My blood refused to flow at the sight of a non-local using certain tribal shawl as his bed-sheet at the railway station. The shawl was equally dirty as Dimapur railway station. I asked my friend to see for himself as two witnesses are better than one. He blushed with a smile because the same shawl was inside his suitcase. Change of ownership also determines the value of a thing.
All Naga tribes value traditional attires as their life-line and life-blood. There were days when no one dares to touch certain objects as they were used only by the village headman or by the best warrior. Such sacredness has lost their ground by our casual and rough use. All try to imitate each other in wearing the best attire although status of life does not allow us to do so. Most attires have met their death at the hands of men and women. All the same time, some stick on to the original. We should take every care to wear our traditional attires as per the occasion and as one’s standard/status of life. We need to value tribal attires as they are the best exposition of our identity. By putting on happily the worst manipulated attire, we are showing off our rotten identity. Modernization of culture is appreciated but no one may like your false identity.
Is it necessary to give Naga’s traditional objects/things to outsiders (outside the State) who have no iota of knowledge about it? The amount of Headgears, Spears, Shawls, etc that our Ministers take along with them at their visit to Delhi is enough to erect a Naga Museum. The same is done by the underground groups who meet Prime Minister and other ministers with regard to the Naga Agreement talk. Lots of meetings have taken place for decades and lots of traditional riches are taken outside the State to please the ministers in the centre. Such practice can be stopped if Nagas think more wisely. The GOI is tired of being pleased by the Nagas. We have been selling a part of ourselves outside the State for so long. This is a foolish external show. A small black spot spread outside Nagaland is good enough to spoil the major portion within.
When sacredness is lost, it has immense negative impact. And such negative rushing force is seen in the life of the people. What we eat, drink and wear reveal our inner urge. So also, the way we manipulate our traditional attires show some sort of fluctuation of life.
Human beings are so innovative. The birth of new things takes place every day. Old men and women may wonder at the rapid change in the cultural life setting. The life in the village is no less than the towns. You meet a man walking about in Kohima town wearing fine traditional shawl, you call him, “bosti wala”. A person wears the same shawl in the form of a waist coat, he appear superb to you. Change your attitude before changing your spectacles.
Culturally Yours,
G. L. Khing
Kohima
tisislawkhing@gmail.com
