Who Would Qualify to Replace Isak Chisi Swu?

Wungkui Zimik Broadly speaking, what are the qualities required to lead the Naga nation now at this crucial juncture and in the days to come? Who is fit to replace Isak Chisi Swu? So many says his trousers are too big for anyone to fit. Many qualities are rightly attributed to the late Yaruiwo: That he was a man of prayer, spent most of his time with the Bible, a tall leader, one who walked on foot thousands of kilometers trekking to China and back passing treacherous terrains, rivers, tortured by inhospitable environments ( endured all for the love of the Nagas); constantly defended onslaughts from the Burmese and Indian armies, a man who was regarded highly by the Chinese Premier, Chou En Lai and even arranged a meeting with Phizo in Paris in 1968 for six days, a leader who dealt with at least seven Indian Prime Ministers including Indira Gandhi in the sixties, a man with an indomitable spirit of Naga nationalism. Just as Moses in the Old Testament, one may not be eloquent. One may not speak like you see in some TV channels, but Yaruiwo Isak Chishi Swu was soft spoken, a man of patience and humility, and of courage and vision. Above all, a man of political and moral conviction. Isak Chishi Swu stood like the Rock of Gibraltar for 58 years (beginning from the year of joining the national service in November, 1958 till his demise in June, 2016 ) in what he believed and thought what was best for the Nagas. The dictionary explains the phrase “like the Rock of Gibraltar” as something/ somebody that is so solid and permanent that it will never break or be destroyed when the storms come. Consider the words of Peggy Noonan, a speechwriter for a former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who wrote a biography of the President, When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan. She says, “ In a President, Character is everything. A president doesn’t have to be brilliant …He doesn’t have to be clever; you hire clever. White Houses are always full of quick-witted people with ready advice on how to flip a senator or implement a strategy. You can hire pragmatic, and you can buy and bring in policy wonks. But you can’t buy courage and decency, you can’t rent a strong moral sense. A president must bring those things with him. If he does, they will give meaning and animation to the great requirement of the presidency. He must know why he’s there and what he wants to do .He has to have thought it through. He need to have, in that much maligned word, but a good one nonetheless, a vision of the future he wishes to create. But a vision is worth little if a president doesn’t have character- the courage of heart – to see it through.” Considering the noble attributes given to the late Naga leader, the saying that the leadership to replace him must be from this and that tribe would be incorrect. Know this: Indian media try to exploit the vulnerability of the Naga psyche and make great effort to drive a wedge between tribes to weaken Naga aspirations. They would write and say this tribe is more powerful and that tribe is smarter. This has been going on for nearly seventy years. Nagas should no longer succumb to the bait. The Naga national movement is above tribal interests. One who could not think beyond the glory of his village, tribe, constituency of region would not fit to be a national leader or even a follower. God chose the first king of Israel from the smallest tribe. Benjamin was the youngest and received the last blessing from the patriach, Jacob. Isak Chisi Swu showed love and concern for the Pochury tribe because like a loving father, he has equal concern for every tribe big and small, privileged and less privileged. For instance, Kalikho Pul, the current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh who was an orphan, a carpenter and a chowkidar is from the smallest minority community, Kaman Mishmi. Big tribe and small tribe matter very little before God and men. My point is this: The practice of chest thumping by lager tribes asserting their positions like giving ultimatums on behalf of a tribe must come to an end now, if a strong Naga nation is to be built. More power must be given to the Naga Hoho by all the tribals units and the NSCN. More so because the units already have the representatives. To conclude, let us repeat the question: What are the attributes required of a leader to lead the Naga national service now and in the days to come OR Who would be a qualified Yaruiwo to steer the destiny of the Nagas? Late Isak Chisi Swu has already shown the way: 1. Faith in God 2. Humility, Courage and Vision 3. Political and Moral Conviction.