Moa Jamir
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) and the Ao Senden, recently expressed concern over the President of India’s visit to Nagaland coinciding with the hundred and fiftieth anniversary (Sesquicentennial) celebration of the advent of Christianity in the Naga Hills.
The concerns are justified. The Sesquicentennial is slated from November 1-3, while the President of India Droupadi Murmu’s maiden visit to Nagaland after assuming office is scheduled from November 2-3.
It is also logical that the Government of Nagaland has issued a directive that all Administrative Heads of Departments (AHoDs), Heads of Departments (HoDs) to “positively” attend the civic reception of the President of India organised in Kohima on November 2. The departmental heads were further directed to give suitable instructions to all the officers and staff of their departments and directorates to also attend the reception, while various tribal bodies were also invited. The visit of the Head of State of India, by protocol or otherwise, undoubtedly demands the highest honour by any concerned state government or institution, with strict predetermined schedules and adherences.
The Sesquicentennial celebration, however, is not less momentous, if not more, if analysed from the citizens’ perspective of the pre-dominantly Christian State of Nagaland. As the NBCC asserted in a press release, the celebration is not only historic to a particular community, but the whole state in Nagaland, and beyond. While ABAM expressed its wish that the President’s visit is “postponed” for the benefit of all citizens, Ao Senden called the coincidence ‘unfortunate.’
It is unknown whether the visit was decided unilaterally or by invitation. Still, the possibility of such a visit first appeared in the public domain in September, when Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister made a courtesy call to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and invited President Murmu to the State, among others. The President, reportedly, then informed of her tour of the North-East States ‘very soon.’ Besides, in a parliamentary system, it is understood that while the Heads of State formally issue and accept invitations, it is usually done on the advice of the Head of Government, with consultation, for instance, with a concerned state government, institution and so on.
Regardless, most visits involve active advance coordination and planning with the President’s Secretariat, which “provides secretarial assistance to the President in discharging constitutional, ceremonial and other State responsibilities.” While one is not privy to such correspondence, it is quite unfortunate that both sides - either by oversight or otherwise, failed to appreciate the significance of the celebration for the state’s populace.
It is true that in a secular democracy, there exists a clear demarcation between the State and religion. However, India’s novel idea of secularism accords equal respect to all religions, with the constitutional guarantee of freedom to profess, practice and propagate. Accordingly, from the Naga's perspective, the clash of dates is perplexing and an outrageous oversight.
However, it is no use now to bicker over something, which is impending in a day or two. The best solution, as grudgingly suggested by three aforesaid organisations, is to offer a “viable alternative” and allow the community to celebrate free from interference” while simultaneously welcoming India’s Head of State with the highest honour.
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