Monalisa Changkija
Every so often, the ugly creases and cracks on the comical façade we wear so deftly emerge exposing unpalatable but irrefutable truths. Threats directed at Rosemary Dzuvichu particularly and generally other feminists, young and old, in a Facebook post a few says ago, is one such unpalatable but irrefutable truth that requires unambiguous strong and stringent response by the Naga society and State. Yes, Naga society is patriarchal, which has seeped into the visible and invisible crevices of the Naga State. So the venom and hate spewed at women, particularly at feminists is a red flag of the deepest underbelly of our customary, cultural, traditional and religious beliefs and practices. This by itself questions our moral compass and value system. Consider how many decades it took enable women’s political participation and the roadblocks that still continue to prevent women’s full participation in numerous other socio-cultural, customary, traditional, political and economic spheres. And, let us not forget that if the Supreme Court had not mandated women’s participation in Urban Local Bodies, (ULBs), our State Government would have willingly continued to be held at ransom by anti-women groups that distort customary laws.
The Facebook post threatening Dzuvichu and other women/feminists emanates from this very same antediluvian anti-women, sexist and misogynist mindset, which for a very long time has been passed off and perpetuated as Naga culture. Said post also exposes the deeply nurtured and cherished belief of the second class-ship of women in Naga society and State. The Church too is deeply embedded in our customary, cultural and traditional ethos thereby not only diverting and distorting Christ’s inclusive teachings but also enabling and perpetuating women’s marginalization. When women are excluded and marginalized as half-human and when women’s personhood is rejected and reviled in our much acclaimed ‘Christian’ State, not only women’s vulnerability is heightened but the Christian principles are also denigrated. It’s much like making a show of grief at Christ’s crucifixion but spitting at the Cross when no one is looking. Our society’s hypocrisy cannot descend to deeper depths and greater heights.
While the culprit has been arrested for which our Police, especially the Cybercrime Branch, must be lauded, let us be very clear that the matter cannot end here. The full force of the relevant laws must be brought to bear upon the culprit and he must be made an example to deter others from similar acts of violence against women. No one must also make attempts to arrive at a ‘compromise’ or plead for “forgive and forget’. Too many criminals and hate-mongers have been allowed to go scot free by ‘compromises’, the misplaced principle of ‘forgive and forget’, intimidation of victims and buying of silence. Naga society and State must strictly abide by the rule of law and Christian principles and moral compass and ensure that wrongdoers face the consequences. This is the core of justice and none should be allowed and enabled to stand in the way of justice. But do we have even a small bone of truth and honesty in us? Do we understand the democratic principles of rights, freedom, equality and tolerance?
For far too long Naga women have been living under the shadow of constant threats from within and without the home. This must stop. No society or State can call itself democratic or Christian when threat is a currency liberally used to suppress and oppress women and all other vulnerable sections of society in the name of customs, culture and tradition, as also by the use of money and muscle power. If such tactics are used to intimidate women and other vulnerable sections of society, how can men claim to be the superior sex? If this ‘superiority’ is based on the ability to bully and browbeat just to appropriate and apportion all rights, freedoms and power to themselves, then this ‘superiority’ balloon must be punctured forthwith. And the only way to do this is to call them out and deal with them legally without prejudice.
Both the educated and the uneducated ~ men and women ~ are anti-feminism and anti-feminist without knowing what feminism is all about. See, ignorance begets hatred and othering. Naga and any feminist would welcome a democratic discourse on feminism if based of knowledge. If not based on knowledge, anti-feminism and anti-feminist is just an exercise in creating bogeys and enemies and we know that it serves so many purposes and interests to create enemies and blame them for our own lacks and divert attention from our inadequacies and deficiencies. While, social media is an asset, it is also misused to pour venom and hate and create trouble from the safety of our little world ~ quite often anonymously because only cowards seek shelter in anonymity. So the trolling, the shaming and the attacks on social media on women go on unabatedly. This too must stop. The mechanism to identify such bullies and haters on social media must be fully utilized. Such attacks and threats, including the above-mentioned threats to Rosemary Dzuvichu, in such vile language further reveal the quality and level of education in our society and State. It also reveals that anyone can learn to use social media but very few have acquired genuine education, much less knowledge and wisdom, to use technology fruitfully.
It is time to rein in the increasing section of elements in our society and State, who believe that they can get away with anything, say anything and indulge in repulsive behavior as a birthright and an entitlement. All these go to prove that never has the need for feminist ethos been direr in Nagaland as now. But I am not about to elucidate the feminist ethos here ~ go educate yourself. And yes, the threat to Dzuvichu and other feminists is personal because a lot of us have been living under such threats in our personal and professional lives for a very long time therefore these haters must be called and dealt with appropriately and promptly ~ there is no place for parochialism, bigotry, discrimination and exclusionism in this age and time. And we simply cannot be silenced.
(The writer is a journalist, poet and former Editor of Nagaland Page)
