Apropos to the Article” ENSF Protest s EAC Post for Non Eastern Naga” on 17th June, The Morung Express, I, as a concern Naga Citizen would like to draw the attention of our concern authorities as well as to all my Naga brothers and sisters.
First of all, unless we want to follow the Indian administrative system before we got our so called Sovereignty, it is high time we develop a proper administrative system for our Society and land. As far as my understanding is concern, we, Nagas do not have any established law or system on adoption or granting Citizenship to anyone. Naga follows a patrilineal system and when a Naga woman married a Non Naga, she is no longer a Naga by virtue of her marriage to a Non Naga. Also, by marrying a Naga woman, a Non Naga cannot become a Naga. They cannot be officially called a Naga and then avail the quota and other facilities that are provided to the tribal/Nagas.
Also, by virtue of her marriage to a Non Naga, all her children shall also be Non Naga.
If the so called Mr. Relise Sangatam ( mentioned in the paper) can claim to be a Naga because he has got a Naga Name, what about all the Mary’s, John’s Aaron Abbigail , Benjamin, Sarah, Rachel, Abraham in Nagalim or elsewhere as this names are Jews Name. Can they claim to be Jews because they have got Jews name. Should we send them to Israel or wherever their name belongs to? As a democratic Country, anyone can have any name, but that does not necessarily mean that they have become the nationality or community of this or that Country or Community. We, Naga should be aware before it is too late.
To cite another example, in various seminars or programs that I joined and various govt. employees I came across, I have met a number of Akatos, Ngullies, Merens, Tsizolies, Nezotes etc.(not real names, only for reference) who are not clearly Nagas by their looks and they are holding government jobs. I wonder if these people have also robbed the job of our genuine bothers and sisters by adopting our Naga names thereby availing the quotas which are solely for us. Just by adopting or having a Naga name, one cannot be a Naga or claim to be a Naga. If any of our Naga family wants to adopt any non Naga to their family, they should follow the adoption system as laid down by the government. Unless otherwise, they are not Naga even if they have a Naga name or are raised by a Naga family.
Another problem is illegal migrants who marry a Naga woman and then claim to be a Naga by adopting a Naga name. Whether we like it or not, Nagaland at present is a State under the Indian union. There are guidelines for immigration or to change of Nationality and a family or a village/ community just simply cannot and are not authorized to give the right of citizenship to any foreigners! What are we Nagas doing?
Wake up and face the reality dear brothers and sisters.
There has been a lot of noise on illegal migrants issue in Nagaland in the last few months and I would like to congratulate the Naga Council for taking up the bold issue. At the same time, I also would like to ask them to take up the issue that has been mentioned above and provide clear informations to general public. We, Naga should come out clearly whether any non Naga can claim to be a Naga by adopting a Naga Name, by marrying a Naga woman and those who were adopted by our Naga families unofficially. Time to wake up now.
Kudos to Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) and Naga Council.
Long Live Nagaland. Kuknalim!!!!!!!!.
A concern Citizen,
William Durei,
Ward no-1, Block-1, Chumukedima,
Dimapur, Nagaland.
