Jagdamba Mall
1. Current State of Affairs of Nagaland :-
After thorough study of insurgency in Nagaland, I found that early insurgent leaders including Phizo and his lieutenants lacked political vision for Naga society. On the instigation of some foreign forces, they just adopted the warpath against the nation that looked after their welfare. The Church added fuel to the fire. They coined the slogan - Nagaland For Christ and did everything and anything, legal or illegal, right or wrong, violence or non-violence, to convert Hindu Nagas to Christianity and brought over western culture. Everything native and indigenous – religion and culture, rituals and festivals, traditional costumes and social practices, all were dubbed as satan practices, hence, prohibited. The Church has misled the society and bulldozed Naga’s indigenous faith and culture Even Hindu Naga elders were condemned as head-hunters, wild, savage, unclean and raw-meat eaters. In doing so, the Church and NNC ( Naga National Council led by Phizo) were helping each other. This has led Naga society to such a state that there is a crisis of identity in every righteous aspect and 40,000 Nagas stand killed by now, more will be done away with if situation does not improve. Immorality in every walk of life has engulfed the Naga society. In the words of Dr. T. Aonok, Nagaland is a drug, alcohol, illicit sex-cursed society and imitations of Hollywood along with Washington DC consents to every whim of it. However, the most sick and shocking point of all is that nine-tenth of the professed Christians vote for rulers who are not only wicked but who even pledge to do wickedly. (Nagaland Post 19.02.2009). At one place he has described Nagaland as diseased whore. I also notice the same destabilizing and disturbing trend. This is because ethics of the society has disappeared.
It is societies’ ethics that help share a people’s cultural values, social structures, economic sustainability, political life and defines the nature and prowess of participation in the political realm while enabling its critical consciousness and world views. After adoption of foreign religion and western culture Naga people have developed the habit of converting the aberrations into the normal, the regular and the routine. This is a recent development. It was not there in Hindu Naga Society. Poverty is not the cause of corruption. Look around you, most of corrupts or criminals are wealthy and well-placed in Government, NGOs or Church organizations. I must say, Church brought this doom. This has happened with all the native people in all the Christian countries without any exception, I dream for the day when Nagas modernize without having to westernize based on their own indigenous values and principles that have sustained their survival and existence as a people for generations. History is the proof that imitating and borrowing concepts and values that are not relevant to the society have only proven to be destructive. That exactly is what has happened to the Nagas. I dream that Nagas identify their self-inflicted injuries and sufferings and come out of the present crisis. Those who are dreaming only for sovereignty and nothing else are living in fool’s paradise and dream palaces. They should come to the sense of reality.
2. Human Decency :-
In the second week of February 2009, Britain was shocked to learn of a 13 year boy fathering a child with a 15 year girl. The British media termed the whole unhappy episode as ‘Britain broken’ from religious leaders to social scientists, to your everyday-John and Smith, everyone had a lot to say. Then things reportedly took a more astounding turn when three other 14 year boys – all claimed to be the father of that baby, so till the last reports, there are now four young teenagers who are children themselves are claiming to be the father of the baby. Reportedly, this young 15 year mother is said to have been sexually active with around eight youngsters at the same time. Britain is stunned. So are we (Childhood Robbery- Nagaland Page 21.02.2009). Late Chalie Kevichusa had narrated another story in his Chatterbox column of Ura Mail. “In a queue to Cinema ticket in London in broad day light, the boy started copulation with the girl standing in front of him in same queue. Nagas fancy in aping British life-style. Do Nagas would like this life style also?” asked learned Chalie.
Naga society had come a long way on the path of western life style leaving behind their own ancient ethos and human decency, when women had highest honour in the family and the society. “Today, our own 12 year olds,” writes Smt. Monalisa Changkiza in same editorial column, “are delivering babies – go to Mother’s Hope and check it out for yourself. And no one is even claiming paternity. These days we cannot even deny rape, incest and all kinds of sexual licence in our society” Compare British society and state with that of ours. Both the societies and states live in worlds far apart yet the problems we have are same. How do we count for this? (Nagaland Post 21.03.2009)”. Though British and Nagas live in two different continents of the globe situated far apart, but one thing is common – Christianity and western culture. This has uprooted the ancient value system and propagated wrong history. This has shattered ancient customary control over the society. This has demolished the family institution of Naga society. Naga parents don’t care for their children. The family bonds are breaking away and children do not care for their parents and elders. This is because of western religion and western culture.
I dream for the day when Nagas realize the fault committed less than half a century ago by opting for Christian religion, western culture and secessionist uprising supported by Church. I dream Nagas’ phase-wise return to their forefathers’ ancient human decency by opting for indigenous religion and metaphysical way of life by practising indigenous culture which Naga forefathers – the so-called ‘head-hunters’ lived and prospered.
3. Freedom from HIV/AIDS:-
There are 35000 HIV positive patients in 7 Northeast states and this accounts for less than 3% of Bharatvarsh’s more than one billion population of HIV positive carriers. The states like Nagaland and Manipur are reportedly worst victim of HIV/AIDS in NE region because of porous fringe line with heroine – producing “Golden Triangle” of Laos- Myanmar – Thailand. This region has high rate of intravenous drug users considered to be the prime cause behind the alarming rise in HIV cases in the hill states. Sharing of needles by drug addicts and freedom of the pre-marital and post extra-marital sex are responsible for the quantum increase in AIDS cases. Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are worst sufferers due to their proximity to Golden Triangle. Apart from the problems of intravenous drug abuses, the social pattern of some of Janjati (tribal) groups, liberal outlook about sexual relationship and waning values in the ultra modern life style with liquor addiction have extensively deepened the crisis.I dream for a HIV/AIDS free sane society of Nagas where people admire to live a metaphysical way of life as a perfect human being.
4. Contemporary Naga Customary Laws:-
There should be a well-documented customary laws and well-established customary courts at village level in the case of big villages and zone level in the case of smaller scattered villages where most of disputes are settled and only a very rare and serious cases are referred to court of law. Today it has become redundant because judicial courts and administration take up most of the cases. District administration interferes in customary law. Gaon Burah (GB) and Dobashi (DB) institution should be strengthened and the system should be more effective. There should be coordination of GB, DB, Village Councils and Area Council with District Administration and Police. This will provide collateral help to judiciary and crime can be stemmed.
5. Tourism :-
The Bharatiya tourism sector is seen generating $ 42.8 billion by 2017, a 42 percent surge from 2007 as per the survey report by an auditing and consulting firm – Deloitte Touché. Despite the challenges being faced in terms of a slowing economy, sluggish demand and security concerns, the country is fighting back and tourism developments are taking place. Bharatvarsh – the surging super power is fast becoming the tourism destination for the global communities. The country’s share in the worlds tourist inflow is 44 percent. Realizing the potential in Bharatvarsh, international and domestic hotel chains are rushing to cash in on it. International tourists account for a little over 5 million visitors while domestic market is seen at more than 500 million. Alongwith socio-cultural, archaeological, ecological and religious tourism; medical tourism is poised for rapid development in future and the country is fast developing first class facilities to attract this multi-billion dollar niche market.
Alas! Nagaland can also pick up matching pace in development of tourism in the state where people from different part of the country and the world move around freely enjoying the aesthetic beauty of the nature and the natives of the “Paradise unexplored”. Nagaland in particular gives the impression that this state is underdeveloped, rife with violence, kidnapping, terrorist activities, extortion, poor road connectivity and communication facilities. The image of Nagas is also that of anti-Hindu and anti-national. I dream for the day when Nagas develop the proper perspective and positive approach to achieve the goal. The diversity and the variety of the ecology, the different Naga tribes with their unique life-styles, festivals, religious practices and customs concentrated in this small state is a boon for visitors by enabling them to explore and experience Nagaland without the problem of traveling great distances. The standard and availability of food and lodging is very basic as compared to other states but the hospitality and the outgoingness of the people can play a big role in this sector. The true history of Nagas and contributions of people like Dr. S.C. Jamir, Hokishe Sema, Vizol, J.B. Jasokie and the likes towards weaving the strong Bharatiya society in Nagaland should be proliferated.
6. Hornbill Festival :-
Hornbill Festival should be upgraded to the level of “Festival of Nagaland” to attract the essence of the state displaying splendor of rich and diverse cultural and religious life of its people. The Nagaland Government should endeavour to make it a people’s festival by giving it a multi-Bharatiya glimpse. With a view to encourage the preservation of indigenous faith and culture, the display of ancient religious practices and rituals should be organized for the world to know. The cultural troops from all the states of NE region, Sikkim and other states of the country are invited to participate and celebrate the festival collectively. The President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and all the Chief Ministers of participating states are invited on different occasions during the week-long religio-cultural programme. The cultural evenings are organized to showcase not only the cultural, culinary and aesthetic uniqueness of Nagaland but also rich cultural diversity of the country. Apart from cultural programmes, other major attractions of the festival are Food Festival with delicious janjati dishes exhibition on textile and handicraft products, flower/orchid show cum sale, traditional sports events, poem writing and painting competitions, display of modern technologies relevant to the state and NE region, book-fare etc. Hornbill festival – the Festival of Nagaland is festival of the people, by the people and for the people wherein socio-cultural and ancient religious values are encouraged. It is cautiously prevented from becoming a carnival festival. The Mela administration should be successful in curbing the indiscipline and punishing erring persons, sale and use of liquor, toxic drugs and body-baring programmes are banned.
In the fast changing world, the societies are fast transforming from exclusiveness to inclusiveness with their nature changing from local to regional, regional to national and national to global. The meaning of sovereignty and colonial should be properly understood now. Both these words are irrelevant today in the context of Naga secessionist movement because their own chosen people in the democratic set up are ruling the state defined by fixed boundaries and at the Center. People of all the Naga tribes are representing their societies in the state assembly and the parliament.
I dream for the realization of the truth to occur in the mind of underground leaders, political leaders, church leaders, executive class, media men and the civil society so that Nagaland moves alongwith whole nation destined to become super power in the world in the near future.
