N Thomas Lotha
CATZW Lakeview, Dimapur
As the world’s largest Democracy, the Republic of India, is embracing all hurdles on the road to becoming a superpower under the undisputed leadership of dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, it is interesting to observe that India’s GDP has increased substantially and today India’s purchasing power parity has increased, to a higher percentage from the past by several trillion dollars to promote India's global image. India, being a superpower in the making can be defined as having the extensive ability to exert influence on a global scale, therefore to establish India‘s position as a permanent member of the UN security Council is the ultimate objective it appears.
For achieving that ambitious target, Delhi perceives that a united India, politically and religiously, will be of great value. We find that expression of India’s unity through their places of worship scattered all across the country, such religious places of the Hindus like Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in the West, Rameswaram in the South and Jagannath Puri in the East represent the religious unity in India. It is interesting to read how Savarkar defined the concept of Hindu Rashtra. The concept of Hindu polity for the protection of Hindu people and their culture and emphasized that political and economic programs should be based on "Varna system" rather than concepts borrowed from the West. The first draft of the proposed constitution of the Hindu Nation by a group of Hindu eminent seers and Scholars at the Dharam Sansad held in Prayagraj is almost finalized which is being discussed and debated at Magh Mela 2023 to be held in Prayagraj. Since many eminent Scholars from various fields representing different regions from across India will be participating in the proposed debate on the first draft constitution on Hindu Nation based on Varna system at Magh Mela, let's hope, the draft approval committee will not commit any blunder to jeopardize India’s effort to establish itself as a permanent member of the UN security Council with the support of powerful Christian world and Muslim countries. Perhaps, the global community is keenly observing the present dispensation holding the reign of power in the centre, New Delhi, that is evidently pursuing the dismantlement of the system set by the Britishers in India.
Some drastic changes are visibly happening in India, which includes India emerging as powerful Hindu Rashtra. It is evidently clear the growing wealth, pan India, of godmen in various Hindu Trust. It is an undeniable fact that while pursuing the ambitious policy to make HINDUSTAN a super power, Delhi political think tank is determined to redefine Indian democracy in Its own terms, to strengthen the influence of the government upon its citizens and preparing to challenge the duopoly of US and China in a few decades.
Keeping in view of all these developments, let's reflect on the long pending Naga issue. Delhi knows that when there is division among the people, their strength will be turned into conflicting forces against each other to achieve their objective. It's time that every Naga retrospectively needs to review and remind ourselves that, a situation like ours today, needs tolerance, and understanding among the Nagas. Unity is the basis of a society and nationhood. No single community or tribe can achieve what a united people, tribe or community can perform together with a progressive mindset to establish a secure future in a fast changing India .Unity provides the people the certainty to resolve things for a brighter future, if the people work with complete trust, harmony and understanding then nothing is impossible to achieve. Nevertheless, when there's division among the people and when society is too cleaved apart, each of its member falls. In fact, Naga civilization is based on the structure of a closed and protected society, so unity amongst the various Naga community must be the major element that will help the survival of the peculiar ethnic Nagas. In this challenging situation, where Hindu jingoism is being promoted by certain section of Indian society, our undivided unity is crucial and the most significant aspect of every single circle of Nagas as an ethnic race. Unfortunately, conflicts, divisions and violence is a huge issue in Nagaland today. Why should there be so many underground factions, associations, unions and why Naga civil society is so segmented on community, region and tribal lines?
Do the Nagas really have religious, cultural or ideological differences amongst us?
There have been many pointless conflicts, divisions and act of violence that have killed thousands of our own fellow brothers and sisters in the name of the Naga freedom movement. As a result, today, Nagas are completely engulfed by uncertainty and are at a crossroad politically, socially and religiously.
Nagas are in a highly tricky situation inundated by an uncertain future. If the causes of these divisions are due to certain misunderstandings due to community stratification amongst the inherent classless Naga society, there's always a dignified way of dismantling the tribal or community stratification through socio-political processes unitedly by the Naga ourselves to eradicate the virus. Nevertheless, as of today's situation, there's a clear sign of dangerous disunity winning over the Nagas and consequently we seem to have surrendered our destiny to be determined by certain people who do not understand the basic history of the Nagas. Figuring out what is most important for survival of the Nagas with our inherent culture, ideology and faith in this challenging situation is crucial. When someone, no matter how well placed politically or economically, tells us what they think we should be doing for our future generation, we must remind ourselves that no one else but ,we, are the masters for determining our own destiny. It is time for Nagas to look up to people of Mizoram and Meghalaya, how they skillfully manage their situation so efficiently in safeguarding the interest of their respective states. So far, their leaderships has not been seen to be bowing down to anybody to govern their states. Naga intellectuals, politicians, underground leaders, church leaders and leaders of various civil society organizations need to think over why there are signs of such abrupt nonlinearities. Why are we Nagas being so divisive? Why Nagas are becoming so arrogant and intolerant against each other? Nonetheless, it is extremely important to remind ourselves that unity and teamwork are the mantras for achieving the desired objective for the future of any individual or the society. Of course, in our lifetime, we will come across many adversities and challenges, there is no telling when we will come face to face with people who have nothing but dangerous malice in their hearts for us.
Nagas are raised with a “natural code of ethics" for generations, and it has been the pride of the Nagas. It is an indispensible prerequisite for every Naga to live up to our promises and complete any tasks taken up with all sincerity without any interference from outsiders. Our forefathers, with their limited or almost non-existent education could, nonetheless, uphold the unity and dignity of the Nagas for many generations, guided by their blessed wisdom, without consulting with any outsiders. It is strongly observed that in this given Helter-Skelter scenario, we urgently need a redefining visionary and transformational leadership, which can unite the Nagas rather than creating divisions. The wise decision Nagas take today, shall create the brighter future that every Naga is dreaming of.
God Bless the Nagas.
.JPG)
