As with any other circus, the Nagaland Mela is comprised of a main ring and numerous side-shows. The difference between our Nagaland Mela and an ordinary circus is that in the latter we know exactly which is the main attraction and which are the side-shows; but in our Mela, the audience is left confused as to which is which. And while a circus seeks to amuse and entertain us with feats of skill and acts of comedy, our mela leaves us despairing and despondent; pulling our hair out in frustration and anger at our idiotic antics. Over the past few days, two incidents have stood out; I call them the side-show and the main attraction of the week.
The Side-Show
The side-show played out exactly as a bad B-Grade Hollywood Western (Cowboy) Movie which I so loved as a kid. These movies had predictable story-lines. There would be the good citizens being harassed by the villain/villains (usually Red Indians i.e. American Indians) until the hero showed up to defeat the villains. The United States Cavalry would make occasional appearances throughout the movie; doing nothing important, except to let the audience know that there was a mighty force which stood to come to the rescue of good people. But, predictably, the U.S. Cavalry would arrive, with their sabers drawn, bugles blowing, and their pennants and streamers flying at the end of their lances, just when the hero and good citizens had managed to defeat the villain.
The recent confrontation between the A.C.A.U.T. and D.C.C.F. on the one side and “Colonel” Tokugha of the N.S.C.N (U) on the other, played out exactly on the lines of the above scenario. With “Col.” Tokugha playing the role of the villain, the D.C.C.F. being the Good Citizens, the Assam Rifles playing The U.S. Cavalry and who else, but our beloved A.C.A.U.T. taking on the role of the hero. A.C.A.U.T. has become a combination of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood in The Wild and Uncivilized East of India, called Nagaland. The Assam Rifles have been busy all along, arresting the wives and family members of some of our Freedom Fighters, raiding the houses and harassing the family members of others; but in this case, they showed up to no purpose and only ended up giving the N.S.C.N. (U) the lame-brained excuse to call the A.C.A.U.T. and the D.C.C.F. “Indian Intelligence Agents/Informers”. This whole incident is nothing new or surprising; I just mention it to illustrate how Nagaland has become devoid of any law enforcement agency/agencies, and how people of all walks of life have come to view A.C.A.U.T. as their only hope. And also to bring out the fact that my 11 year old son has an air-rifle (spring loaded, not even gas powered) and about 300 pellets; and that if, God forbid, I ever fall foul of The Assam Rifles and they raid my home, my “Friends of the Hill People” will not accuse me of possessing, “war-like stores.”
The Main Attraction
Everything in life is played out in accordance with certain “rules”. Before, during and in the aftermath of the U.L.B. Fiasco, I tried to point out ‘The Rules of The Game”, as I perceived them to be. Prior to everything going to hell in a handcart, our esteemed papers were good enough to publish two letters of mine which detailed how, first 25% and then 33% Reservation for Women could be achieved without disrupting the status quo of the existing seats in our Municipal Wards. But our respected Tribal Organisations took a reactionary stand and seemed to turn into a bunch of old fogeys who refused to see beyond their noses and recognize the realities of the modern world; our beloved women seemed to turn into radical Femnazis with one-track minds; and the minds of our honourable (??) legislators seemed like those of moronic children whose mothers had dropped them on their heads during their formative years.
After the tragic incidents which led to the loss of three precious lives, I pointed out what the Parliamentary Concept of Collective Responsibility meant. The J.C.C. chose to ignore the rules of the game when it did not press for the suspension of the Police Personnel involved in the firing incident and the removal of the then Home Minister from his office. The removal of the Chief Minister from his office seemed to be their aim, and that accomplished, they seemed to fall into a stupor.
Now that Mr. T.R. Zeliang has managed to worm his way back into the C.M.O., the J.C.C. has suddenly come to life, spouting self-righteous indignation and remembering the rules of the old game. I address all the People of Nagaland and especially my fellow Sumi Tribesmen, when I say this, “This is an entirely different Ball-game.” I admit that, of all the dirty, self-seeking, greedy and opportunistic scoundrels we Nagas so proudly elect to our State Legislature, Mr. T.R. Zeliang and the Legislators supporting him are the dirtiest bunch of self-seeking, greedy and opportunistic scoundrels that have ever emerged on the political scene of Nagaland. But that does not change the fact that while they may have twisted, bent and corkscrewed the Laws of the Land, they have not exactly broken the Laws of the Land.
The interpretation of the Law is for the Courts of Law and Justice to rule on. The Constitution of India and the rules of the N.P.F. Party will decide the fate of all the present Legislators. So, let us leave it to the Courts of Law and Justice to decide. It should not matter to us who heads the bunch of crooks. The fact that the Chief Crook happens to be from my tribe or yours has no bearing on the fact that he is a crook, plain and simple.
I cannot speak for the other people of Nagaland, but I speak for myself when I say,” The existence of the Sumi Tribe does not depend on the political survival of a few of our legislators, or on the primacy of any one of our numerous underground factions. And that I will die before I see the Sumis turned into a Bunch of Clowns jumping to the crack of the whip of an Unseen Ringmaster.” This political Circus will end, but the Sumis and the other Tribes and People of Nagaland will still remain. Stay Calm, remain steady and run the course. Do not jump on the nearest bandwagon just because others are doing it.
