Nagas have been demanding for “Independence” and “sovereignty” for more than 60 years. But what have Nagas achieved so far? If Nagas have achieved something, it is only self-interest, tribalism, unemployment crisis, underdevelopment, etc. Today we have thousands of educated Nagas who are unemployed due to the lack of opportunities in every form. For kind reminder, today’s generation is more focused in economic upliftment and less concerned about Nagas’ Independent movement. We cannot deny the fact that Nagas are completely different from the rest of the India when it comes to traditions, cultures, customs, religions, race, etc. But leaving aside cultures, traditions, and religions, Nagas are still economically weak (especially looking at present reality) to build its own nation. It may be biased to state this, but Nagas have not attained the role of nationhood in many ways. The Nagas cannot deny the fact that the present state of affairs is not acceptable and unbearable. The world has advanced in every field but the Nagas remains stagnant in many areas. The lack of our leaders’ unity and their differences as well as their different ideologies have blocked Nagas to strive forward. Today we have so many Naga Factional groups, with every group having their own objectives and differences have weakened the Naga Independent movement as well. The feeling of togetherness and brotherhood among the Nagas that they had long time ago is missing.
There is no doubt, but the truths are, there have been numerous disputes taken place between the Government of India (GOI) and the Nagas; crimes committed against Naga women ; houses were burned down; lives were sacrificedbut again there is no denying that India had wasted economy in the Naga issue more than compared to Kashmir issue. So much so yet, no matter what, one should forgive the past and make newer generation a fruitful one for the unity and growth of both the Nations. And not only ‘forgiveness’ can heal but this long Indo-Naga issue should yield an honourable solution. Although much have been said, Nagas have been directly or indirectly dependent on Indian economy and thus there should always have an honourable solution for the best of both India’s and the Nagas’ ability in every aspects to go forward in unity. There had been many negotiations and agreements between Naga leaders and the Government of India (GOI) and resolutions had been made through negotiations but so far no impact resolution has been made that would bring end to the long Indo-Naga issue.
The various Naga civil society organisations (CSOs) have contributed much to the Naga freedom movement in the past years towards maintaining peace in the face of divisions and killings. They have taken initiatives in restoring peace on the strife-torn region. It cannot be denied that the various Naga organisations are trying to bring peace and solution in the state and only through the possibility of these Naga organisations, the level of violence in the state has been reduced. They have contributed much to the Nagas’ demand for Independence by way of restoring peace among the Naga leaders and the factional groups. Even in the context of Framework Agreement they had been urging the Indian government to bring on board all the stakeholders or other Naga factional groups in finalising and discussing the framework agreement so as to bring a fruitful solution to the long Naga vexed issue. But despite their effort, it still finds no solution to end the long Naga vexed issue.
The Nagas’ demand for Independence has become a political agenda for government of Nagaland and for some regional parties and National parties. It has infact invited more and more controversies and issues instead of solving the original problem. The different demands in the name of independence by the Nagas have infact confused the Government of India as well. As different parties come to power from one tenure to another, the political leaders changed their agenda from old to new and new to old every time. Any party who brings up issue of Nagas’ demand for independence to the Government of India is infact defaming or selling the Nagas for their own purposes and advantages. This is how the Nagas’ demand for independence has become a mockery to the whole world and the main root cause of corruption in Nagaland. There are endless problems hampering the Nagas’ demand for independence but the main problem is Nagas are not united and have different kinds of issues. Nagas are confused themselves and have confused the Government of India more and more with their political problems, economic problems, governance, law and order, education and more. Above all, Nagaland’s state government is corrupted and uses political agenda towards Naga factional groups too. To add additional drama to the picture, why Naga politicians always hastily come up with hatch tag “Solution before Election” every after 4/5 years and become dead voice after election. The tradition of this drama culture has been going on for quite some decades now. But above all these, what is the need of the hour is to negotiate with the Government of India (GOI). In every nation young people are the main builders of the Nation but in Nagaland there are thousands of frustrated educated Nagas today and most of them are concerned more for economic growth and stability and not much interested in Nagas’ demand for independence.
Nagas can only come to a final solution when all Naga factional groups would be brought together as one, giving up their personal interest for the sake of their motherland and for the greater interest of Naga people and bring an amicable solution together. Also the visionary leaders and the best men and women should lead the Nagas without bias so that the Nagas would be united under one roof. The more divided the Nagas are, the less Nagas’ chance of fulfilling common aspirations of ever becoming an independent nation.
Different Naga intellectuals speak up in general and openly criticises the foolishness of Nagas’ for forgetting why Nagas started this movement and while some also cries for solution of the Government of India (GOI) and the Nagas’ issue through forgiveness. In the midst of confusions and depressions, there are some angry men, there are some cool-men, there are witty minds, there are genius minds to lead the mass-depression and there are these Naga intellectuals, critics and writers who always try to open the eyes of Nagas in general. There is so much to be done by the Nagas especially to grow stronger in economy, political and social maturity. Nagas should remind each other over and over that Nagas should be strong in infrastructure, should give more importance in entrepreneurship, civic life and should be capable of imparting advanced education system especially in scientific, medical, architect, media industries, engineering field, increasing of livestock, advanced agricultural mechanisms, advocate small scale industries and provide vocational professional training and so much more. Every citizen of any country loves one’s own country so also the Nagas but one cannot progress by culture, tradition and faith alone and hence Nagas should be able to grow in every other aspects of life such as in maintaining uncorrupted governance, producing honest Naga leaders and most of all today, Nagaland has already more than 70,000 graduates and 30,000 post graduates degree holders where the sole giver of employment is the Government sector alone. This imbalance of education and employment has become one of the major problems in Naga society. Hence Nagas should be able to bring forth an amicable solution for youths of tomorrow. Today many Naga youths go outside the state in search of Jobs and livelihood which has become a threat to the Nagas. Nagas should be able to build private sectors at large. Naga leaders however are very busy for Independent movement and peace talks that the real situations at home and outside the home are missed out many a times. The home-work is definitely a need of an hour. The Naga leaders should neither confuse nor mislead the people anymore, rather should start working toward what is called ‘The Good Life ‘for the people if they truly are patriots of Nagaland.
Heli
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
St.Joseph University,
Ikishe Village, Nagaland