•-What is the yardstick used to measure the reservation of seat among the Nagas? Is it the advent of Christianity and spread of western education or the seemingly inherent paradoxical parochialism of clinging to tradition?
The history of Indian society is a case of caste division. For thousands of years, Shudras, landless laborers, adivasis etc were the subject of oppression and exploitation. This social division got ingrained to a sort of religious sanction and the status and privileges became the monopoly of the elite class. Therefore when India became a democratic republic based on liberty equality and fraternity, it became necessary to bridge the divide and formulate policies to uplift their social and economic condition based on equality.
But the Naga history has never been of domination, exploitation or subjugation of one tribe or a group of tribes by another nor has it been a case of hierarchical division. It has never been hegemonic as we fiercely guarded and defended our rights to be free. As such each village was a democratic republic with an agricultural economy. Property ownership was both private and community owned.
Since statehood each tribe or district has been given representation on the basis of population, equal amount of development funds allocated, each village has VDBs, provision for schools, health centers etc are provided. Therefore from where the question of reservation arose in our society is a wonder and that too on the lines of advance and backward. Was it education and government jobs, which except for few post allocated through competitive exams the rest goes to those who holds the key. That is those with links in the right places. And regarding development, my villagers still walk the miles to Assam to sell agro products and brooms spending the night along the way to get CIVILISE GOODS. There is one NST bus which goes for a long vacation during the rainy seasons.
Let us be sane and wake up to reality. What we need is not reservation but a collective consciousness to our rights and awakening against corruptions to what is due to us beginning from the village levels. The ministers are our representatives and the different departments are there to serve our varied needs. If they are not dispensing their responsibilities then its our collective failure. It’s not about reservation but about enlightenment and change. The need of the hour is to stand up against corruption and well to be honest… dignity of labour!!!
Aaron Kikon
The history of Indian society is a case of caste division. For thousands of years, Shudras, landless laborers, adivasis etc were the subject of oppression and exploitation. This social division got ingrained to a sort of religious sanction and the status and privileges became the monopoly of the elite class. Therefore when India became a democratic republic based on liberty equality and fraternity, it became necessary to bridge the divide and formulate policies to uplift their social and economic condition based on equality.
But the Naga history has never been of domination, exploitation or subjugation of one tribe or a group of tribes by another nor has it been a case of hierarchical division. It has never been hegemonic as we fiercely guarded and defended our rights to be free. As such each village was a democratic republic with an agricultural economy. Property ownership was both private and community owned.
Since statehood each tribe or district has been given representation on the basis of population, equal amount of development funds allocated, each village has VDBs, provision for schools, health centers etc are provided. Therefore from where the question of reservation arose in our society is a wonder and that too on the lines of advance and backward. Was it education and government jobs, which except for few post allocated through competitive exams the rest goes to those who holds the key. That is those with links in the right places. And regarding development, my villagers still walk the miles to Assam to sell agro products and brooms spending the night along the way to get CIVILISE GOODS. There is one NST bus which goes for a long vacation during the rainy seasons.
Let us be sane and wake up to reality. What we need is not reservation but a collective consciousness to our rights and awakening against corruptions to what is due to us beginning from the village levels. The ministers are our representatives and the different departments are there to serve our varied needs. If they are not dispensing their responsibilities then its our collective failure. It’s not about reservation but about enlightenment and change. The need of the hour is to stand up against corruption and well to be honest… dignity of labour!!!
Aaron Kikon
