The Late Rising Sun Of Nagaland - Eastern Mirror
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Op-Ed

The Late Rising Sun of Nagaland

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By EMN Updated: Feb 21, 2017 12:23 am

The fertile land of the Nagas ranges from Mon to Peren and Wokha to Kiphire districts respectively, with Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Myanmar as its good neighbours. The Nagas have friendly neighbours for no Naga may live to the full without the commercial help of Assam, and no factions may expand without the aid of Arunachal and Myanmar. Likewise, Nagas cannot call itself Nagas without the inclusion of those brothers and sisters in the State of Manipur. Nagas are blessed with one of the most fertile piece of land. Its rivers and mountains are equally rich enough to feed all the Nagas for centuries. The great and magnificent paddy fields of the Angamis, the beautiful terrace cultivations of the Chakhesangs, the vast jhum fields of the Rengmas, the sumptuous fish that swim about in the Lothas areas, the mouthwatering aroma of the Semas’ Axone, the rich minerals of Kiphire, the sweet beans (kholar) of Tuensang, the green valley of Jalukie, the pleasant roads of Mokokchung, the great rivers of Phek district, etc clearly indicate the richness of Nagaland. It gives Nagaland the taste of being Naga in its original sense.

Nagas are known to be hospitable and kind-hearted. Their colourful attires attract thousands of tourists like the flowers that attract even the farthest bee. Yet day by day, there are more thorns growing in this God-given fertile lands. No flower is willing to bud and bloom because there are enemies all around in the form of friends. Those who try to bloom justly are snapped down and uprooted so that no such generation may ever dwell in the land again because might is power and money is strength in the land of the Nagas (strange but true). Nagas have much expectations and aspirations like any other race across the globe, yet fulfillment is still a sad dream. This is because Nagas have become unjust in many ways. A collection of tainted individuals does not make the group live. The growth of uncountable NGO’s and Associations which survive on political backings are numerous. Please do remember that an association cannot stand on their own ground without good souls in it. All wants to be leaders without knowing to road. Everyone look up for the biggest post in the Youth Wing, Women Wing, Farmers Wing, Elders Wing during hot season of election. There are many Wings in Nagaland that cannot even take a leap and fly. Many of them wallow in the dirty mud. Likewise, there are emergence of many presidents of unknown associations/groups who move about in the best vehicles without any obedience to the traffic rules and regulations. The best scene of a convoy of escort vehicles that ply between Kohima and Dimapur 24×7 giving the best security to the BIG BOSS with less respect for other vehicles is the climax in the on-going movies of the Nagas. In spite of heavy traffic, these vehicles can squeeze through because they think themselves to be the new James Bond. This is the Reality Talent Show in Nagaland after all it is just a tiny State not much known to people outside. After such rudeless behavior, they speak about kind obedience to law and order to the general public. Beyond the ordinary eye, there are many innocent people who suffer at the cruel hands of the political leaders. Yet, these leaders boldly exhort promotion of human life. Who among us can truly promote respect and dignity of every individual in our State? It may be just countable hearts who may not have big heads in the society.

Who create unjust society and who made Nagaland less fertile? Nagas should not expect roses to bloom where gun has paved the path. No dead body can manure the turmoil garden of Nagaland towards good harvest of unity and peaceful life. No factional fights can bring better solution. Everyone expect good result from bad instances as though grapes could be collected from thorns. We all need to retrospect our actions of violence as to where it come from (Let anyone among you who is without sinbe the first to throw a stone at her –Jn.8:7) I am sure that those who shout against corruptions are (firstly) not corrupted and those who condemn others are too just in all that they do. May be there is no fault in them whatsoever. Sometimes, their dark side of life is whitewashed with the best available lime. Thus, this is an opportune time for all leaders to ask themselves as to what are my dreams and aspirations for my people and where am I leading the crowd to?Nagaland is a good State influenced by bad events. Every election (electing leaders) becomes a bed of blood, friends become enemies, families are torn apart, neighbours become foreign to each other, members of the same Church stop talking to each other as though they can only talk to God and receive their individual Salvation in their personal heaven reserved only for them.

The recent ULB Election scenario seen from another Planet would bring a just judgment. The cruel target against one man leaving aside one’s own tribe (Ministers, MLAs) is a dishonest persuasion/argument. All members should be treated equally at the same time as they form one voice and one government. Whatever law has been passed is approved by all, and not by one single pen or pencil.I can smile a thousand smile with my (political) leaders however bad/worst they may be, but the same should not be done by the other leaders of other tribe, because in Nagaland Mati Malik is right in every way regardless of others goodness. This happens in almost all districts of our State. But equal justice would also mean equal treatment and vice-versa. And change of leadership may not necessarily bring about change in the public life. If the next leader fail his duty, shall we expect another uprising? I doubt (forgive my unforeseen doubt).We are in Nagaland where everyone is right in their own way – ‘all are wrong except myself’. You are truly blessed to be on the right side! But please remember to drive left, if not there will be more accidents and casualties in the future.

All political gatherings have to be held compulsorily in Kaziranga (Assam). Later, they come back (to Nagaland) and fool the Nagas. And the Nagas swallow the whole story of Kaziranga without chewing or masticating. Did any political party of Assam, Arunachal or Manipur come to Nagaland and camp for days and days to discuss their own affairs and conflicts? No one. One Naga political leaders can do such thing. And no Naga is against such gathering outside the State because everything works well in the guise of better Nagaland. The two big gangs of gathering in the last election, Rio vs T.R. was held in Kaziranga. I hope Nagas remember what type of pictures/photos were circulated in the Facebook and Watsapp as the outcome of their gathering… best resort, unadulterated drinks, beautiful Naga girls in the arms??? I do not know(I forget due to my short term memory).Yet, no one voiced against them(may be such life styles aretraditionally accepted). Even NMA and NBCC kept their mouth shut, because to speak the truth would mean too sinful. Likewise, those who passed the law of liquor prohibition in Nagaland (NLA) swim inside the bottles of Assam.They wash their mouth clean and enter Nagaland Gate with a clean body and soul. Nagas should thank God at the return of the Prodigal Sons!

Think of those places where generous people once sat and supplied Christmas tea and gifts to passengers beside the smiling Santa Claus. It is now filled with trunk of trees and big gifts of stones. No Ministers/MLAs were affected by it, only poor passengers who have no hand in the law suffered the most for no one travels without any reason or destination. Chief Minister flew twice to Delhi because there was no bandh in the sky. Thank God, the bandhdown below was peaceful either for the good or bad of the Nagas. The Ministers and MLAs went for political gathering in Kaziranga, I hope they went before or after the bandh or may be there were parachute landings. There are numerous undiscovered dark side of Nagaland which may remain unspoken.

To create a just society would implicitly mean a just move for just cause, impartial in dealings and treatments. If such eye of justice is lost, than every thought becomes a shattered glass and even good action becomes bias. We have seen many Tribal Hohos who left the bigger family in times of crisis, Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) which form the kernel of life has been broken down into pieces in this hour of pain and agony. I believe no Father or Mother would ever leave their Children to suffer alone in the dark hours of their life. We have develop a mentality that as long as we are happy or that we get certain amount of benefit, we remain Patriotic, if not we shake off our feet, wash our hands and disappear. This may not be the right way in our search for existence. As we try to clean the outside of the cup, we need to clean the inside as well. If all these Hohos and Associations could first settle and sort out their individual difference within, then Nagaland could have seen the rising sun at the early hours of the day. But it has somewhat come to the situation where we are ruled by the darkness of error and selfishness. We do need Naga Hoho or NMA to take us to the right path of true knowledge, growth and development without wavering. But do Nagas really need Naga Hoho or NMA if it does not prove itself to be strong and true to what it stands for in the thin and thick of Naga history? If its existence is necessary, it should work in unity and for the good of all the Nagas in good and bad times alike. The broken state of such trusted Naga Hoho and NMA is the saddest tragedy in the history of the Nagas(Allow Shakespeare to write another tragedy in Nagaland with Naga Hoho as the Hero and NMA as the Heroine). To meet failure and success are two sides of the same coin. But to be broken is easier than to be repaired. Differences in opinions and thoughts may crop up, but it should not sway the life of the Naga Hoho or NMA. Disassociating from the bigger group does not make the smaller group better or cleaner, instead it is one way of escaping the reality to find shelter under a torn umbrella. The broken Naga Hoho or NMA shows that whenever there arises internal problem, one is free to leave or stay behind and eat the left over crumbs. (Oh, let them bear the pain alone, I do not want to burn my finger in the hot fire, I prefer only Ice Cream!) Such act can never bring sunlight into our State. Let all the Hohos affiliated to Naga Hoho and associations under NMA come back and resolve their differences before sunset so that your Children can sleep in peace awaiting the new dawn with new attitude of life. Do not let your good Children live in fear in closed doors. Allow them to be better than you, by this we can say that we are progressing, if not stagnant generation will continue only to eat their own waste.

There are individual citizen who easily hide his/her ignorance in the crowd. It is very well known that many Nagas hide their ignorance inside the life of the crowd. Therefore, sometimes I doubt Nagaland to be a good State because we act without knowing who we are, we open our mouth without any words of wisdom and we live our life as though we are not like the other person who failed in life.

Because of all these conflicting confusions, no organization remains clean in Nagaland. We have lost the taste of good life. Behind every move, there stands unseen guest/s who is likely known to be the unmoved mover. He makes things move with money and power, yet he does not move. He push the crowd, yet he remains alone. He tells the crowd to sacrifice their life for the cause of Nagas, yet he hides behind. He highly appreciates the young and old for their presence and participation, but none of his family members appear in the scene. Therefore, be careful with the Unmoved Mover.

I deeply acknowledge the good deeds of people (associations and organizations) who are truly living as Nagas with values of respect, love and peace in making Nagaland a fertile land where all can grow towards maturity. Such people bear the heat and cold, sunshine and rain to make a better Nagaland and not only greater Nagaland.I pray that we all fall under this category of people sacrificing our individual differences for the greater good. Sometimes, I ask myself in amazement, “If I cannot be a Naga inside Nagaland, than I cannot be a Naga anywhere.”

Socially Concerned Citizen,

G. L. Khing

Kohima

tisislawkhing@gmail.com

 

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By EMN Updated: Feb 21, 2017 12:23:00 am
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