Dimapur, October 1 (MExN): The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) recently concluded another talk as part of the Morung Dialogue series.
A press release from the NPMHR informed that the speakers invited were Dr Ngully, eminent Naga Elder; and Gam Shimray, noted Human Rights activist and Secretary General, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, (AIPP).
The talk focused on the need for an honest stock-taking and truth-telling by and of the Nagas; and the role of Human Rights principles in shedding light on this matter, informed a press release from the NPMHR.
Dr Ngully began by discussing the development of Naga consciousness of their distinct historical and political identity, a process that continues to this day; and how this has often clashed with narratives made by the British Empire and the Government of India regarding the Nagas. The violence of WW1 that the Naga Labour Corps observed in foreign lands, and the witnessing by Nagas of this war brought to their soil, in the Battle of Kohima and Imphal of WW2, left an indelible mark on the Naga consciousness. Dr Ngully remarked with irony that the former head-hunters had been astounded by the scale of this meaningless violence.
In continuation of this legacy, current generations must realize that we all live on time that has been borrowed from future generations, and that our past-present actions are bequeathed to them, he opined.
Dr Ngully observed that currently, “we witness a Central government that resolutely commits to boundaries being redrawn in J&K in an undemocratic manner, while the same Centre denies democracy to the Nagas that want to live together via redrawing of boundaries that would unite them.”
He stated that these ailments are due to the recent nature of the Indian experiment with democracy which still displays a youthful insecurity that tragically has not led to it claiming a true democracy for itself.
“On the other hand, Naga society ails due to the 3 elements of greed, fear and desire for power, and the divisions these create; more recently caused by introduction to negative aspects of the Market system. The repercussions of state oppression, in the form of mental trauma, that have been passed on through generations, and the vacuum created by a missing generation lost due to recourse to drugs, still affects Naga society,” he added.
Looking to the future, Dr Ngully stated that “we must realize Indians and Nagas will always be neighbours.”
“The divisions within Naga society, and the legitimacy crisis that Naga and Indian leaders face today, are due to the issue of identity not being addressed. It is the forging of a particular type of identity alone that is capable of leading us to our rightful destination; where wounds are healed and what our forebears had set out for us is attained. It is one which realizes it can be powerful, invulnerable and wealthy, only if the powerless, vulnerable and poor are uplifted,” he stated.
He concluded that this process depends crucially on truth-telling and bearing witness to history.
The NPMHR meanwhile said that Dr Ngully’s message as a Naga Elder must be read with cognizance that narratives are weighted by perspective, power and purpose.
“When narratives are told for a people and decisions are made that directly bear upon a people, reason would dictate that their perspective should assume utmost priority. The role of power in distorting the truth is also undeniable in the Naga experience. Who has wielded power thus far? And when narratives construct identities, we have observed the harmful purposes to which they can be lent. If we are to congregate around an identity it must be one that uplifts the dispossessed,” it added.
