All’s well that ends well

(The common Journey and Destiny of Nagas) 1. INTRODUCTION History is going somewhere, as it came from somewhere. So also, Nagas are going somewhere. Over the years, much water has flown down the river under the bridge ever since we launched our MOVEMENT. We are where we are because of what our ancestors and leaders have achieved in the past. Our proper response to the present will determine what we shall be tomorrow. Hence, this article, with an overall perspective born out of genuine concern for our people. 2. ORIGIN Our forefathers were exposed to the modern world during the Great World Wars. Returning home from the First World War in the early 20th century with burden as well as vision for our people, they founded the NAGA CLUB in 1918 (two more years to a centenary from now). This was followed by some significant milestones in our journey, such as the Memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, formation of N.N.C. in 1946, declaration of Independence in 1947 (ahead of India, Pakistan, Burma), the Plebiscite in 1951, Political Cease-Fire Agreement following the intervention of the Naga Peace Mission in 1964, etc.3. MEANWHILE Our people were placed in different states and countries against our wishes and without our consent. But our history, identity and authentic political rights were never buried by these devises or developments. Our journey continues. It is still on and will continue for generations. 4. ATTEMPTS Many means and methods were tried and applied to appease to cool down the heat for normalcy to prevail in the interest of the common citizens. 5. PARTIES (Naga Regional and Indian National) Various political parties (regional and national) began to put in sincere efforts for running governments in public interest. But their methods of operation were quite different from one another. Amongst all parties, here is a glaring observation about one particular regional party, formed and launched out of exigency by some patriotic and visionary statesmen with a clear manifesto, keeping in mind the Naga struggle and functioning as the principal state agent for peaceful and amicable political solution/settlement. No small sacrifices were made by those senior leaders most of whom have gone unsung. This very party, with its symbol of the Cockerel, changed nomenclature on several occasions out of necessity. Somehow, it has generated appealing charm and interest to the people, particularly from rural villages. Perhaps its elegance and flavour evoked positive response from villagers and from some townsfolk, because the sound of cockerels crowing “THE DAWN IS BREAKING!” is a delight in the morning and greatly enamoured by one and all. After facing many waves of changes and storms of ups and downs from within and without, this party survived with its banner now flying over to places outside the state. Will it continue to grow and crow in all villages and places when the dawn breaks in to see the light of day? Today we have many Naga National parties or groups/factions, each having enough reasons to stand its ground. But the objective is ONE since all have their origins as offshoots of the original political INSTITUTE, which includes all Nagas wherever they are. We are one people and our struggle-journey, as well as our destiny, is also one. Why are there so many NOMENCLATURES? If unity of different groups is not possible or practical at this juncture, why don’t we, instead, all move forward TOGETHER as catalysts and protagonists, complementing and supplementing one another wherever necessary from our own camps, and not as antagonists? Dog-eat-dog games never produce good results, nor are paper and media tigers genuine tigers in the true Naga spirit. Grateful let us all be, remembering the magnificent vision and tremendous sacrifices made by our pioneers to give us a VINTAGE HISTORY, INDISPUTABLE IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND. Let us not do anything to weaken our past achievements. May today’s efforts to take us forward in any manner of progressive, transitional or interim arrangements be a good chapter in our NAGA BOOK as a whole. We all know the FINAL or the END or FINISHING is still far ahead of us since all our desired and envisaged dreams and goals cannot be achieved in a step or two by one generation alone. Our past history and developments clearly teach us that. The Naga Book MUST have many chapters contributed by many leaders at different times and in different manners, each chapter leading to the next in our JOURNEY OF COMMON HOPE (thanks to the FNR for these healing words). Our struggle has churned out a repository of beautiful and inspiring words resulting from our battered conditions, which also include SHED NO MORE BLOOD (from our Naga mothers), NAGAS ARE ONE (Naga Hoho motto), FOR A UNIFIED LIM AND GLORY OF THE NAGAS (NSF), etc. The sonnet of Dag Hammarskjold rings meaningfully here – “For all that has been, THANKS, To all that shall be, YES.” Also not forgetting what William Shakespeare, the Bard, aptly uttered once – “Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks” a) Past: Many things have gone wrong, but not everything. Taking inventory of all that has gone wrong and blaming one another will not further our common journey. Let us come of age and get wiser. Players and doers cannot be expected to never make mistakes. It is easy for spectators to comment, “They should not have” or “They should have done this or that”. No regrets over spilt milk. b) Present: There are always some good people in all groups and vice versa. We have seen enough of opportunists fishing in troubled waters, and also enough of ‘Expedients’ and ‘Pragmatists’ out to get anything for themselves, spewing all kinds of fickle justifications for their unjustified actions. These are all mere “SITUATIONAL ETHICS” propounded by self-centred people. The river of TRUTH and TRANSPARENCY will flow on. Like no scientist can tamper with facts, no politician can run away from truths. It is evident that nothing escapes the eyes and ears of the seemingly naive public, the common citizens, who invariably form the best jury and judge. c) Oppositionless Governments: We have already seen one such government following the 1998 general election in Nagaland, delivering goods to themselves, going against “SOLUTION, NOT ELECTION”. That very vehicle, without brakes of pressure groups, and without any speed-breakers in a crowded road, we all know how it ultimately ended or evaporated. The present state government may look like a prettified ‘galho’ or like a namby-pamby kind of Kakistocracy to some eyes, but it is unavoidable for survival. We should not forget that where sacrifice, principle and meaning are lacking, performance or show is at a premium. It could also turn out to be a blessing in disguise to all, teaching us not to be reckless representatives unaware of the huge public mandate in favour of a particular manifesto. Whatever it may be, we are now on the threshold of a new era or development, provided the Indo-Naga political dialogue bears some good fruits for all our people wherever they are. d) Permanence: Nothing is permanent in the realm of politics and nations. Great kingdoms, magnificent civilizations, strong governments or powerful dictators and autocratic leaders come and go. Unprecedented changes or upheavals happen because we are not in control. Those who think they are, betray their own self-respect and faith. All things do not always turn out our way. The only abiding reality is God whose order comes through the moments for His people. A divine purpose sweeps through everything. Contrary to all appearances, God is at work and He is good. We should not forget that so many prayers ascend regularly to the Throne of Grace on our behalf. Therefore, we need no political prophets or fortune-tellers at this time to tell us what will happen in the coming years. We all know who holds the future, at least. Period. e) Democracy (after all): Our world is rich in various types of governments, such as communist governments, autocratic and dictatorial governments, fanatical religious governments, etc. We are fortunate to be in a democratic set-up, modelled along the lines of British or European system of parliamentary democracy, where the will of the people is supreme. Let us not forget that our forefathers and foremothers, illiterate as they were, were described by outsiders as democratic ‘Par Excellence’. Together we can work towards the best form of democracy by evolving our own Naga style of governance and reform all the existing election systems. Our ancestors did that through consensus, and we are their descendants. Such a great scope we have. f) Playing god: God himself invites us to come and reason together. No one should refuse to come and reason together with his/her own people. Let us do away with icy-cold hearts – rigid, obstinate and unmoveable. The MOST MOVED MOVER (God) is working inside us all, imploring us to travel in the SAFE ZONE, and not otherwise. None can rise or shine at the cost of one’s own people. May the tribes of those who made great sacrifices in the past increase. May the local media and journalists continue to play more constructive and regenerative roles more creatively and aggressively in the days to come. Only change is permanent. Man can change and change for better. I firmly believe that all our present leaders, state or national, can and will change for the better. This much trust and confidence I have in them. After all, they are our leaders and will continue to lead us. No perfect or ideal leader exists anywhere. We all can learn and grow bigger in hearts. “To live is to grow, To grow is to change, To grow fully is to change often” - John Henry Newman 10. CONCLUSION Let us all respond well this time. After all, all of human history, as the great historian Arnold Toynbee said, can be written in a small little formula of two words: CHALLENGE and RESPONSE. There are people around us (neighbours) and also in distant places, who are sympathetic, understanding, and willing to offer their good-will for our welfare. We have so much opportunities within, without and above/beyond us. Let us live and let live. If we reverse LIVE, it is EVIL. If we reverse GOD, it is DOG. We are all carrying the tag or label of “IMAGE- BEARERS OF GOD” in us. All will be well if we finish well. Can we? Shall we? We can. We shall. Or what else?