NAGAS AT THE CROSS-ROAD

Rebounding from the National political calamity of sixteen (16) point agreement, division of Naga people and territory, Shillong Accord of 1975 and to the partition of NSCN. The Govt. of India had covertly or directly been the mastermind behind all these fiascos but in collaboration with like minded Nagas.
It is also a fact un-deniable, that creation of Nagaland state had brought about tremendous developmental progress in varied aspects of lives of the Nagas of Nagaland in particular. The plight of the other Nagas of different neighbouring states though discriminatory is not too desperate as those of the Nagas of Myanmar.
Now that, the Govt. of India is trying to bring about complete paradigm shift in it’s policies of Indianisation of the Nagas through economic developments, employment generations, education, poverty alleviation, health cares, better roads, communications and transports, financial assistances etc. and significantly large scale recruitment of Naga youths to Indian Armed Forces, paramilitary, police etc. It may be noted that these opportunities are being provided only to the aspirants and mostly through open competitions, unlike the past there has been no report of coaxing, enticing or forcing etc. rather the Naga youths are seen flocking to recruitment rallies, running from pillar to post in search of govt. jobs, and envies Indian central govt. jobs as more lucrative and prestigious.
The changing mindsets of the Nagas and also the change in attitude of the government of India towards the Nagas (hostility  to magnanimity) and the gradual acceptance of the Nagas ourselves as part and parcel of India, viewing these trends from the context of  the un-settled Indo-Naga  political issue, there is a genuine reason to be concerned of. 
These inclinations towards India and the adage ‘need to streamline/join mainstream’ etc are whether spontaneous or necessitated by the compelling economic plight and the desire to raise the living standard, unlike the past subsistence economy, have to be considered while deciding the future of the Nagas.
Similarly, just because of the improved economic conditions, modernised outlook, higher education and liberal ways of life does not mean that we are no more what we were (identity) or how and from where we came?(History).
Material sufficiency/prosperity, better education, higher living standard and other related necessities of today’s world are without doubt indispensable, but is it also true that Nagas could progress ahead only if we continue to remain as Indian under India’s rule?
Sometimes we should also dream, imagine and contemplate on the future without/ Independent of India. If Nagas could have managed to survive for centuries and centuries all together without the influence/assistance of any foreign powers. I believe that we Nagas are also capable of looking after our own affairs and to decide our own future as well.
Without any advantages of the modern scientific gadgets, the Nagas had been well-faring , self-dependent and produced enough to survive till medieval age.
It is therefore illogical and cowardly on our part to assume or conclude that Nagas cannot afford the life without India’s dispensation. For the last one century, the Nagas had been forcefully isolated from any contact with the outside burgeoning world due to political compulsions and for which the Nagas have been lagging far behind others in almost every aspects of modernity. 
The Nagas were also forced to concentrate themselves only on defending it’s home, hearths and dignity against the British, India and Burmese Military conquests. 
While still striding in primitive ways of lives the Nagas were forced to fight for survival.
Such were the political situation and disorder of the time that while the rest of the world were stepped into modernity, the Nagas could not avail any opportunity to either explore it’s genius or learn from other civilised nations, the endowments, crafts or skills of modern era.
With the continual shrinking of globe day by day and the sudden unprepared collision with the highly advanced civilisation, the Nagas were caught perplexing and in a dilemma. 
Contrary to the Nagas virtue of high morality, courteousness, affability accommodativeness etc and the need-based producing rural economy without any machineries, modern technologies , industries or factories, not even small scale or cottage industries except traditional artisans and craftsmen who solely rely only on one’s dexterity. Whatever produced were mostly self-consuming any hardly any surplus produces were bartered to meet basic necessities of the time.
The centuries of Nagas seclusions in such primitive conditions without gradual process of filtration and when suddenly hurtled towards strange capitalistic, materialistic and ever burgeoning competitive world of market economy and mass producing machineries and technological world. The 21st century Nagas are definitely caught in political, cultural and economic vortex and has landed at the cross-roads.
To preserve and protect our identity, history, Nationality, culture etc, does not necessarily mean that we revert back to our old traditional ways of life, similarly, to progress with the rest of the modern world doesn’t imply that we should simply abandon our history, cultural heritage and identity.
Either by choice or by compulsion, all these prevailing ills had so conveniently been attributed to Indo-Naga-Burma political impasses. Sometimes and often, the National workers are squarely blamed for various disruptions in the daily lives of the Nagas, lack of proper development, corruption, etc. 
However, there had hardly been any acknowledgement or appreciation of the sacrifices paid in lives and blood of Naga patriots, through whose martyrdom the Nagas are what we are today, had there been no Naga Club, NSG, NNC and NSCN etc., their sleepless nights, weeks of hunger, orphaned and widowed , sons and daughters of Naga parents many buried in unknown foreign land and in unmarked graves in the wild , their fate unknown ,death or alive, near and dear one’s still waiting every moment of their home coming but never to return, how could the Nagas simply rub out such painful memories just because of the need for modernisation. 
Affording to live well-off through India’s dispensation alone is not the future, without past, the present would not have been possible and so is the future never possible without the present.
Material enrichments, physical and economic developments, education and future of our children, peace and harmony and all round progress and modernisation are indeed inevitable by why try to substitute our history and identity? The Nagas may have to strike a balance and not be swayed away by the political and economic currents of India that is trying to completely up root us from our own legacy.
The panacea cannot be found just by impassive acceptance of Indian citizenship, nationality etc,.
People or race without history, culture and identity are no less than slaves or refugees in one’s own land, no matter how mighty high or rich?
 Had we Nagas been left to our own liberty and freedom to choose what’s best for ourselves, the situation would have been completely opposite and rather than try to reclaim our rights and freedom, the Nagas would have been like any other free people and engaged  in various enterprises, professions etc. 
Besides every good things in life that we learnt or acquired from Indians or were bestowed on us by India, do not we Nagas also possess genius, potential or talents to excel on our own provided we free to explore, interact or freely fraternise with the rest of the world and not be isolated, confined and restrained forcefully within our own domain by India’s political and military might?
The Nagas have been made subservient for long, fed, nurtured and made dependent on India’s generosity, that we are no longer confident to think, plan and decide our future independently. 
Today’s world of co-existence/ interdependence is inexorable , therefore the Nagas should not try to live-off only on the alms provided by India but to give back to the world the creations of  our own genius.
The present unfortunate split in the NSCN and the justification by one of the splinter group that SS. Khaplang being a Naga from Burma holds no legitimacy to lead the Nagas of India may be realistic in certain aspects but is too narrow, short sighted and aimed at only achieving immediate scopes, the last 50 to 60 years of struggle together cannot simply be brushed aside. 
The Nagas of Nagaland state being enhanced with unique provisions that guarantees autonomies in various aspects of local self-governance, independent practise of  customs and traditions, private ownership of Natural resources etc. more adequate funding from GOI, better living standards and the advantages of almost 99% indigenous population habitation in itself provides higher edge over other displaced Nagas.
How higher, the levitation of our status in India as Indian and within Indian constitutional limits, this alone cannot be an end of the Nagas struggle for identity in itself. The political immaturity of the Naga politicians and political leaders, selfish interests, unjust leaderships and materialistic pursuits is quite obvious as reflected in their speech and action of readiness to comfortably establish them selves within India’s dispensation by citing practicality and public opinions as complimentary to such alternative. It may however be noted that public opinion/ laymen’s view are mostly moulded by opinion makers and hence not spontaneous. 
A small conciliatory wink from GOI is more than enough for such Naga leaders to succumb to the offer. It is true that much blood has been spilled, many Nagas of Nagaland state have sacrificed their precious lives, but we were never alone, all through thick and thin, the compatriot Nagas from across the length and breadth, irrespective of artificially imposed/ demarcated barriers, sharing the same fears and tears, same hopes and dreams, equally battled together and died together, all but for the same purpose and goal. What conscience permits one to abandon one’s brother in arms just for a pittance of rehabilitation under the politically-conveniently coined phrases such as “shared sovereignty, federal relationship etc. etc.” or the befooling pretexts such as “ People’s cry for peace” “time for solution” etc.
It should be reminded that the Issue and the final decision lies with the Naga people . It is the destiny of our people that has been paid for in bloods, therefore the prerogative to settle the issue does not rests with Isak and Muivah, Khole and Kitovi or Khaplang alone, same time when the GOI of India has on several occasions categorically affirmed that “Sovereignty is non-negotiable” and “Territorial integration’s impossible”  what more pretext do we take to discuss or negotiate with GOI, unless the issue of discussion and intended solution have to have nothing to do with “Naga Sovereignty” or “Integration”. Similarly the issue being political and people’s issue , the necessity of secrecy or confidentiality does not arise at all, rather to make it broader and inclusive, the Naga people/public supports and participation should form the major component of any discussions, negotiations and solution. 
In such a situation the leaders in parleys with GOI should be bold and honest enough   to inform the Nagas on the scope of negotiation, it’s possibilities and disability, and the Nagas be taken to confidence so that any out come be accepted or rejected  by the Naga people in good faith , as may in correspondence to the relevance of our times, but the core issue, the history, political rights and aspirations and identity of the Nagas should be left out from the scope of negotiation or solution lest we compromise.
Rather, the devious and discreet manner in which the talks are being conducted without informing the Nagas at large, implies that the talks are only factional in nature and therefore any settlement that may be hatched out would obviously be concentrated on the interests and agendas of the negotiating faction.
Whatever the complications, instead of trying to blame the others for one own mis-fortune, incompetence or insuperable odds (not to bite off more than we could chew)it would be wiser either to resign oneself from the task and let the future generations take over or if consulted and consented by the Nagas  may even work out  temporary arrangements to enable honourable retirement or exit from the Naga political platform as active liability but without undermining the basic premise of the Naga cause.  
The seemingly impossible task/goal of the Nagas to live together under one political providence and Nationality in the present circumstances should not force us to make any political decisions that may deprive or dispossess the future scope of pursuing the Cherished dreams of the Nagas.
The ever changing political landscape of the world at every turn of the decade, the collapse of the seemingly indestructible USSR, the fall of Berlin wall, the Independence of E. Timor after 300 years of struggle, depositions of invincible despots around the world, Black man elected to the Presidential Office of USA, and emergence of global leader from Asia etc, all these events until achieved/occurred were merely thought as fantasy and a distant dream.
But for those leaders who dared to believe in their dreams and instilled hopes in his people to chase their dreams, these moments were like a “Prophecy coming true”.
Like Gallileo, who died in prison for daring to denounce the Romans belief and refused to dilute the universal truth “that the Earth is round”. 
(To be continued on the next issue)
And long after his death, this scientifically proven universal fact indeed were reaffirmed by scientists of successive generations and the once infallible Roman Emperors, whose decrees made the subjects shiver, were finally put to shame and disgrace.
Like the Israelites, whose forty (40) days journey to Canan turned to 40 years in the wilderness, because they were not ready, prepared , tested or trialled yet.
Their whole lives as slaves of Egyptians, they instantly, without experience had not acquired the ability to self-rule, built a Nation or decide their own future in just 40 days. 
The Israelites were also short lived in memories of their sufferings as slaves, when they were rained down Manna from Heaven, instead of being grateful and faithful to God for deliverance from Egypt and for providing them with food, they chose to worship idols and indulge themselves in material and worldly pleasures.
The first generation Israelites who led their people out from Egypt were therefore made to perish in the wilderness and never reached the promise land. But God never fails in His commitment to His people, made the younger generation of Israelites like Joshua lead and deliver his people to freedom.
We the Nagas, have great lessons to learn from the trials the Israelites faced, apply to our lives, struggle and the cause.
Our present plight is our own creation, most leaders have failed to exemplarily lead the struggle of emancipation, they have found comforts and pleasures with material riches, drowned in contentment of luxuries, no more patriots but traders and merchants, instead of helping the weak and needy they have become moneylenders and oppressive tax collectors, in the name of freedom fighting, the freedom of the Naga people are now being held to ransom. Creating partitions, divisions and dis-unity has become the hallmark of Naga struggle.
All these symptoms shows that Nagas are desperately in need of National healing through repentance to God of our sins, specially led by the Leaders. Give-up on the worldly ways of lives and commit oneself truly to the cause and implore God to bear witness to the covenant “Nagaland for Christ”.
The Nagas may have many politicians but no Statesman, many preachers but less doers, many scholars but no philosophers, plenty of so called national workers but few patriots.
If ever the Nagas could have a leader who could envision and master-plan for centuries ahead and daring enough to defy the evil and materialistic dictates of the times, rise above petty party interests, denominational differences, tribalism, clanism etc. the making of the new, better and brighter future may soon begin.     
At this crucial hour of confusions, spiritual poverty, political un-certainty, social un-rest , economic disparity and identity crisis, the Nagas need God’s intervention through resolute statesman, philosopher, compassionate and a true humanitarian, who could intervene, heal and guide our people in the right path of self-emancipation first.
That every conscious Naga may take upon this challenge and prove one’s worth.