It is evident that we are today living in a cosmopolitan society where there is pluralism and multiplicity in almost every facet of social, tribal and political life. While, this diversity is beneficial in the sense that it enriches one’s knowledge of various tribes and cultures, yet the same diversity can also be used as convenient means by vested interests to divide people. We should not allow extremist elements to create inter-tribe discord. It is very important to stay clear of any form of communal ideology. For instance, the bedrock of communal ideology is based on the belief that people who follow the same religion (or tribe in our case) have common and thereby separate secular interest i.e. political, economic, social and cultural. And therefore, for these communalists, in a multi-tribal society like among the Nagas, the Aos, Angamis, Sumis or say Tangkhuls cannot have common secular interests and are bound to be opposed to each other. Such kind of propaganda and beliefs remain a threat to peaceful coexistence and harmonious dwellings and this must be defeated. Very recently the Chief Minister has warned that ‘narrow tribalism’ is the biggest threat to the Naga people’s existence.
Coming to our society, we should be immensely proud of the fact that majority of Nagas have stayed clear of such unwanted communal and tribal divide. In Nagaland all tribal groups are living in peaceful harmony and much credit goes to a vibrant civil society that we have—insuring to us a self protective mechanism centered on goodwill and tolerance. Invariably, this has allowed us to respond to crisis situations. We have to look at opportunities to continue working together, to strengthen the resolve towards peace and harmony. Yet challenges remain. This is particularly so because of the changing nature of our society—take for instance Dimapur which is a truly cosmopolitan city. How do we build respect for diversity and ensure peaceful co-existence is something that should not be lost sight of. Here, both the State and society including the different tribal groups also cannot ignore the problems arising out of socio-economic disparity and how illiteracy and abject poverty accelerates conflict and how this can be used to incite ethnic and tribal hatred.
On the other side of the spectrum, the importance of imbibing secular and shared values cannot be overlooked. As much as there were differences, yet shared values do exist among the Nagas and we should work on the commonalities. Also we need to promote a conception of good citizenship that will foster peace and tolerance. A good citizen is definitely an asset for peace and development. At the end it clearly comes down to being good human beings—which is the epitome of our Christian beliefs and also the solution to many of our problems. And so what does harmony mean to you and me? This is the most important question that we need to ask. And if we agree that harmony is vital for the peace, progress, and prosperity of our multi-tribal and multi-factional polity then the next step becomes much easier i.e. resolving to strengthen harmony through mutual tolerance, respect for diversity and understanding our differences yet looking at the prospect of our shared and common interest.
