I got a nation name ‘Naga’ and a tribe name ‘Rengma’ within that nation, like many other Nagas but cannot comprehend clearly as different scholars gives different views and opinions about ‘Naga’ as well as Rengma. Inspite of it, one thing is very clear about Nagas, that we have the same ancestry, when we listen to our traditional narration.
1. Tradition says that Nagas had the same ancestry in the beginning before migration to the present place. Nagas migrated to the present place of settlement batch after batch, taking different routes, after killing a tiger that guarded the outer end of a hole of earth passage.
2. Though we speak different diverse languages, making us appears to be of different diverse people yet because of the same ancestry, known each other and address each other in our own tongue as under.
i. Angami as an official tribe name was known by themselves as Tenyime but was known as Rengmas as Tsügenyu / Tsoni, by Sema as Tsüngumi and by Lotha as Tsongu.
ii. Rengma as an official tribe name was known by themselves as Nyonyu/Nthini, but known by Angami as Mejame, by Sema as Mejume and by Lotha as Moi.
iii. Lotha as an official tribe name was known by themselves as Kyong but known by Rengma as Tsügwenyu/ Kini and by Sema as Chuwami.
iv. Sema as an official tribe name was known by themselves as Sümi but was known by Angami as Seme, by Lotha as Chem and by Rengma as Shemu/ Shama.
3. Inspite of different linguistic group, we have common traits, common ancestry and common traditional narration supporting oneness. As a Christian, I take Christian historical account of mankind disbursement with different languages at the time of Babel Tower construction. The word Babel bears the meaning of confusion, confusion cause out of different languages, turning people to understand each other, hence the disbursement. Prof. H. Hutton has given a sound remark that linguistic distinction among the Naga tribes and sub- groups can hardly be said as a correspond to sort of racial distinction and monosyllabic languages like those of Naga group grow apart from one another very rapidly, particularly under conditions of isolation such as obtained till recently in the Naga Hills.
4. We Nagas were head- hunters but for how many centuries are not known. Our traditional narration also does not throw any light on this matter prior to our settlement in the present respective tribe territory. Therefore, it is possible that the height of head-hunting among Nagas was during land settlement in the present respective locations. We know that head- hunting was intermittent, whether by individual or by group or village or combine head- hunting.
5. Each Naga village was independent of other village in the affairs of village administration but in the matter of warfare, smaller village were ally to the bigger village of the same community. Therefore, in some community, chief Angh etc. existed, looking after the well being of villages under such chief or Angh.
6. Inspite of intermittent wars there existed love affairs, marriages, exchange of visits, gifts, trade, keeping bosom friends, social exchange in the form of feast and treaty, receiving and entertaining guests, protection of fugitive taken refuge in the village and migration either individual or group or clan to another community and becoming the sons of the soil of the village where they were receive.
Therefore, inspite of warfare, uncertainty, fear, unforeseen events, there existed discipline and decency of life in Naga community Naga traits of honesty, trust, truthfulness, humanity, loyalty, straight forwardness, faithfulness, self respect, honour, boldness, hospitality and humour was appreciated by the Britishers.
7. The Britishers set foot in our soil when the different tribes had already own territory of land except few places or locations where the contending parties lay claim. I should say that the Britishers came to our Naga land at the tail end of territorial sizing of each tribe for which some tribes welcome them and some tribes opposed them as an intruder.
8. The British while conducting survey found us in such condition that they could easily identified each language group under specific localities that they gave us different tribe names accordingly and put in their record as we found now. They also divided boundaries of each village and each tribe during their time. The area of land which previously occupied by a tribe but began thinly populated but falls under such tribe were declared as reserved forests.
9. While considering the increase of number of villages comparing to less number of villages during British time, it can be attributed to the following:
i. Expulsion of converts to have separate village,
ii. School and Christian centers becoming village like and subsequently became a village.
iii. Better administration, communication and peaceful atmosphere.
iv. Increase of population.
v. Internal feud within a village.
vi. The desire to become village head making such person to lead out people to establish a village after him.
vii. Hunt for better location and area of cultivation.
viii. Unforeseen reasons.
10. During British time, Naga Hills become a district in 1866 merged with Rengma Hills. But all Naga areas were not brought under Naga Hills administration. The Britisher enforced inner line regulation Act of Bengal 1873 for Nagas from being exploited by others, which act is still enforced in Nagaland.
11. While under British administration during World war –I, labour corps was raised and thousand of Nagas were enrolled to work outside India, during which Naga became more closer after knowing each other better among the different communities. In the meantime, some Nagas became educated who started to submit memorandum for Naga destiny in 1929 which ultimately let to formation of NNC and NPC (Naga Peoples’ Convention)
12. India, Pakistan and Burma got independence in 1947 where by Nagas were divided and placed under two independent countries Burma and India. But Nagas continued to put forward Naga problem before India in1958, 16 point Agreement was signed between NPC and GOI. Accordingly, as per the agreement, Nagaland become a state in 1963 with special constitutional provision of Article 371(A), as under: Not withstanding anything in this constitution:
a. No act of parliament in respect of:
1. Religious or social practices of Nagas,
2. Naga customary law and procedure,
3. Administration of civil and Criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga Customary Law,
4. Ownership and transfer of land and its resources shall apply unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by resolution so decides.
13. GOI has fulfilled NPC demand but still to fulfill clause 12 and 13 for which Nagaland State Legislative Assembly had passed resolution several times in support of those clauses for fulfillment. Clauses: 12 – Transfer of Reserve Forests and 13- Consolidation of contagious Naga Areas.
14. It is seen that GOI is failing in two counts:
I. Non fulfillment of Clauses 12 and 13 of the agreed document and
II. Non respect of empower Nagaland State legislative Assembly Resolutions in support of the agreed document under which, Nagaland was born with Special Constitutional Provision.
15. Our Religious and Social Procedures are protected.
Our Customary Law and Procedures are protected.
Our administration of Civil and Criminal justice is protected.
Our Ownership of land and transfer and its resources are protected.
We are protected from exploitation by enforcement of Inner Line Regulation Act 1873.
As per the Special Constitutional Provision as above ‘No Act of Parliament’ can be enforced in Nagaland with Regard to the above, unless the State Assembly so decides. Therefore, Nagas destiny lies in the hands of the legislators.
16. Traditionally, when both Governments fails (GOI and Nagaland) to fully implement its commitment and the provisions of the Constitution of India, it is literal exploitation which we are experiencing now.
Nagas are now literally being exploited racially, Socially Economically, Culturally, Religiously, Customary practices of Justice, land and its resources through Munas (Guny bags), Kumcha, Dukuri, Dhoti, Kurtha, Pajamas, sari etc. etc.
17. GOI recognizes our culture, tradition, costume, law, land and its resources, religion, social practices and even inflow of non Nagas to Nagaland to protect our identity and from being exploited. But Nagas are being literally exploited now. We our self are responsible. We should blame ourself but the first blame will have to be on the authority and Nagas leaders who are failing to protect us. What is it that the ignorant people are trying to enforce ILP to be effective in some corners of Nagaland. Should the Act faces a natural death in our time or get a better response from the concern authority?
18. Considering the state physical areas, Dimapur, formally under Rengma Hills, Merged to Naga Hills district in 1930, which is in Nagaland state then, should have been administered under the purview of the Act Inner Line Regulation Act which is not done. Which is why, Dimapur has become the sorrow of Nagaland. It is Nagaland or Nagalandesh? When the Act is not enforce, it is not Nagaland in the real sense.
19. We are proud for being a Naga and Christian because of the provision of the special constitution and enforced law (ILP) but we would be like other Indian when the special constitutional provision and enforced law is not accepted and present Dimapur condition is exactly so.
20. With all honesty and malice to none, I wish to touch one sensitive issue. Nagas are Nagas and GOI has actually recognized it in 1958. Nagas are not two or three but one. But we are making many Nagas through our action and inaction, therefore, Nagaland has become an open ground for all evils, specially Dimapur. We don’t have any common platform now. The so called common platform both overground and underground is a divided platform. It is better to be a Naga than a tribe. It is better to be Nagas conscious than party conscious. Better reason together otherwise, prayer and fasting, forgive and forget, reconciliation, unification, Hohos, forums, organization etc. method will not work because behind all these something might be lurking. Therefore, even if solution is found, we Nagas will relapse, till we accept we are but one.
21. Lastly, I wish that we have one common language to have a feeling of oneness because it is a language that ultimately identifies a people. Luckily we have a common language called Nagamese which some people scorn it as only the languia franca but even then it is our common language. This hybrid Nagamese should have been taken as a blessing for Nagas. The only problem we have is, lack of panel or Board to develop it into a standard language. I would suggest that state Govt. adopt it as official Common language and develop it by Constituting ‘Panel Board for development of Phonetic, word pattern, spelling pattern, Grammar and thereafter, literature like Hindi.
22. Hindi as we know was not Indian Common language before but develop language out of Urdu, Sanskrit and other language during the time of Akbar and Babar for use among the diverse language speaking soldiers of Maughal of their time, which in the long run became a developed language, thereby under three language formula, recommended by commission, was accepted and declared Indian Common language by GOI, with opposition from some pockets.
Nagaland also can adopt the three language Formula method of India, English as Official, Nagamese as common and Mother tongue.
23. If I am not mistaken Nagamese was also came to be a language, out of Assamese, Bengali, Hindi and other. Whether we like it or not, accept it as official Common Language or not, it will continue to be used as common language and will be spoken in the Legislative Assembly Session even, without objection.
24. CONCLUSION:
If we are not aware and became awake by now our Naga problems and issues and continues to procrastinate, by the time we awake, we will find our self too late, because, by then we will find that our children complexion will be no more yellow but black, sporting mustache, chewing talab, kutha, khaini, tamul, pan, eating roti, magi, Chow, sambhar, loaf etc. and sometime rice without pork. Ahoni, Rhüchon, Anushi etc. had been replaced with masala. They would be found drinking adulterated chemical rum, beer, brandy, whisky, etc. instead of Rohi and Zütho.
Our people would be found running brisk business on cows, goat, chicken, fish etc. would use love potion by both male and female and have many black children and aids will be rampant, who will eat up all the marine in the rivers, ponds; will destroy all vegetation though logging, extraction of stone ferry bamboo and even hills will be leveled and turn to low land. Even Dhanseri river course will be changed to suit our propose. We will also go to the temple, mosque to worship and will celebrate festival and pujas after puja. It will be a land of khushi, khushi. Full of chors and cheats. Then there will be no botheration of Special Constitution Provision 371 (A) And ILP problem and then there would be no more administration and Municipal council to fix market rate without follow-up action, no students Union will frame rules to be violated. When we will be thus having happy joyous life enjoying at Dimapur, Lohorijan, Khathkati and elsewhere, the time to open the gate of heaven being up, Jesus will come again to the land of Khushi – Khushi, chor and cheats but will go back empty handed for not finding any Naga Christian in the land of Nagaland for Christ on account of change of their title into Ali, Sharma, Bahadur, Sing etc. after baptizing in the river of Dhanseri and confirmed by celebration in the area of Disturb Area Belt of Meyaland. Then I will have no more story to tell and no more song to sing. Ah! What tragedy! Nagas are the casualties. Amen.
Khillo. G. Rengma | Duncan Basti
