Zapuvisie Lhousa
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he clear victory of the BJP in the recent General Election can lead to big changes. It shows the feelings of the Hindu majority for their nationalist ideas for India and demands for change which Congress controlled by Sonia Gandhi and her son failed to achieve. Will the changes be positive or negative in nature is the question many in India must be asking. Today changes in the world are producing unexpected and shocking results in many nations. Will Narendra Modi’s victory also cause changes that will become dangerous and too uncontrollable? Will Modi and the BJP be able to show wisdom and not go too far?
Some may be thinking of development mainly. Nagas will be thinking mainly of an early decision on the Indo-Naga issue. Some may be most concerned about the role RSS will play and the reaction that will produce. But no one knows how long BJP or Narendra Modi will be able to retain power.Inspired by Jay Prakash Narayan’s movement calling for change, the Janata Party defeated the Congress Party in 1977 and came to power. But that Government collapsed before completing 3 years.
We hear some are thinking Mr. Neiphiu Rio will get the chance to do something significant with Modi’s understanding and support. Mr. Rio himself is likely to be thinking likewise. But so far no one knows what will happen. NPF Party’s symbol and doctrine are the Cock and “Fide Non-Armis”. What BJP’s response to the Party and its history will be is still not known. Both for the long-term good of the Nagas and for Rio himself it may be better he does not get a position inside Modi’s Ministry at this stage. He may do more by remaining outside. May God’s wisdom guide him as he is important for Nagas.
India has produced great leaders and there must be leaders of good quality in the nation not known to us. Mahatma Gandhi created modern India by bringing together his team of nation-builders who trusted him because he was not selfish. But when the new India was less than 6 months old, a man controlled by his deep feelings for the Hindus killed him. The Mahatma suddenly went. But he understood the Nagas after their first and last meeting with him. He was truthful in his recognition of the facts of their history. Nagas believed the right relationship and solution with India would be established through him. Their hope was crushed when he was killed. But Nagas respect and honour him and will never forget the understanding he showed.
Whichever Party or coalition of Parties may rule in Delhi, Nagas must know the facts of our history so that we are confident about our identity and ourselves.
Because of the Naga struggle Nagas have two relationships with Delhi. The relationship between the State Government of Nagaland and the Government of India is on the basis of the partially implemented 16-Point Agreement reached between Delhi and some Nagas who stepped out to co-operate with Prime Minister Nehru to create the State. The Points / Clauses accepted by India but yet to be implemented are well known. All Prime Ministers from Indira Gandhi up to Man Mohan Sigh have taken the position that the Indo-Naga conflict is yet to be politically settled that would be satisfactory to both sides. This recognition explains why Delhi wants a negotiated settlement.
The Nagas and their home land have a different relationship with the Government of India. The history of this relationship is as follows:
The British Simon Commission came to Kohima also in the course of their extensive tour of India “to ascertain the wishes of the people for reform measures”. The Nagas were not interested in reform measures. They told the Commission that they had fought the British and were defeated and made a part of the Empire. The day the British decided to end their empire, the Nagas had the right to be left alone to decide their own future. They were not part of any nation before the British came. The Nagas made their position clear in writing in their historic Memorandum to the Commission. 18 years later on August 14, 1947, Nagas reaffirmed the position declared in 1929. India became free the next day. The position the NNC took came from real concern and very careful thinking.
Therefore, it is important for today’s generation of Nagas to know the following two points:
1. The Nagas are not secessionists who can be charged with and punished for breaking the territorial integrity of India because they had made their position clear before India became independent. And the Nagas have demonstrated beyond any possible doubt that they meant what they had declared to be their stand.
2. Nagas are not anti-India. They regard themselves as India’s honourable neighbour deeply proud of their identity and history as a people and a nation, though very tiny in number compared to India. Nagas are not secessionist and anti-India, or “anti-national”. So they have fought without any guilt that they have violated some prior agreement made to be a part of India before the British left their Empire in South Asia. The Government of India has no time for this reality because the politicians are usually too busy with their own problems. Nagas want India to be great for the good of the world. The Indian people will discover this and understand.
Many of my generation have tried to do our utmost by giving whatever we had to defend the facts of our history. The highly demanding and complicated requirements of the great Naga struggle have proved to be too much for us with our human limitations. We have made mistakes many of them unitended. We have blamed one another failing to acknowledge our own mistakes or treating them lightly thereby making others bitter against us. This has seriously weakened the Nagas.
We understand your unhappiness with our failures and the damaged legacy we are passing on to you. But if you will look deep enough into our crisis you will find that we have provided you a foundation that cannot be destroyed. What kind of a society you will build on it is up to you. On behalf of many fellow fighters who gave their lives for our people I ask you not to underestimate or ignore the foundation. God will show you how you are to build on it.
(The writer is a member of Central Executive Council, Naga National Council, Nagaland)
