Neighbors embrace in dialogue of community peace

KOHIMA, MAY 13 : Upholding the objective of strengthening friendship, fraternity and cooperation between the people of Assam and Nagaland–the Axom and the Naga–the community apexes of the two neighbors converged for a second round table conference on Friday at Hotel Japfü in Kohima town. The conclave was conducted under the aegis of the Asom Sahitya Sabha and the Naga Hoho.

The gathering, including distinguished Assamese and Naga thinkers, scholars, writers, journalists and civil society leaders, mutually admitted that their peoples were inter-related and had good association between them in the past. However, they lamented, they were now divided and facing problems not of their creation.

“It was the British love and weakness for things like tea and their need to consolidate and protect their empire in South Asia that opened up the modern chapter of the relationship between us,” said peace activist Niketu Iralu. He said that the Naga remembers with pride that a Naga Goodwill Mission went to different district capitals of Assam in 1953 and another  in 2001 to Guwahati, trying to get the people of Assam to understand the crisis that had resulted from the decision by the Naga to assert their identity as a people and nation on the basis of  their history. 

Iralu acknowledged that the Assamese hosts warmly welcomed and listened to what the Naga delegation had to say, but regretted that the situation in Nagaland became such that an invitation to their neighbors under the aegis of the Asom Sahitya Sabha could not be extended then or even years after.

“We are therefore most happy that this visit by you to Nagaland is taking place today. The credit for the renewed process of interacting and exploring together goes to you,” Iralu said to the Assamese delegation. He pointed out that the dialogue that had been developed was launched at a time when the people here and in Assam and the whole of north east India were realizing that “quick-fix” methods of solving problems or satisfying prejudices and selfish schemes,  by declaring blockades against one another, was too costly a luxury. That must have to be discarded, he said.

The peace activist is enthusiastic that the Assamese-Naga dialogue is in the process of being established as a forum, which will be a civil society initiative/movement for the greater good of the society based on the principles of democracy.

“Let us realize this, that unless men and women of character, integrity and relevant vision will rise and give leadership, democracy corrupted by us to serve our narrow interests will prove to be our destroyer,” he said candidly. The time has come for the people to ask themselves “If everyone in Nagaland and Assam thinks and lives like me, what will happen to north east India?” he added.

“We are here to explore possibilities of resolving the differences between our peoples so that we can coexist as good neighbors, said Dr. Dhruvajyoti Bora, the president of Asom Sahitya Sabha. He, however, maintained that certain parameters have to be set. He said that the people of the two states must accept that ‘enough fightings’ have taken place. They must not feel ‘frightened’ but must now resolve to solve their issues amicably, he said.  

The second parameter is patience, he said, elaborating that any discourse between the civil society  and their divergent views should be considered with patience. He also strongly advocated that the efforts of the Asom Sahitya Sabha and the Naga Hoho must be reflected as ‘Assam people to Naga dialogue’ for cooperation as a whole and not as a tribe-to-tribe dealing.

Underscoring the need to emphasize on the aspects that have to be developed, Dr. Bora pointed out that  while political opinions might divide, literature and culture always unite people. Thus, he said, literary conferences between the two states must be encouraged for ideas to find exchange as well as to ‘intellectually discuss issues that are troubling the people.’

Also, the Naga Hoho’s president, Chuba Ozukum, said in his address that unless there was goodwill and unity of purpose, building  trust would be a challenging process. While referencing the perplexing problems and differences that have cropped up between the two neighbors over the years, particularly the unsettled inter-state boundary issue, he nonetheless remarked that the issues should not be allowed to hold the people ransom ‘forever’ or hinder them from having a ‘good neighborly relationship.’

Ozukum said that the Naga were expecting a political settlement with the government of India but whatever future political discourses could be, the Naga and the Assamese would remain neighbors. ‘This is the stark reality,’ he said, and asserted that in the face of it, coming together to pave ways and means toward  building a future to coexist respectfully were necessary.

“While both sides are free to differ on contentious issues due to their domestic compulsions, to begin with, we can definitely converge our ideas and energy to enhance cooperation in softer areas such as art, culture, sports, trade and commerce. We can definitely help in creating an environment of trust where people-to-people contact and relations (can be) enhanced. We have tremendous faith in human capacities and goodness,” he said.

Former Nagaland minister, Tiameren Aier, who was the chief guest of the occasion, acknowledged that the Naga and the Assamese used to have strong ties, but were divided by their colonial rulers. Stating that the current situation was evolved through problems created by “others”, he questioned if the people of the two states were ‘too weak to resolve the situation that was ‘not their own creation.’ He said that there was a lack of seriousness for the issues faced by the two peoples in the past. ‘But the time has come to unite and support one another for a joint and general benefit,’ he said. 

The guest of honor at the meeting, parliamentary secretary Levi Rengma lauded the organizers for their efforts to deal with misunderstandings between “brothers and sisters” of Assam and Nagaland. He opined that it was the right approach and at the same time, underscored the need to ‘create awareness’ among the populations about the importance of ‘good neighborly relations’ and the need to ‘change perceptions about one another.’

“Being good neighbors holds the key to fraternal peace and communal harmony. Our future will depend on how we understand each other… It will be in the interest of both sides that we start loving and trusting each other,” the Naga politician said.