Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh
Nagas as a race of an ancient people lived this massive mountainous time immemorial. No one ruled over them except British who ruled for 70 years in some part of Naga areas and colonized them and recorded the shortest stay in her empire because Nagas fought them for 40 years. When time came for British to give up her empire, the Statutory Commission came to Naga people and asked their opinion. Then the Naga Club gave the memorandum stated that “ If British people go , we should not be thrust to the people who could never subjugate us, but to leave us along to determined for ourselves as a free nation”.
As time came to transfer the power to India, Indian was divided into 3 nations from the line of religion namely Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist so became Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. People were allowed to choose what they think to fit for them. Therefore North East India people were given chance to choose whether they want join India or not. Therefore the Sub Committee came to Shillong to ask the opinion of the North East people and the entire North East people decided to joined the Indian Union but the NNC leaders walked out not to join the Indian Union .They were determined to be independent country for two reasons, Firstly Naga were not Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist so they determined not to join either Pakistan and India because they were Christian. Secondly politically, historically and traditionally Nagas and India does not know each other. But Indian believed in their might and used forced to invade the Nagas. So the arm conflicts have started and so ten and thousands were killed. As the situation becomes nightmare, the Government of India offered statehood to Naga people to please the Naga people and those who did not participated in Nagas freedom struggle accepted the statehood thus Naga Plebiscite which means “The law for the whole people is broken “But the mandate of the people rest with Naga people therefore four political agreement was made but the final solution is still on the process. It is up to Naga people whether they want to be integral part of India or independent country. I believe that India does not expect the Nagas will give up their determination. If it is so, why India using tactics of buying time?
Now statehood election is coming again, so what Naga should be doing now? Can you wash your hand with your father’s blood, can you wash your face with blood of Jesus Christ through whom you become son of God, your father’s fought for their faith of Christianity and now can you sell your vote? Nagaland state is not a gift from the Government of India but the price of Naga Patriot. It is too dear to sell or purchase vote with cheap price in the market, stepping your father’s bone how can you sell your vote and crucify again our Savior Jesus Christ. If our Churches cannot defend our faith, we fail to God. If our Pastors’ cannot be a watch dog to protect our church, we fail our responsibility.
Two thousand years ago, a Greek Philosopher Socrates said,” Are you not ashamed of setting your heart on wealth and honors while you have no care for wisdom and truth making your soul better? Human memory is too short to keep our conscience alive. If your conscience fails to guide you in the right no religion and power can redeemed you. As long as your conscience is at work and guide in the right path there is no power on earth can destroy you. Therefore as you vote for your leader, let your conscience guide you because it is the gift of God, let us not misused the gift of God. Let the kingdom of God rule over the kingdom of the earth.
