During my schooling days, I would often come across some non-Naga with a Naga name. You enquire about it and you find out that he/she is adopted. Of course, some possess such features and are still Naga by way of inheriting their mothers’ genes who happen to be non-Naga(s). Such is life! You might brand me abrasive, condescending and ignorant but please hear me out.
I have nothing against non-Nagas. Be they Indians, Germans, Americans, Arabs, Africans, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Europeans, so on and so forth. As the name of our land suggests, Nagaland belongs only to Nagas. We are the sole owners and masters of our land and resources. The point I’m trying to emphasize upon is that Nagas are very less in population compared to other states and that one day, sooner or later, the non-Nagas like the ones I’ve just mentioned earlier will try to assert their political rights and usurp political power. This might seem like a farfetched imagination but we don’t have to go too far to see for ourselves what’s happened in Tripura. Long story short, Nagaland cannot be turned into another Tripura. We’re very accommodating and welcoming, to the point of leading ourselves to our own extinction and irrelevance. I’m not trying to strike a negative image of the non-Nagas either, but we cannot escape from the harsh reality that is surrounding us. I’m not against adoption of any kind but I personally feel that when non-Nagas are adopted, they ought not to be given Naga names because many of them end up using their Naga names for official purposes and what-not, paving the way for their assimilation into Naga society even though they’re not Nagas. While assimilation itself is not a bad thing, especially in this day and age, I do not advocate for such a kind. It is detrimental to our ‘Naganess’. Kindness is one thing, being pragmatic is another! Please understand that some of my closest friends are non-Nagas but just because they’re my friends doesn’t mean that I will sell away my rights, thereby jeopardizing our future. In a land like ours where resources and opportunities are scarce and limited, it is prudent to ponder upon such an issue at the earliest and work out a best possible solution. I have nothing but respect for non-Nagas. Their contribution to our land’s economy is undeniable. We can and we will, as we are now, always live in harmony, side by side but we must be careful not to grant them any sort of political opportunities. We must always keep in mind that BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.
The non-Nagas with Naga names would take away many of the jobs and services rightfully deserved by our Naga brothers and sisters, and in the process, injustice and unrest are manufactured. Let’s imagine a situation with a couple of examples: Suppose Amen, an Ao Naga lady, is married to Partha Banerjee, a Bengali. This would mean that their children would not be Nagas but Bengalis. Same would be the case if Vinitoli, a Sumi Naga lady, marries a European. Their off springs would be Europeans. If you ask me why, it is simply because it is the law of nature since time immemorial (Sorry I couldn’t come up with a more modern and subtle explanation). Besides, common sense dictates so anyway.
In this context, I think it would be best to tackle this particular issue at the earliest. This is where the GBs would also come in handy, along with the Village Councils. My argument might be found rather narrow and ‘Hitler-ish’ by some sections of society. One might even question my lack of heart as a human being and a Christian, but emotions and tears aside, I sincerely believe that I’m speaking for many Nagas today who feel the same as I do. The government of the day would do well to bring out a legislation soon on this matter to address this burning issue. Go to the streets of Dimapur and Kohima; most people would know what I’m talking about and agree with me. Mokokchung is also another. The services of Survival Nagaland (SN) would also be a great bonus. Remember, fellow Nagas, it is not only the Bangladeshi immigrants. We have to be equally concerned about winds that are blowing from many directions and thus, what is required of us now, is a strong and immovable root to which we can proudly trace back our history.
Long Live Nagaland!
