There is social resistance to women entering politics, says Banuo Jamir

EMN DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 14 The first woman Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Banuo Z. Jamir, now retired from service, has pointed out that men, including in Nagaland have today broken into professions which were generally regarded to be ‘female’ bastions such as world renowned chefs who are mostly men or fashion designers which is associated with women again having men as the most popular designers viz Christian Dior, Yves St. Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Giovanni, Versace, Atsu Sekhose. “Why then is there so much resistance to women breaking into bastions which have been regarded to be male domain - including politics”, the former chief secretary wondered. She was speaking during the programme DIVAS: Celebrating Women Talent in Song held on December 7 at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Music and Performing Arts, Jotsoma organized by the Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland (BASN). Banuo, who has been a strong advocate of women’s empowerment in different fields, observed that culture and traditions are still very strong in our social set-up but said changes have to come about. She suggested that a difference can be made through efforts by women themselves to promote empowerment of women. Pointing out that very often ‘empowerment’ is given a negative connotation to mean an aggressive encroachment into male preserve, Banuo said that women themselves through their ‘conduct and achievements’ can prove that they do not mean to threaten the position of men. “Our objective is to complement the men, to be partners not opponents or rivals, that together we can make our society stronger, richer and more vibrant. So what is stopping women from participating in elections,” she questioned. According to the former chief secretary, it is primarily because the public office has been the ‘preserve of men all these years’ and that this was the present ‘mindset’. Secondly, she explained that given the practical reality that funds are necessary to contest any election, Banuo said that women do not have access to funds. “Surely there must be businessmen and societies in our State who would be willing to sponsor a daughter, a wife, a sister, a mother to take part in election and we should try to bring a paradigm shift in the mind set of our people to encourage women, to also come into the political arena as elected people’s representatives,” she said. Pointing out that socially it was not easy for women to rise to positions of recognition without a struggle, she said that every step that a woman takes in any new field is required to be walked as if on a muddy and rough (katcha) road, breaking soil as in agriculture and even climbing pathless heights. A woman has to struggle much more than a man to prove herself and that they have to break through social and family resistance to reach where they are today. Lamenting that a housewife is taken totally for granted, Banuo called for creating awareness of the value of women. “A mere housewife is how a housewife is referred to, but mind you, if you calculate her worth in terms of money, no family can afford a housewife - she is a super-woman - a mother, an administrator, a negotiator, a diplomat, a financial consultant, an accountant, a cashier, a manager, a caretaker, a caregiver, a doctor, a nurse, a counselor, not least a chef, a cleaner, a washer - the list is endless,” she added. Affirming that “women are not inferior and that no one can make us feel inferior without us first feeling inferior ourselves,” Banuo said that the first step towards empowerment as women is to respect ourselves.” She also advised that one’s own homes should be the place to start giving “value to our mothers, our sisters, our sisters-in-laws, our daughters, our daughters-in-laws, our grand-daughters.” She also said that it was the ‘social responsibility’ of those who are privileged, empowered and in a position to help other women rise up to position of self-dignity and respect.

Former CS credits BASN for sowing the ‘seed’ of Hornbill Festival

Former Chief Secretary of Nagaland Banuo Z. Jamir has disclosed that the seed of the Hornbill Festival, which has become a mega event for the State of Nagaland, was first sown by the Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland (BASN) when a proposal was submitted by them to the State government to sponsor a winter carnival to usher in the 21st century”. She made this disclosure while speaking as the chief guest during the programme “Divas - celebrating women talent in song” organized by the BASN on December 7 as part of the Hornbill Festival. According to the former chief secretary, “the concept took off and the State government decided to hold an event to usher in a new century of hope, peace and prosperity through the Hornbill Festival. Following this, the Miss Nagaland Show has become an annual event.” Banuo said that this initiative of the BASN early on as a fact which is less known and even less or not acknowledged. Lauding the effort put in by the BASN for organizing the Miss Nagaland Show without fail for the last 25 years, Banuo said that at a time when the State was under very gloomy circumstances of fear and uncertainty of life, this small group of young women and a smaller number of determined young men “gave expression to the fact that life, no matter what, is worth celebrating because of the beauty that surrounds us in so many of God's creation, particularly human talent and this has been articulated largely through the annual Miss Nagaland Show”. The former chief secretary saluted all the founding members and the present members of BASN for what she termed as “the tenacious spirit exhibited by them through these years”. “I will not be wrong to say that you truly express the Naga spirit of tenacity and resilience,” she said.