GOD created Meitei and Naga to co-exist. This co-existence is to continue till the end of the world. Now the question is, “Shall we fight one another till the end of the world?”. Please, let us look up to the will and wishes of our Almighty God, the Creator of Meitei and Naga. God never likes His children to fight against one another but He likes Meitei and Naga to love one another, to help one another, to support one another and to live in a peaceful co-existence.
We see a ray of hope; hope of possibility for Naga and Meitei for their peaceful co-existence as good neighbors if we start from the original reality of Meitei and Naga. The original reality tells us about the people, about their land and about their land boundaries.
The People:
Nagas and Meiteis are Indigenous Peoples according to the term and definition of the United Nation. The occupation of their land was neither a question of force occupation, nor a question of invasion but Meitei and Naga as the first occupiers of their land in the virgin land of Imphal valley area and the virgin land of hill areas respectively.
Their Land:
God gave a plain area of land (A land of jewel) to the Meiteis. This area of land is bigger than Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore. Meiteis occupied this as a Meitei ethnic land in a compact area. God also gave hill areas of land with full of natural resources to the Nagas. Nagas occupied this as Naga ethnic land in a compact area.
Land Boundaries:
Meiteis and Nagas have been maintaining the traditional boundaries of their lands since their occupation of the land till today.
Self Determination:
According to UN’s Declaration 2007, every indigenous person has their rights for their self-determination (either for within or outside the country). Hence, Meeteis and Nagas as Indigenous people have their rights for self-determination. Nagas should recognize, respect and support the rights and political aspiration of the Meitei Indigenous people for their self-determination, so also Meitei should recognize, respect and support the rights and political aspiration of the Naga Indigenous people for their self-determination.
This is my own humble opinion and conviction for Meetei-Naga Relationship.
G.Gaingam,
Former Vice President,
Naga Hoho.
