We are living in a transitional period of evolution or Nagaism and tribalism of Naga Society. On 5th September, 2012, I interviewed my youngest son, 21 years doing MA in Delhi University as to whether he would adopt Mharemo Lotha or Mharemo Naga as his first priority choice. He instantly answered, Mharemo Naga. There is no dispute that Nagaland today is composed of sixteen tribes who believe in “Unity in Diversity” ethnically speaking.
When we retrospect, they have been practicing Christianity a religion of love with the Bible as the guide book with sixty six books with love as the theme ever since 1872. In the seventies however, Nagaland unfortunately landed up on the rock of fire of insurgency with much bloodshed. During which God revealed to few servants of God who came up with the movement of “Nagaland for Christ” revival campaign all over Nagaland. It was unfortunately misused by underground to kill one another turning “Nagaland for Satan” (John 10:10). Such mistake could be avoided henceforth.
Factually speaking, today, they are nature enough to withstand the evil onslaught of tribalism- a way of thinking or behaving in which people are more loyal to their tribe than to their friends, country or any other social group.
Tribalism makes a person to attack a very strong loyalty that someone feels for the group they belong to usually combined with the feeling of disliking all other groups or being different from them.
Such episodes have become the order of the day. For instance, the Ao, Sema incident of Mokokchung in 1994, the Lotha, Angami incident of Wokha in May, 2012 and the Sumi, Angami incident of Kohima Village on 31st August, 2012. If such incident continues unabated, the crux of the question remains, “Shall we go back to Naga headhunting culture of pre 1872 or build a new culture of Nagaism one Naga Nation based in the Bible?”. In this context, we are encouraged to see a new trend of young hearts, for example, Mharemo Naga, Alobo Naga and Band and the Naga Bloggers led by Yanpvuo Kikon. So that a better concept of Nagaism may emerge in the land based in the Bible with the community of love like the Early Christian Community who loved like a close knit family.
Through such power of love among them, they were able to turn the world upside down during their own time to the amazement of the mighty nations around them. Let us hope and pray that such God given conscience will prevail even among national workers to evolve a common national consensus based on love as the greatest force in the world. So that faith in the Almighty God- in God will lead us to become a mighty nation like the United States of America with fifty two States becoming just one super power nation based on the sovereignty of God.
Dr. E. Renphamo Lotha
Research Scholar, GSM
