S Varah
It is hardly a confusion; it is today’s unfair competition between what is wrong when it is right, right when that is wrong. The heart of the matter for the Naga people is identity, political history and our common wish as to what we would desire to be politically. Where there are more than necessary political denominations like us today the identity of that strong original Naga Political Base with destiny has to be essentially identified in order to avoid additional abuses and, to cut disagreements as well as to contain further such characterization; otherwise some fair questions over yearning for a breakthrough will remain unanswered and more sadly, we cannot expect accident with such prejudiced outlook as we are today to move forward. Stories our forefathers used to tell about a big war fought in Naga country and others Naga had fought differ students learn from their history text books because they are simply different. What is common when it is war it is all about fear, tears, threats and insecurity. The difference between big war and small war is just the amount any war ruins on humanity, life forms and all creations and their beauty. If war and peace are two possibilities, we can never make mistake if the choice between war and peace is ours. Naga people have experienced consequences suffering only loss and they are still fighting; wars they have to fight and they do not know that war but are very good at interpreting what they do not know; it is right when they are wrong but they are not accustomed to accepting accountability for any mistake made and get themselves misunderstood and misunderstand the others. This makes some of our conflicts highly unusual. The other war we have been fighting for some pretty long is another vehemently unacceptable for the casualties of such war, outlandish and contemptible for other onlookers who are undisturbed by this insane rivalry. “I’ is always first, to be in the front our priority. I can never position both Jesus Christ and me in the front and say I am following Him. He said, “Follow Me.” Doesn’t that mean tiptoeing His foot prints? It is unmistakably always behind to follow Him. The Naga people cannot own separate and an exclusive Christ to follow them. The rich young man just disappeared. To follow Him inevitably meant forsaking all that the world had offered him. He bullshitted the Man he called ‘Master’ and solemnly chose his position, his social standing. The thought of following Him never, never appealed his stinging rich ‘I my me mine.’ The difference between this rich man and today’s leaders…if ever there can be any…is revealingly noticed.
Outside forces who first intruded into, partly to explore Naga country or to make any use of, did rashly interfere with the peace of this fiercely cultural and independent race in their own village republics. Their democracy that is in practice even today is very ancient, direct and therefore, they are almost always intolerant with indirect democracy or other peoples’ participatory decision making processes. Naga people have so much talked about solution, independence, sovereignty and freedom. These terms vary in their literal interpretation and core. Freedom…part of it…the Naga people have longed for so long, and even today that which they do crave, can be fundamentally attributed to their hate, to be away and never wish to see again armed and uniformed people, cruel, very Naga-unfriendly because they did behave extremely inhumanly while attempting to put down this disorganized and yet seemingly unrelenting, primitive confrontation. When it is retaining their village sovereignty, free from any interference and, most of all, their love for their liberty, the Naga are uncompromising, not like almost all of us today. They used to be and still are…not all of us…inherently independent within their particular settlements or villages that are so well territorially defined that any encroachment or dispute often begot quarrel involving nasty clashes as well as prolonged disagreements which are, in any form of decency, deplorable given the level of barbarity they often resorted to. It is not the hard option for them; it is just the way of doing that, and that they must. The irony with it is that such degree of harshness could have been steadily minimized if systematically taught to be learned the joy of peace made between these brutally ‘disagreeables’ and ‘them’ that meddled into the affairs of this incredibly tribal instead of rush, unconventional way of taming to teach…lesson they would never learn. This precisely brings the Naga together to think about grouping amongst them later on for a grouped and coordinated defense which the third factor addressed as ‘Naga undergrounds’ or ‘Naga hostiles’. What is this ‘underground’ in use is also a matter of sanctimoniously framed term. Do humans normally expect death to do justice, when that becomes inevitable? The Naga people had to run. They were left with only one option: to run, to go hiding in the woods rather than facing torture and unavoidable danger including slow, tooth-grinding and sure death. They had to escape threats or defend their wives, their children. Who was this ‘hostile’ in the first place raises another angry question: those military people used automatic weapons and used them against the Naga to kill, to destroy, and to rape women; they burnt, ravaged and often went berserk along their warpath with multiplied abhorrence and vengeance. The ugliest issue is the magnitude of impunity on the side of those perpetrators and its devastating impact on this defendless people. Those perpetrators later on virtuously appeared a form of friendliness and addressed us as equal citizens when an administrative unit under ‘their’ own term and style was arranged. This deal never abated or extinguished the fire and people who could explicitly explain the arrangement as a complete botch are also not rebels yet. This institution as a momentary fix had also resulted to lopsided, unfair economy accesses as well as deprivation blending the process of tearing down Naga political fabric, and still is a matter of further divide. If at all a Naga is a Naga no matter the location one is shoved into and punished for reason but to gratify some other ambitions which do not fit in with common aspiration, that truth should be truly acknowledged.
The Naga people did learn some ideas of what the outside world was from those religion missionaries who dared going deep reaches into the Naga Country, significantly the Kohima battle, daring outsiders and other then unforeseen events which had fallen into succession. The Naga political history underwent different turns too. What politically followed suit explains all that is necessary. Leaving aside the Kohima battle, our children today attentively listen and converse over who is wrong and who is right if that is our infighting. And while narrating one’s correctness over the other’s wrongs, the Naga older has dishonorably influenced the younger ones who now have developed hate and maintain their own line of division across his/her own people calling themselves outsiders or ‘indigenous’ without informed knowledge of what really caused the divisions in the first place. Children are vulnerable; it is the responsibility of those who lead because they are leading, to turn around and feel the impact of being on the stage for the love of future; and that is one sure way to demonstrate his/her love for the country, not for the fullness of individuals’ stomach. In all the applications we have experimented so far for making amendment in order to achieve result of merging together disagreements for restoring trust and to put things straight, we do notice only one’s wholesomeness and other’s mistakes other than to own responsibility for the damages they have done all together. We have listened to all these and, unfortunately, we still believe these overused phrases including standardized apologies. We all agree on our ground that other peoples came and asserted their rights to rule over the Naga and proclaimed ownership over Naga country totally ignoring everything being Naga. They have given variety of names in different times and under different circumstances. And very regrettably, even many responsible Naga now interpret those terms for their advantage so that who and what they are today is not bothered. Together the Naga have sojourned a great distance full of injustices, sufferings and tragedies. Being one in pursuit for justice, equality and freedom they have defied and dared what is unthinkable for other peoples; say for one, walking on foot to reach Yunnan Province, Pakistan, far-away destinations and other places in their search for means to regain freedom. Without food, guide…leave alone compass, GPS or map…thirst, hunger, environmental furies and full of human enemies, what really encouraged daring such road of no return? When one sanely imagines and puts together all these undeserved miseries and figures on balance some of the present comforts some people can outrageously afford, one is forced to swallow all these extremely unfair, unwanted prizes out of irrational disagreements amongst variable Naga professed leaders. Powerless hoi polloi therefore being at the receiving end of all the times, being often tempted to run for lethal weaponries and get them because they are available to serve the same ambition, and he/she has regretted that at the end of the day. Is this their love for their beloved country that they still cling and are afraid of giving away their respective positions today for the sake of due course to put in place and set things anew? How many times we have to hate one for political reasons and interpret the entire range of humanity by virtue of his/her ‘wholesomeness’ that has abetted more quarrels than a new lease? We still have our original rock bottom of our sustained struggle. As love for one’s country is basic it must be lived to put meaning to the claim of sacrifice should one profess being a Naga freedom fighter. Does that upset the question of strong principle-based struggle because the Naga people have a stout political nation concept? Question of Naga nationalism is intensely inherent in every person being a Naga and that invites both outside repressive forces to quell on one hand and unified actions which are not mere trait of some persons or leaders to be entitled to…no matter the extent of contribution one has made under a given situation or circumstances in a collective fight back such as ours. Together we have taken all those wicked blows for reasons they have interpreted it should be the way. Are some of the statements balanced and justifiable when they (some earlier Indian government representatives to UNSC) said, “these Naga hostiles are unmanageable; they can never be governed by any rational human laws. They must be controlled by stringent laws”…those black laws promulgated by the Indian governments. It should have been a matter of recognizing, accepting the state of being ‘the Naga’ and letting go the way they wish other than Naga demanding from India (as is translated today) or for that matter, from Myanmar government. The whole world is watching today when we fight and easy to be incensed for fight because in that way we are unwisely and indirectly supporting the statements of aggressors true by our own actions rather than their wrongs advertised while our right to go forward still trapped like this. In spite of marked socio-political and economic changes necessitating shift of capability to think otherwise and that being the resource to have brought parties concerned so close as they are today, extremely unfair and lopsided economic distribution and its nature of vicious turns are potential obstructions for smart initiatives to promote due process of gradual and systematic institutionalization. Other disconcerting thought while imagining pro people line of reorganization is almost absolute absence from grassroot participation…Naga’s traditional value and justice-first culture. Civil-based bodies, better informed and balanced resources are utilized for electoral benefits or to demonstrate hegemony of one party over other groupings, the idea of initiating processes of participatory, democratic exercises to benefit the lowest level of society still stands aghast today and exceedingly undesirable for future democratic, progressive society. This general acceptance at grass root level and when considered this as ignorance by those machineries running the affairs they can continue to exploit; this has acted as deterrent to a great length the Naga village republic in its purer form and long term profit towards modern and orderly democratization. Defined political and comprehensible settlement to the final question of India-Naga case, as it stands today, has become the more definitive as both have committedly labored to reduce any obstacle, former radical positions lowered towards more balanced assessment. That way government of India has bailed out from its regular mismanagement, deficit and its tendency to address the core issue as law and order; but the trail it has left behind and Naga’s entanglement to which they are still seething and bleeding today remains to be addressed. Most importantly, Naga are religious people as professed Christ’s followers; they are also irreligious when it comes to be forgiving and be forgiven. We can watch the disguise right there. Some people who are totally uncaring for Naga’s religion suggest the Naga churches had better submit their prayers in advance because they (our church people) know well, very well that they are going to continue thinking the same thoughts, do the same actions and deliver the same speeches and present the same wonderful sermons. They have never discontinued they promise they will when they pray (as if Jesus is happy and satisfied collecting all these countless and non-stop prayers from Naga churches, families and individuals). Naga people have made Jesus Christ very impractical and God exacting tyrant by only praying and not listening to Him and to live. I believe God’s unconditional love is not tolerant with deliberate, continued old-self living and yet proclaim to represent Him to other peoples who are not Christians. If every religion is practiced, then people who profess Christ, He is forever first and He lives, He is alive. He guarantees humans can also live the way He lives, love and forgive. Window-dressing and mere form of godliness is absolutely one reason Christ could not interfere whenever a Naga conciliatory initiative is called to become one again; because He can only listen these professed Christians praying, inviting Him to lead them when they first pray; He is already talked out when the conference is about to hammer a crucial decision. He has been extremely disappointed; not only on one occasion, thousand occasions and sessions. Pretentious Christ’s workers have produced so many evangelical thieves as our churches are unstoppably being institutionalized. We have this most unwelcomed political, social, economic situation on top of spiritual bankruptcy. Driven by habit of accumulating, grasping anything fair or unfair, and total lack of remorse for such covetousness and squander, who is there to step forward and create an example of being true to one’s conscience as Christ’s follower; so that the poor, the irreligious, the weak and the less privileged can see them real, and not pushed to the worst option but give them perspectives? We ought to stop from squabbling and bleeding white. Our disguises that we assume are glaringly observed. Secondly, if that Christ be ours as we so loudly proclaim, let He be so in us or cease to be His.
God doesn’t provide only one chance; He empties entire heaven that human might know Him as He is and to be His. He loves just the way you and I are. Isn’t this our original source to claim and say ‘I love my Naga country, my people more than I love my life? We have destroyed our own people because he is wrong and you are right; the rest are interpretations.
Our lies always clothed with liberating standard are widely busted open today to be looked at, seen and it is useless to try escape. The Christ you and I worship sees us both as He had seen Gain murdering his own brother Abel. Is there now left any offense too terrible for us to indulge? Disguise too shameful a thing to assume? Lie too base to tell? It is money that is eating the Naga inside out. Money collected, donated, tithed, offered or processed in the government offices, the means they are gotten may vary; if the money does not belong to you because you don’t really deserve that, it is theft; and therefore you and I are thieves. We have had the consequences of constantly looking for money. It matters there is that promise of change that is possible. And that possibility will not happen by accident; it is a necessity therefore, it must be recognized and practiced by those who bet responsibility over Naga topmost priority. We do acknowledge there are amongst us Christ-first Christians as well as there are pro people leaders who really care for the Naga and their future. The difficulties for these good people are lies our people still believe and of course, the money, lot of them but never given to those who deserve and yet people who deserve do not protest and are afraid to dispute even when those money are taken away by few people who make laws, leaders the poor send them to high places to represent and address poverty and sufferings. And these people in high places will denounce law break and violence and enforce laws to destroy when the poor fight back; when the poor refrain from violence and ask ‘why’, they say it is government business. All illicit means to reach money and get them are roots to who and what we are today. Passing the buck is just another story which is not a story. When do we disagree this with? Where do we start? How do we do? Wait for whom? I believe the onus is in Naga’s stomach, not Delhi, neither UN Security Council nor UNPO.
Finally, we have often dreamed of one government one tax. This is interesting. But one government without tax from any armed people and armchair assessment, white-colors-pen stroke will be most interesting. We can buy the newest car, we can afford for the smartest phone, we can wear the latest and trendiest clothe and can afford for the most delicious and healthful food. Our life will be really wonderful. But life will be most wonderful if all of the Naga people have the same amount of wealth. Most importantly, Naga country will be the happiest place if there is no buying and some people all over the world come to buy from the Naga. Wow! If that is the dream, it is a dream. Let us leave the coming true part of that dream for the time being. We can dream like other people dream. One day is too long for the poor. Not only one day but the whole length of life lived is too short for the rich. The difference can be the indifference of time. We Naga are full of dreams, rich or poor. Amongst all these dreams stands out one dream: I want to live forever! If this is forever, one is hundred percent sure, there will be plenty of times for no regrets and misses. We just dream a country that belongs to the Naga people; a country where they (all Naga wherever they are) can make good laws and abide by them, equally share what they have and can have, where justice and the truth reign supreme, where poor people and their sufferings are a common priority and, no doubt, where real Christ living in human persons, not a mere story of a person-god who lived more than two thousand years ago and living no more now. Anyway, if Christ makes sense because He is real, we can fondly and solemnly place the rest of our matter to Him with one simple condition: to accept the fact that He does not entertain money and without money at the same time. That straight away takes us both to where we are: I My Me and Mine!
