Thursday July 21, 2005 will be remembered as an auspicious day for the thousands and millions who yearn for peace and a more caring society towards the poor and downtrodden. Indeed, Nagaland on this day stood proud as two noted social workers from the State received recognition from national and international fora for their outstanding contribution to the society. Nobel Peace Prize nominee Neidonuo Angami and Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Awardee Zaputuo-u Angami, symbolize the inherent desire of Naga woman to bring change and reformation in our society. Indeed Governor Shyamal Datta best described the two ladies; as godly and magnanimous serving the welfare of people by their dedication and making that difference in society. It must have been a moment to savour particularly for Datta knowing his great admiration for women in Naga society and the admiration he had publicly stated on several occasions. During a seminar on social harmony about two years ago, the Governor gave an interesting perspective on how in general, the Naga man’s mind was conditioned by realities of the ground situation such as security or protecting one’s village. On the other hand he was of the opinion that a Naga woman’s mind was more conditioned by things that went to make a relationship. This, he had said, was the key ingredient in promoting peace and harmony.
Woman is by nature is a pacifist. If women were at the helm of affairs all over the world war as a means of settling disputes is bound to be outlawed but that is a far cry yet. Yet today when our society desperately wants peace in our troubled land the greatest contribution can come from Naga women by virtue of their natural gifts of intelligent persuasion, sympathy and love. Indeed women can prove the best teachers in propagating peace in our land. Their contribution in the field of social welfare is also noteworthy. It is now well established that Naga women are hard working, willing to take hardships, efficient and in the habit of putting heart and soul in whatever they undertake. By their sincerity they are now winning laurels in art, literature, philosophy, music, painting, science, administration and medicine.
As compared to other states we can claim that the status of women is much better off. According to the State Human Development Report 2004, Nagaland does not conform to the general perception of women’s status in India. Apart from traditional practices that have generally cared for women and the girl child, the State has successful achievements in the fields of literacy, increasing sex ratio, health and entrepreneur development. However one area of concern is that they continue to be excluded from decision making processes and in this sense Naga women have played a limited role in institutional politics. The absence of women legislators in all the 10 State Legislature since Statehood in 1963 is significant. Hopefully with their participation in local bodies and their even greater numbers in social service would change as more women become familiar with issues of governance at this grass root level.
It is said that a woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected and near his heart to be loved. It is a truism to say that the worth on any society can be judged from the position that it gives to women. Since a child’s education starts in the womb and the impressions formed in the mind of a child while on the mother’s arms are permanent and indelible, our mothers have to play a role of vital importance. There are many more women like Neidonuo Angami and Zaputuo-u Angami and they should be emulated if we are to secure a more peaceful and humane society.