Kaka D. Iralu
The Oxford dictionary and Thesaurus defines vanity as futility. Futility in turn means hopelessness and pointlessness of an attempt because of its unreasonableness. I am using the word vanity in this context. Now let us begin with India’s vanity in trying to produce an Indian race out of the Naga race.
This vanity on India’s part is no different from an Ostrich mother sitting over her eggs hoping that her eggs will eventually hatch into Peacock chicks in all their splendid colors! The Ostrich mother might even be thinking of naming her Peacock offspring as ‘Unity in Diversity”-a name that will symbolize India’s image of being a diversified nation of varied cultures but still one nation. But sadly, it is but a vain hope, because Ostrich eggs will always end in hatching Ostrich chicks. Yet in spite of all the overwhelming fact of biology and political science, the mythical Ostrich mother-Bharat Mata- has been sitting over her eggs for all the past 71 years in the vain hope that Nagas will finally become Indians! Ultimately the whole exercise is, but a myth and a vanity.
But of course, there is also the utter vanity and myth of Nagas crying for a solution of the Indo Naga conflict while all the time actively involved in the political affairs of the Indian state of Nagaland. Every sane Naga knows that our country is under occupation by the Indian government and her army. The sound of Helicopters and Jet fighters zooming across our territorial skies is a constant reminder to us all, that someone else is ruling over our independent country. But as long as we are enthusiastically involved in India’s rule over us, we are no different from the sight of Bharat Mata sitting over her Ostrich eggs hoping to hatch Peacock chicks! Tell me just how a country will regain her freedom and independence if the occupied country’s citizens will actively go on collaborating with the enemy’s forces? The whole exercise is but a self destructive exercise and it is also an act of utter vanity.
