Rev. Dr. S Temjen Imchen
Associate Professor of the Old Testament & Vice-Principal Serampore College, Theology Dept.
Prologue: The voice of the people is the voice of God too and it is supreme. People's voice is supreme because God dwells among His people and hears their cries for justice. In biblical times, the prophets (nebiim) of Israel spoke to people as messengers of Yahweh, the God of Israel. After the days of prophets, God used the priests (cohanim) for spiritual leadership. The priestly function was to mediate between God and the people. It is said that only the high priest had access through the curtain to the presence of God in "the Holiest of Holies" in Jerusalem temple. However, a new dispensation came when Jesus died, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. It was a picture that said Jesus has removed the barrier between humankind and God by his body. This transition is described in Hebrew 10:19 "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus." Jesus, the great high priest, grants access to God through the curtain of his body. Today, we the Protestant Christians believe in the priesthood of all believers (see 1 Pet 2:5). It means that Christ is in us. With this confidence, our Christian life should be active and not passive in the church as well as the society that we live.
For Naga Christians, with the lesson drawn from the biblical teaching on mediation, we are given the freedom to decide and speak for ourselves before the rulers of our state. People's voice is needed now because the rulers and many officials of the day care only for themselves and are habituated with rampant corruption. Like in the court of law, the public has every right to arbitrate and raise their voices against injustices that prevail in public offices. In the prevailing system of governance in Nagaland, there is a complete lack of trust by the common citizens on the state govt and most of the state machineries (various departments and directorates). The breach of trust by the Naga public on the government exists in two major arenas: corruption in public offices and "backdoor appointment" in the employment process. The former factor has resulted in the denial of people's right to live happily like any other economically advanced states and countries and the latter factor is the genesis of corruption in public offices. Disappointingly, the attention of this article's writer has been drawn through the newspapers and Naga blog-spots stating that there were allegedly repeated attempts to transfer the present Director General of Nagaland Police (DGP) seated at Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Kohima within the span of two-three months. From the available media outlets, it became clear that the top cop of our state does not want to take the "unjust orders" of some elected people's representatives in the matter of employment in police department. But the people know very well what is meant by the "unjust orders" from the Government. In perspective, the intention of my short article will not be so much on the names of public personalities involved, but will be questioning the ulterior motives of the powers-that-be that denies justice to the people through their abuse of power. How can the present imbroglio be solved? Let us respond to our conscience calls and reason it together by dealing with two perspectives from our social and religious lives with a warning.
1. God Listens to People's Voice in their Struggles
Yahweh ~ the God of Israel ~ listened to the cries of the Hebrews (early name for the Israelites) while they struggled in Egypt. The Israelites ~ under the leadership of Moses ~ called unto God and it was answered by way of giving freedom to them from the Egyptian bondage. To relate to the idea that God intervenes in human history, we can take a classic example from a wealth of the biblical texts dealing with God's response to people in crisis. In Exodus 3: 9-10, we rediscover a key text of God's deliverance of his people in biblical history which states: "The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." This text from the Old Testament reminds the readers of the Bible as to how the Hebrews (early name for the Israelites) called unto God, choosing of Moses as their leader and the response from Yahweh, the God of Israel. When he was in-charge of people's affairs, Moses raised his voice before Pharaoh by stating "Let my people go!" This demand for freedom was not only one time cry, but repeated pleas followed. It was. was people's voice and when he interceded with Pharaoh, there was God answered. When Moses. In the history of the people of God, the exodus (exit) of the Hebrews from the Egyptian bondage marks beginning of Israel as a unique people. It is the story of God's deliverance of his people from the clutches of Pharaoh - which is believed to have taken place in the 13th century B.C.E. Having rescued them, Yahweh guided them in the Wilderness for forty years and brought the descendants of Abraham to the Promised Land which was “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8; Numbers 14:8; Deuteronomy 31:20; Ezekiel 20:15). This period in biblical history also marks the beginning of Israel's socio-political history as a people on the face of the earth.
Also, earlier in the Book of Genesis, we can see a memorable example of God's help for people in distress. God provides water for Hagar and Ishmael. As Sarah got rid of Hagar and her son from their household after the birth of Isaac, they set off and wandered in the desert near Beersheba. Soon they ran out of bread and water and the little boy was about to die due to thirst. It is recorded that 'She said to herself, “I don’t want to watch the boy die.” So she sat down and sobbed loudly'(Gen 21:16). What happened next was that "God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water and gave the boy a drink." Thereafter, they lived on their lives in Paran, a desert in the north-eastern section of the Sinai peninsula (in Egypt today). It implies that no matter what if we call unto God, certainly there will be an answer from High Above.
Another inspiring lesson for deliverance is found in Psalm 50:15 which states, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify me.” God’s goal through our trials is to strengthen our dependence on Him. We must trust Him to work in the ways and in the time frame that will produce the most good in our lives and the most glory for His name. As we call to the Lord in our distress, He will deliver us. Listening to God's voice must take us believers to raise our voices in city squares for unjust practices in any given context.
2. People's Voice as God's Voice in Nagaland Today
"Without justice and love, peace will always be the great illusion" is a famous remark made by Archbishop Helder Pessoa Camara (see Cindy Trimm, The Forty Day Soul Fast Leader's Guide, 2012). The church leader from the Latin American country - Brazil made this statement in the context of establishing justice in their society. What is true in archbishop's message is that justice flows from God's heart and character. God's voice is eternally centred on the idea of justice, peace, loving-kindness, and many other positive values. As true and good, God seeks to make the object of his holy love whole. This is what motivates God throughout the Old and New Testaments in his judgments on sin and injustice. These judgments on human's misdeeds and unfairness are both individual and communal in extent.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever" (Isa. 32:17; cf. 66:12). What was preached by Isaiah in the eight century BCE was that God will do that which is right, according to His own Law, which is God, who cannot lie. In a similar vein, the prophet Amos proclaimed, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). Amos was known as the prophet of justice in the eight century BCE. Justice, between human and human, is what Yahweh/Lord demands: no ceremonial, however punctiliously observed, is a substitute in Yahweh’s eyes for moral duties.
Today, our Nagaland state is in chaos. There is only chaos in our land. In recent years, the people have raised their voices against injustices meted out to them. In other words, there is total lack of governance in most of the public offices and public life. Fifty five of Nagaland statehood has not delivered to the people of the state but what the Naga public has got is a complete lack of economic development. So, let us take a recap of some important areas which need our constant attention. The first area that people always talk about demand from the Govt is road development. There is no other Indian states like Nagaland which is reeling under extreme economic poverty. By natural and topographical considerations, Nagaland is a state filled with rich natural resources such as, green and thick forests, lots of mineral resources, rich flora and fauna, which are not tapped. Then, when it comes to people's culture, our state has one of the richest cultural history and potentials to showcase before the world. BUT, looking at the public road conditions. It is in big shambles. Will the state Govt still continue to ignore people's cry for good and better roads? The second major agency that needs people's hearing and action is the public distribution system (PDS). Are the people of the land getting the goodies? Instead of the equitable distribution of essential commodities to the massed at a cheapener rate, sadly it is for the rich merchants in the Marwari patty and stockists in the Railway colony. We remember that ACAUT Nagaland has taught the Civil Supplies dept a lesson or two, but the final result of recent people's protest is waited. The third area to look at seriously is the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC)! Is there fairness in the system? Only recently, the educated youths of Nagaland protested for the unjust method of employment at the state's premier employment seat. Through this employment commission, the educated lots must get their fair share of jobs. But unfortunately, not only NPSC but most of the directorates and departments under the GoN have been accused of "back door appointments" for so long.
PHQ in Kohima in recent weeks is the cynosure of all eyes for the entire people of Nagaland. Our attention is drawn by PHQ for the wrongs reasons, because of arrogance by one or two of our people's representatives in PDA govt for selfish motives, we have learnt. Nagaland police headquarters has been in the news for several months in 2018 due to repeated attempts to transfer the incumbent DGP. It turns out that the top cop of our state is so efficient, a corruption-free officer, and lovable person by Naga people. That's why, the youth and intellectuals of Nagaland have launched the signature campaign on June 18 (2018) in Dimapur, Kohima and many inputs from different cities of India where Nagas study, work and live. The signature campaign was held under the banner "Retain People's DGP: Shri Rupin Sharma, Director General of Police, Govt of Nagaland, 18th June, 2018" organized by Concerned People of Nagaland. The main purpose has been to plead the Govt to stop his transfer from Nagaland.
Conclusion: The lesson to be learnt from the present imbroglio is loud and clear for the rulers of the day. But there is a real danger for disobeying people's voice, because in people's voice, there is God's voice too. One example from the Bible for ruler's arrogance and disobeying people's cries for justice is found in Daniel 4:32. It warns: "You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will." It was a warning to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of ancient Babylon. Immediately, God's word was fulfilled. The word of God is a living word. So also, it is a warning to arrogant and unjust leaders of our times.
