Inevitably, Nagas aspires to live together as a People and Nation
Every generation has its own makings and failings, mistakes and regrets, destruction and constructions that shape the way of its people. No doubts Nagas are not exceptional. The Nagas have made, or mar their own society knowingly or unknowingly. The Nagas of today is the product of the past action and our action today will make our tomorrow.
When Nagas were living in their secluded own respective villages, the campaign message of Freedom struggle of all the Nagas was propagated by A.Z. Phizo, the people responded unitedly. He is said to have pronounced that all those who eats in wooden plates and drinks in bamboo cups are Naga brothers. They must come together and stand up to fight for their freedom from foreign occupational forces. Since then, Nagas have sacrificed many of their lives, suffered untold miseries in the hand of Indian Armies for the cause of the Naga Nation.
Today the Naga society is filled with confusion, corruption, disintegration and commotion like that of old Rome and Sodom. We are into serious and crucial time; a time to act responsibly for needed change. Change in the way we look at the problems as well as assuming solutions.
The Questions we must seriously consider are: Do the Nagas still blame and complain against India for dividing them into pieces; some in parts of Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Myanmar? Or are they dividing among themselves following India? What are Nagas doing today in their Home?
Views that, the Nagas are dividing themselves into different factions, some demanding from India a separate state within our own land of their own interest and in the interest of India. Apparently or in reality, Nagas have more of an attitude of dependency and less of responsibility as a people. How long will the Nagas remain in the state of dependency and immaturity? Is India the sole provider for the survival of the Nagas? Can we not have our own making and freedom?
The current state of affairs of the Naga society is chaotic signalling destruction ahead unless the trend is changed. The truth is that Nagas are not destined to be Indian neither by creation nor by subjection or subjugation. Therefore, the Nagas irrespective of their present location should strive to be united and remain integrated without territorial recognition in the spirit of brotherhood and family.
The facts that in the past, when Nagas were in deep ignorance and slumdering, their land have been divided without their consent. Further, the Nagas have committed a nightmare decision or induced condition to create an Indian state within their land. Subsequently, India impregnated Naga People Convention. The 16th point agreement therefore gave birth to an untimely illegitimate child of India called the Nagaland state of India. The demand for Naga integration is heightened and necessitated with the birth of an Indian state in Nagas’ land. Perceived that, the Naga people would have achieved their freedom and independent had they stick and stood their stand. Since the creation of the Indian state within the land of the Nagas in 1963, the need and demand for reintegrating of Nagalim has prompted the minds of the Nagas out of desperation and realisation of the broken state of the Nagas. This Agreement with the GOI has brought greater disagreements among the Nagas themselves. This is the first-Big-Blunder or surrender of the Nagas ever to have committed in the hands of India. Further, the Nagas have fallen again under the magic spelt of GOI in 1975. This time India called it Shillong Accord. For the Nagas, this was discord; the root of Naga factionalism. This second blunder or surrender was termed as sell-out of the Nagas’ right. However, that was signed under nightmare and sleeping-walk condition beclouded their minds with Indian bewitching spelt of threat and compulsion.
Now whatever be the past tomorrow is our future. We must be careful and must not commit any more blunders in the face of the world. The cause of the Naga struggle for freedom initiated and founded by our forbearers cannot be bought or sold for money or exchange with any amount of gold put together. It is life itself, priceless power of Freedom. With so much valued and matchless worth gained, We Nagas must not conform to Indian politic anymore but stand steadfast, truthful under any circumstance. We must be careful and wise not to make another mistakes that the poster generation would blame us.
The recent development (a demand for Frontier Nagaland state) in Nagaland state of India; born of discontentment, discrimination or deprivation as circumstances might have conditioned, is viewed as something endangering the integrity, unity and national ethic of the Naga people. Aware that, such separate state demand may create even another blunder like that of 16th Point Agreement.
I appeal to the reasoning of the ENPO to rethink the demand posed by them for a state within India to be curved out of Nagalim. The claim or stand point of ENPO to justify the demand on the basis that their areas were excluded areas during British time, meaning an un-administered areas not necessarily part of the present state of Nagaland or whatever be their genuine reasons, The facts, that Nagas are playing discriminative, selfish and jealous games against each other in their home state under India. What better solution, development, satisfaction or progress under India will it serve the people particularly eastern Nagas while still under the wilful spell of India?
The rest of the Nagas of the North, South and West (under Arunachal, Myanmar, Manipur and Assam) also suffers like you or even more than you do under Indian subjection and oppression. Naga brothers outside the present state of Nagaland are suffering untold miserable conditions under the Indian discriminative system of administration. However, they have forgone and relinquished their sectional need and gains for the sake of pursuing the greater cause of the Naga Nation. In comparison, you are much better off than those outside of Nagaland state. They are under subjection in the suppressive and hostile situation with the Indian in the states. Yet they remain united with the rest of the Nagas elsewhere. For instance, Zeliangrong people during 1980s under the aegis of Zeliangrong People Convention (ZPC) demanded for their separate Homeland (Statehood) which India has given assurance. Nevertheless, taking due consideration on the Importance of the Naga Nation, they have relinquished their demand and pursued the common cause of the Naga Nation, because they think and put Naga Nation above their sectional gain.
It may be wrong to think or believe that getting another new state within our land could bring blessings or solution to the people. Concern that, there could be greater chaos and frustrations our people may face or fall prey in the hands of India again. It is my earnest appeal that your eastern Naga people who suffer great hardships would make a big exemplary lead, taking the Naga Nation with the torch of steadfast courage and truth in the face of fierce oppositions, bewitching odds and tempting promises around and ahead of you. We have nothing to fear but the fear of compromising our hard earned rights and dignity as a people with Indian hypnotic circumstances and promises. By now with all lessons of blunders and untold sufferings experienced, we can stand better, stronger, and steadfast against all apparent solutions, promises or suppressive measures and we will not fall back to the same old path of bungle or mess-up condition.
It is noteworthy to mention, or point out that, our fellow Mongolian people living in China, Japan, korea, Thailand etc have been so advanced in their overall development whereas we are failing miserably far behind them in shame. This fact should awaken us to think outside the purview of Indian system of administration or Indian mentality. One thing we must be conscious of the fact that, we will not thrive on as a people and nation under Indian domination even if we remain under them for hundreds of years. We will remain in shame under Indian shadow in our Asian colour before the rest of our brethren Asian nations and the world. We have no other option but to struggle hard to survive as a Nation. Believe that, we can grow as a people and nation like the rest of our Mongolian brethrens.
At times, we tend to think that freedom or independent from India is impossible by looking within ourselves and sensing the strength of India before our face. But the truth is that, it is not the power of arms or money or any display of human power or threatening show that will destroy us or bring us victory. It is the interposing of divine power of truth that we uphold will save us and set us free. The harder we feel the blows the nearer and surer we are to the goal. Let us fight our common battle with undoubting will power and faith in the Victory.
Z.D.Bon, Dimapur, Nagaland
