Naga’s Unity in Tangle and Elusive Naga Solution

The journey of Naga political history has two major events -- “Naga plebiscite in 1951 and 16-Point Agreement in 1960. These two events are diametrically opposed to each other in terms of their orientations and implications in which many tall Naga leaders of varied colours were involved. Of these two events, Naga plebiscite had laid down the political foundation for the Naga generations to come.

It is important to reflect upon the historical events as the Nagas are again at the threshold of an event, a history-making circumstances that will shape the future of every Naga in the years to come. The current political negotiation is in the crucial stage and if inked it will have a long lasting impact on the fate of all Nagas. On the surface, every Naga, irrespective of their tribe and location, profess the need of ‘Unity’ among the Nagas in order achieve an acceptable and honorable solution to the decades-old Naga political problem. But when the situation is critically observed, deep down in the heart, many people are vying for the kind of Unity that will serve their own interest than the welfare of all the Nagas at large. One indication of this contradiction is that, all the people expressed their support for unification of all the Naga-inhabited areas and Naga political solution on numerous occasions in the past; some time against the political solution that will look into the larger welfare and benefit of all the Nagas. It is a matter of great intrigue which everyone needs to ponder as to how any organisation(s) that has vociferously supported the unity of all the Nagas in the past, sometime even in the same page, can seek the interest for few sections and gives more emphasis on what they stand for is right. Every organisation and individual have rendered time and energy as much as possible for the unity of the Nagas, but the success is elusive due to lack of common objective, on which basis unity is possible. It may be summed up that random talk of unity without basis can never be achieved however much we attempt or wish to be practical.

Unity is a wish and voice of every Naga, but the contrary of the talk of unity is that if anybody propagates inclusive approach or broad outlook to Naga political solution, it is branded as one-sided and dubbed as an outsider, no matter what the person is trying to convey or which tribe he or she belongs to. Serious attempts to exclude each other and to seek for self interest has undoubtedly taken deep roots in our Naga society, which is why the talk of unity remains talk the talk than a practical reality. The entanglement has come to a point where we only hear and listen the portions of propaganda that support our interest and not take into account the situation on the other side. Instead of trying to reach out and create understanding within the society, seeking to delegitimise the stand of oneself to what one wishes is absolute, is more harmful to the unity move. While some people are genuinely committed to seeking solution to the decades-old problem, others are out rightly against the idea of talking about the larger interest, which is also in contrary to the talk of Naga unity. It is disheartening to witness that time and again attempts have been made to create misunderstanding among the Nagas when the situation demands resolute stand for all Nagas. It is important for all to avoid listening to propaganda that will not benefit the society as a whole or can never bring a lasting solution to the decades-old Naga political issue.

Everyone is well informed and aware of the political negotiations that are going on between the Nagas and India; that the talks are unable to conclude due to various complexities, but failed to understand the dynamics of politics and accuse one another instead of building consensus measures. At this crucial time, it is imperative for all to support the peace talk to find a lasting solution which will benefit one and all. It is a time for every concern people to seriously ponder on the larger interest, rather than seeking for self interest.

H.K. Zhimomi                            

Former President, Naga Hoho