Dr Asangba Tzüdir
The issue related to Rongmei tribe recognition has for some time threatened the political fabric of our society culminating in a huge crisis within the Naga Hoho. However, concealed in a deceptive veil, this issue took centrestage as an ‘immediate cause’ of the crisis within Naga Hoho. The Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) took the first move by dissociating itself from Naga Hoho citing failure to respond to the issue by Naga Hoho within a given stipulated time. This was followed by the Apex tribe bodies of Lotha, Sema and the Ao’s, and further rift within these Apex tribes only highlights the ongoing power struggle between ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ within the political undercurrents of peoples mandate. The crisis has now really gained momentum, and on the part of Naga Hoho, what could have been a possible though immediate measure, was to douse the fire by way of responding to CNTC within their given time frame. That didn’t happen, a crucial move left wanted. It was only when the situational crisis blew out of proportion that the Naga Hoho came up with their ‘not so diplomatic’ nor convincing response to CNTC and by which time it was late and the issue is now seemingly breeding like that of a BODMAS equation.
Well, from the present crisis, certain positives can be drawn. That, there were groups who ‘disagreed’ to the dissociation somehow changes or halt the course of the political undercurrents. Nonetheless, we can only hope for the best to come out of the present crisis. We are once again reminded of what Mark Twain had said… “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, reflect ad reform.” The present crisis has served as a reminder about the importance of voices and mandate of the people and most pressingly, the need for debates and dialogue. That issues concerning peoples’ will not produce the desired result if it comes through the ‘political will’ of the selected few at the top.
Now, the plea from the respective legislators having failed, the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly Cabinet has now formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) to examine the tribe recognition issue in the state with the Cabinet Secretary Pankaj Kumar saying that the CSC will consist of nine Cabinet members who will look into the matter “in all its aspects.” As a recap, the CSC seems to have taken stock of the earlier developments by taking into consideration the fact about the “recognition of Rongmei Tribe as one of the tribes of Nagaland” previously made by the Cabinet on July 23, 2012 and further noting that the matter was under litigation in the Guwahati High Court (Zeliang People Organization Vs. State of Nagaland and Ors). Interestingly, the Cabinet Secretary informed that the report of the Cabinet Committee constituted on April 3, 2014, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to examine the issues relating to recognition of tribes was yet to submit its report.
So, another committee is pressed into ‘action’ in order to ‘examine’ the issue related to tribe recognition. Firstly, forming a new committee may only, to an extent, withhold the crisis. Secondly, the committee has been formed to ‘examine’ the tribe recognition in the state. Considering the current situation, the word ‘examine’ sounds very politically incorrect in the context of ‘resolving’ the present crisis. Thirdly, and in response to the first and second, a possible way out of this crisis, so also the Rongmei tribe recognition should be based on ‘historical facts’ and not on, any ‘political propaganda’ or prejudices.
George Orwell once said, “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful…” Thus, the present crisis calls for one to ‘pause and reflect’ and think ahead within a broad rationale frame in charting a way forward. It is also time to sincerely address the political predicament where each and every individual is a part of the ongoing process in the quest for a ‘politically qualified life.’
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
