A Reflection on Naga National Movement
Once upon a time, a golden ring was given to left hand to wear. The left hand was so pleased that it would beautify all the left hand fingers. However, in the process to collecting the golden ring, each finger started claiming that it should wear and did not want other fingers to wear it. The thumb claimed that it should wear it because it is the biggest among them. The index-finger also claimed that it should wear it because it is the forefinger. The middle finger argued that it should wear it because it is the tallest among them. The ring finger claimed that it should wear it because it is the ring finger. The smallest finger also claimed to wear it because according to most Naga tradition, the youngest person inherits the house of the parents.
They were so selfish and had less concern for the common welfare. Each finger attempted to collect it by itself, but everyone failed to get it, because it cannot put the golden ring on it by itself. One day, they realized that all of them belong to the same hand. They realized that it was foolish to fight against each other and waste time. So they decided that they would collect the golden ring together and put it on the ring finger. Accordingly, they collected it together and put it on the ring finger. It beautified all of them and they rejoice together.
The Nagas being of the same race have the same goal to attain the self-government. However, in the process of struggling to reinstate their independence, they got divided on ideological differences and perhaps also on leadership crisis. Gradually hatred and enmity crept into the Naga National Movement. Some years back the national workers fought among themselves and public were also divided in support of one group against the others. The Nagas need to realize like that of the fingers that they belong to the same race and have common objective to achieve. Thus they must openly come together and work together to attain their desired goal. It is important to understand that the Nagas by nature cannot live under the suppression and dominance of someone else. If one group tries to suppress the others, unwanted things may happen again. The Nagas have been witnessing it. It is also not appropriate to bark behind others. As a concern citizen, I would appeal that all the groups must come together and work together for the benefit of all so that everyone will be benefitted and rejoice together.
Many Naga intellectuals have expressed that it would be wiser on the part of Government of India to invite all the stockholders to negotiation table instead of declaring one group as terrorist. Declaring a Naga group as terrorist may not bring any solution. Rather it would aggravate the situation. Also declaring Nagaland State as disturbed area and imposing ASPA is making Nagas to recollect the past Indo-Naga conflict where innocent Nagas were harassed, tortured, killed and their women were mercilessly raped and their houses and granaries were burnt into ashes. It is only creating fear-psychosis hatred. The policy of repression may not be the best possible way and means to contain violence. The only possible way may be treating all the groups equally, fairly and amicably work together towards permanent Indo-Naga settlement.
Yiepetso Wezah Pfutsero town
