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Images of Naga delegates at the Naga Day programme organised by FNR at Khuochiezie (local ground) in Kohima on January 10. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 10 (EMN): Former president of United Naga Council (UNC), L Adani lamented that unity among Naga people is still in a much more critical ‘dimension’ because of the ‘distance of the minds and hearts’ that have widened over the years.
Speaking at the Naga Day programme held in Kohima on January 10, Adani observed that though Nagas have converged from across the spread of the ancestral domain at the call of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), he was sceptical that Nagas have also come with their respective shawls and with narrow bias tribal original perspective of the south, north, east and west of them and us. “We have also come with distrust and hurts ‘perceived and real’ which are deeply entrenched.” At the same time, Adani asserted that the way forward from the seemingly impossible situation was to collectively ‘commit ourselves today to the higher and bigger possibility so that we are not swayed to confusion and disillusion’ by immediate emotions and sentiments of ‘us and them.’
‘Let tribes and regions not be the cause of our division but let us allow our enlightened spirit to form a collective belongingness in the many tribes and regions that we are,’ called Adani and added that Nagas must firmly and proudly position ourselves to withstand pestiferous elements and evolve strategies to overcome influences that jeopardise Naga nationhood in the spirit of oneness and being Nagas across borders.
‘In the spirit of oneness which envisions you, me and all of us as belonging to one socio, cultural and political identity lies the foundation of the Naga as a people with a common hope and common future,’ he added.
He also expressed hope that the convergence will ‘dissolve the borders of the imagination within us and gain strength from within ourselves collectively and enable us to open up and reach out to our neighbours with a message of higher and bigger human possibilities together. He opined that the observance of the Naga Day would consolidate and cement the organic wellbeing of the Naga people.
Stressing on the need to earnestly seek and open the minds to the world of every widening thoughts and actions, Dr. P. Ngully emphasised that Nagas must begin as in the ancient days by renewing and rebuilding relationship through face to face encounter.
Stating that Nagas at time disagree strongly but still remain friends, Dr. Ngully maintained that ‘accepting people not like us can make us grow and every time we hold out a hand of friendship to somebody not like us, we heal one of the fractures of our wounded world.’
While pointing that ‘if our identity is weak we will feel threatened,’ Dr. Ngully said ‘our identity can be strong only when we understand who we are, where we come from and what are the values and ideal with which we live. This is possible only by narrating and understanding our story, reading and studying our history,’ he added.
He has further urged upon the Nagas take a collective responsibility to move from the ‘world of me to all of us’ together to discover our ancient beliefs of wisdom and truth. Only then, he said, ‘we will surely be prepared to face the future ‘not alone but together’ and can claim our rightful place through the healing of our spirit as a nation among nations.’
