It is understandable that professional obligation has rendered many intellectual Naga personalities as passive observers to the daily dramas that are being played out in the Indo-Naga political scene.
The cream of the Naga society are mostly administrators, bureaucrats, technocrats and various professionals owing allegiance to the State (India and Nagaland) each guided by own ethics and shackled to Indian constitutional obligations and duties as an Indian citizen.
The likes of Lion-hearted Subhas Chandra Bose, who abdicated the most prestigious Indian Civil Service job (British India Empire/Government) and assumed leading role in the heart of Indian freedom struggle. Such traits on eminent Naga personalities are yet to emerge due to varied genuine and compelling circumstances of the days.
The Nagas at this evolving/modernising juncture cannot afford to sacrifice any professionals of any kind to non-productive or honorary missions. Rather deficit of such qualified indigenous administrators/professionals are still lamentably felt.
The need to propel Nagas forward to be at par with the rest of fast-paced world and at the same time to intellectually and pragmatically steer the Naga’s struggle for freedom becomes a crucial dilemma. The firm historical and political rights of the Nagas remains impaired due to intellectual poverty. The lukewarm attitude of the Naga intelligentsia and choosing to remain aloof or neutral from the daily apathetic Indo-Naga political scenario has acutely affected the dynamism of the movement. The seemingly perpetual and abysmal factional conflict among the Nagas is also one major factor that has caused to repel intellectual participations and grooming from enlightened Nagas.
It may however be accepted that, the longer we dispense-with the cause, the farther we are shying away from the reality and the farther we distance the more aggravated becomes the suffering plight of the Nagas in common. Thousands of Nagas up in arms against India alone cannot ensure any tangible political accomplishments unless groomed and guided by intellectual insights with clear political road maps. In this aspect of the struggle, the poverty of critical thinking and analysis of the course of the cause, lack of philosophical leadership and failure to contemplate or envision holistic solutions to the issue are glaringly obvious and found much wanting.
Nevertheless, sincere efforts of some retired bureaucrats like, Thepulovi Solo (IFS), Khekiye Sema (IAS) etc, rendering their analytical evaluation on the ongoing impasse needs to be appreciated and digested.
More such enlightened Nagas should unreservedly begin examining the lacunae of the crisis despite the fatalities of the day’s turmoil and deep divisions from within. Whereas the inherent tendency of the Nagas to slant towards one’s tribal or communal interests on the contrary proves undesirable and causes mutual mistrusts that further compartmentalises the already fragmented state of isolationisms. Nationalism, thus becomes relegated to or secondary to one’s tribal dominion over others.
The torch bearing intellectuals at this stormy stage may therefore prioritise the common interests, issues and goals of the Nagas at large and tactfully stomp over factional agendas and schemes. Only then, our genuine aspiration can be salvaged from the throes of mis-representations and mis-interpretations of historical facts and political legacies by vested eccentrics who chooses to proclaim one’s individual tribal grandiose by taking advantages of the silence of intellects.
Moreover, trying to teach other Nagas, Naga history with high accolades to own tribal standings should once and for all be discouraged and avoided. High or low, mighty or weak, each Naga has sincerely sacrificed and contributed to the struggle in one’s own capacity, therefore the issue of one’s patriotic elitism over other Nagas never arises.
The need of the hour is to not constantly reflect upon the past-trying to justify the past blunders, but admits the mistakes and also acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions. Meantime, heal the wounds, wrap up guilty consciousness, restore mutual respect and acceptance and chart out clear political courses to encounter and assail any forces that may encumber our march to freedom and liberty. “KUKNALIM”
Isak Sumi
Personal opinion without malice towards any.
isaksumi@gmail.com.
