that virtual representation of the Kukis by other tribal MLAs will work but two decades of neglect and marginalisation has proved otherwise. The Kukis want that they also have a piece of what others have in abundance. The Nagas have Naga MLAs and as such we should also help the Kukis to have a Kuki MLA.
Also, the Kukis are the least represented tribes in their own State Civil Services. Therefore, in order to correct the historical injustices, a minimum of 5% in the State Civil Services should be reserved for the Kuki tribes. At the national level, the Hindus in Jammu & Kashmir became backward due to insurgency problems and became refugees. Hence, the Central Government has given certain reservations for the Kashmiri Pandits. Every single person will know the difficulty that they face when their homes and their village are burned down. Every orphan will know how difficult it is to recover and then to study and search a job when their parents a shot dead. Someone who has been served 'Quit Notice' will know what the Kukis went through. Since the Naga-Kuki conflict started in the 1990s, not a single Kuki has been selected in the State Administrative Services for the past 21 years. The Kukis do not want to call themselves 'backward' but their reality speaks otherwise. Therefore a minimum of 5% reservation should be given to the Kukis in the annual NPSC exams. And this reservation may stop after 21 years. In our history,many wrongs have been done to the Kukis. It is hoped that atleast some will be corrected.
In our country, the Sikhs are not Hindus but they are Indians. Muslims are not Hindus but they are patriots too. One need not be a Hindu to be an Indian and one need not be a Hindu to love India. Similarly, Kukis are not Nagas. But Kukis love our State, our land. Nagaland belongs to the Kukis, Garos, Mikirs and others as much as it belong to the Nagas. The Hindus know the difference between the Indian Muslims and a Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Middle East Muslim. It is hoped that the Nagas also know the difference between a Nagaland Kuki and a Kuki from Assam or Manipur as many a times; some have treated their own brothers as outsiders.
The Naga political movement is itself a testament to what happens when a community is denied its due share. As such, further deprivation and marginalisation of the Kukis may push them to start their own political movement. It must be remembered that the Kukis in Nagaland has always looked upon the Nagas as brothers and sisters. It is evident in the fact that there is no separate Kuki underground group in Nagaland. In fact, Kukis are involved in all Naga National groups. Unlike the other States, the Kukis in Nagaland are not demanding a separate State away from the Nagas. The Kukis were there alongside the Nagas since its early history, be it the Interim Government, the first Legislative Assembly or the first NPSC board etc. And even if there were some communities in Nagaland who could not play active role in the early days, it does not mean that they should be ignored and discriminated. As the majority group, the Nagas have embraced other Indigenous groups in the past and must continue to do so in the future. Being the majority and as the torch bearer of the State, the responsibility of taking care of its minorities fall on the Nagas. It is hoped that the Nagas will do better than their past. The destiny of the Kukis, Garos, Mikirs and other inhabitants of Nagaland are interwoven with the destiny of the Nagas. Thus, in the charting of a better future, it is hoped that all sections of the society will be accommodated.
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