Kekhrie Yhome
NSCN-IM hates Congress. These emotions become more visible when election approaches! Therefore, the surprise! With barely a month to punch the EVM buttons, what went largely unnoticed was the 20th January 2013 declaration by NSCN-IM, as a signatory to “Naga Concordant” – unilaterally announcing abstinence from the overflowing cup of Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections. Does the election wine smell stale this time?
Does it imply a new flirtatious romance with Congress, which alone stands to profit from such announcement? Is it to be politically seen, as the return of the prodigal son, much to a teary-eyed fatherly blinded NSCN-IM, whose primogeniture blessings were sadly and regrettably given to the younger son, only to be realized after its Collective Leadership met with NPCC Supremos in the autumn of 2012 Delhi? Or, is the NSCN-IM finally weaning away its motherly indulgences to its sunshine boy, NPF, now seen as healthy and mature enough – after 10 years of suckling and feeding?
Or, more puzzling still, why such selfless offering to undertake a kind of prayerful election fasting – needlessly postmarked too, carefully, with a courteous public notice, by promising to desist from elections! Will this mark a revival of NSCN-IM’s politics – that Indian Elections and Naga Politics are irreconcilable entities, never the twain shall they meet? Poignant, like the retorting bridge of no return given by Miss Adino Phizo to Chief Minister Rio, during a side-event while visiting 2012 Olympics, while attempting his best to convince her to return “home”: “Is your puppet government inviting me?” Is forming puppet government too low a politics for NSCN-IM, now?
ssembly election has no doubt become the biggest and longest celebrated adult festival in Nagaland. This comes in terms of expenses, animals butchered, social mobilization, campaign and preparatory durations. Loyalties are tested – and accordingly the seasons of five springs are measured. Immeasurable passions are, no doubt, involved – in electing a largest majority single leader, as an exercise of democratic right and practice, till the formation of a simple majority government, by distilling leadership and party affiliation. Parliamentary democracy is as new to the Indians as it is to the Nagas – the only line that has historically divided a fuller and tighter embrace is the difference in Indian caste politics and Naga national politics, so far!
Rightly so – since its formation in 1963, every election in Nagaland is consistently and emotionally stirred by pro-Indian and pro-Naga sentiments, only to benefit a couple of shrewd power mongers. It is repetitive and boring – but political parties know voters love it! A nationalism drunk state it is! Until 2003 – when, engaging its full military might, NSCN-IM initiated Nagaland’s first-ever open rigging of elections and successfully installed its NPF-led DAN government. Unfortunately, Nagas, too, quietly accepted this as normal! Perpetually battered, the conscience of democracy won’t stand-up with another beating!
The groaning nails hammered into Congress’ coffin has since then simmered – becoming a lifeless cemetery! As Indian National Congress’ (INC) little island in Nagaland decays away silently – the amusing baffle of NSCN-IM’s begging bowl for a political solution gathered momentum! By biting the hands that feeds, NSCN-IM has indeed conveyed a strong message that has no political smartness to INC leaders! They forget Congress did not only initiate negotiation but the same is still on the table under them.
Now that sounds suspicious! For, alternatively, even if NSCN-IM decides to support Congress, there is no guarantee for an automatic or fast track political solution. Therefore, the same old questions: what exactly is NSCN-IM’s politics, both in interfering and in abstaining from elections?
In 1998, amidst the hue and cry of “solution not election,” an over smart functionary of NSCN-IM wired an indolent fax, from Imphal, to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in an attempt to claim ownership to the clarion call given by all Naga frontal social organizations. It worked, but it also awkwardly resulted in a walkover formation of Congress-led government. Having seen a hijacked formula gone wrong, NSCN-IM instead decided to vindicate, five years later. A venture to extract ransom for 2003 assembly election, led by one V.S Atem and Phungthing Shimrah and Congress led by Imtisungit Jamir, over a face-to-face hard talk, at the campus of Patkai Christian College, however ended unsuccessfully.
Twice beaten in its own game, NSCN-IM spews its vengeful writs by forming NPF-led DAN government. It potentially demonstrates to Delhi as to who is in real control at the local level. It strongly resounds a funny case of an eager boy uselessly trying to prove his might in the worthy company of men. Nevertheless, it richly reveals elements of pettiness, initially aroused by vengeance, but ultimately exposing political immaturity.
NSCN-IM’s obsessive hatred for Congress therefore, and understandably, began focused on a couple of senior leaders. NSCN-IM does not want to acknowledge Congress leaders who mediated their present ceasefire and its three conditions of negotiation. Neither can they stand the thought that a 15-worded sentence from Congress leader S.C Jamir is selectively more audible than 15 years of repetitive and insular blabbering from the Collective Leadership, as far as the deaf ears of power corridors in Delhi are concerned. A very parochial youth feeling, that one alone can create history, which is always intensely protected – where others should not be involved or given undue glory, therefore guided NSCN-IM’s anti-Congress justification for manipulating elections. Whether 10 years of NPF and NSCN-IM partnering history creation has instead resulted in the decadence of the latter is another story – but what remains visible today is a loveless energy of individual heroism stuck instead in a web of frustrating nationalism and compounding narcissism.
The unusual twist of drama dated 20th January that NSCN-IM is imposing upon itself a self-denial to participate in 2013 assembly elections is rather late and unnecessary. Late – because the damage is already done! By openly campaigning against Congress with firearms and threats, NSCN-IM has gained nothing to further their political cause. Instead it has polarized the Nagas further, not just amongst political parties, but also at the grassroots. The various rank and file of Naga Army have also tasted soft and addictive corruption. NSCN-IM regional cadres now make more money during Indian elections from different political parties, than the annual sundry extortion – starting from women vegetable sellers to Super-Class I Contractors. Unnecessary – because, having destroyed any semblance of democracy, the vision of projecting a new-image for NSCN-IM is a futile attempt and empty charade. If refraining from electoral politics was meant to usher peace and reconciliation – nobody believes in clandestine rhetoric anymore! Also, it is predictably a joke that different Naga underground factions can actually come together, by jointly agreeing to refrain from Indian elections.
What lessons have the Nagas learnt? Politicians and the public are now smarter than NSCN-IM. Overground politicians of different shades and parties have learnt the importance of vaguely but occasionally referring to the famous Naga Political Solution and Early and Honorable Settlement. There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain! Purchasing the loyalty of local gun-toting UG boys – however revolutionarily or nationalistically one is trained to hold the gun for sovereignty – is no longer a myth: the smell of fresh crispy rupee notes easily hypnotizes existential realities, needs and greed. An underground is, moreover, first part of an assembly constituency, where his kinship and bloodlines were already predetermined, rather than in the esoteric of a Nagalim fraternity.
The art and craft of power politics is changing – power is not necessarily derived from the barrel of the gun or by exporting fear! The political centres of social control and power are also changing – social and political mobilization is not necessarily rooted permanently in gun-worshipping revolutionary zeal.
Today, no real anxiety exists for NSCN-IM, even if events are to be re-enacted like earlier times, in openly dictating the public for a political party! In the heartlands of NSCN-IM’s Collective Leaderships – one: 45 Chingai Assembly Constituency, home to Th. Muivah and where all the top IM functionaries biologically come from, their NPF-supported candidate lost to Congress candidate in 2012 Manipur Assembly elections; and – two: 13 Pughoboto Assembly Constituency, home to Isac Swu and where his own nephew stood as NPF-candidate and lost to Congress in 2008 Nagaland Assembly elections – despite heavy engagement of NSCN-IM military machine, are ominous signs! The public too has a mind, and it is becoming restless! The current standing order against participating in 2013 elections and what NSCN-IM is presently, selectively and flagrantly indulging with extra interest at 13 Pughoboto again is altogether a different but simple story: old habits but, most interestingly, harassing the other candidate in favour of an underground blue blood prince!
What lessons should the NSCN-IM learn? There is no historical evidence proving that the political content of Naga National Issue has seen substantial progress because NSCN-IM brokered an NPF-led government during BJP central rule. To either boycott or refrain from Indian elections, NSCN-IM should know by now, will ring no note to policy makers in Delhi. The general public too seems to have completely forgotten that once upon a time NSCN-IM used to be a powerful and deciding factor in Indian elections – such reverence exists no more! It is not difficult to draw the line between vanity and politics.
Assembly elections are Indian elections. Whether one maintains equi-distance or equi-closeness, elected representatives shall swear by the Constitution of India, vowing to dutifully protect the integrity of Union of India. Instead of setting-up stooges or prompting star campaigners like Naga Hoho or purporting a chaste new image on Indian elections, NSCN-IM be better advised to float their own party or join any “like-minded” parties or go back to the jungles for revitalism. Otherwise, there is no need to shy away, if NSCN-IM members themselves want to gain by fairly contesting Indian elections – instead of destroying themselves by setting up proxy candidates and a proxy government! Nagas have nothing to lose by such noble and political acts of NSCN-IM becoming nakedly democratic!
The dangerous bottling together of Naga nationalism and Indian election has thinned politics. It has resulted in a totalitarian alliance of syndicated elites – where the intimacy between NSCN-IM and certain overground leaders or parties find meaning in its joint attempt to control trade, politics, the social space, and in political articulation.
“What do you gain by taking on everybody, Kekhrie?” – that is how Naga Hoho President, a sobriquet added with “Additional Chief Minister of Nagaland,” so deservingly and perniciously given, would patronizingly attempt to cozy up sometimes, when on a single-malt, non-confrontational tone… There is nothing to gain, unlike what Naga Haha thinks or does, and there is no interest to gain anything – but to highlight the faultlines – and there is no bigger political evilness than to salvage personal gain, in the name of the social or in the politics of nationalism. What Naga society stands to lose is everything when the element of totalitarian elitism is woven into every fabric of our everyday socio-economic life; when we stop voicing because of our indispensable sense of patriotism or politics, in the shadow of guns and fear. There is no issue of trying to be more Naga when all are Nagas, especially if the cancerous enemy is from within! Nagas are no disgraceful hero-worshipers, and so should be the intellectual foundation of our cultural life, social knowledge, and political aspiration. May the best win, in the true spirit!
(The author is a columnist for Eastern Mirror’s Thursday edition, featuring A Little Chat)
