The various issues in the state that are in the forefront for the last few years indicates that the Naga society has come to a stage where it now lacks clarity on the aspirations of the people. The unending political issue that could not be resolved even after statehood has now become a bottleneck of growth and development in all aspects. Not only the socio-economic aspect but even the very growth and development of the aptitude of the people have been hampered. As a result the psyche of the general population is filled with a feeling of real and perceived stagnancy of the society as a whole. The comparison of us and them with the former being kept in a state of near dystopia is currently the opinions shared in all the Naga households.
Out of the so many self-conflicting views that has surfaced in recent times one that stands out is the fear of being dominated by people from outside the state but at the same time the same group would want to avail the benefits of a cosmopolitan society like any other town or city in the country. So interestingly Nagas who are strong proponents of the extension of Inner Line Permit to the plain areas of Nagaland are also at present strong supporters of municipalities not only in the plain areas but in the interior districts on the lines of other municipalities in the country. However the other camp consists of those who are against the extension of Inner Line Permit to the plain areas but not yet ready for a municipality like the other towns outside the state. In a run-up to the presidential elections in the US, only a few Nagas supported Trump openly. However the many Nagas who morally supported Clinton or might have supported Obama over the years have instead ideals and issues comparable to a that a right winger in America. Likewise there are also many Naga youngsters now enamoured by the capitalist worlds but cannot do away with the welfare and benefits that came about through socialistic ideals. Nagaland is also a state whose population considers tax as an anathema and one of the worst revenue generating states in the country but the whole population will blame the government for the increasing deficit.
In a state filled with conflict, the powers that be and the policies that have been enforced in the state the last five decades might be the reason for such a confused state of mind. However the recent issues prevalent in the state reveal that the Naga society have reached a point where the half a century of taking the benefits from both sides of the fence has started to become uncomfortable. With the spread of information and learning among the people, the changes that is happening around the world and the neighbouring states, a time must have finally arrived to look back at the very foundation of the State. The acquired knowledge of the population may still not have reached the optimum but the current affairs in the state indicate that the people have an increased curiosity and a new yearning to learn more about oneself and one’s own people. Can our elected representatives and the tribal leaders use such a scenario as a catalyst to set new objectives and goals for the people ?
