The discussions and exchanges in the newspapers and social media on this subject of “Naga Day” have been vigorous and comprehensive. They have brought out the different views and perspectives held by different Nagas, and even by our regional neighbours and others beyond. So as we meet here today we can say we have a deeper, wider understanding of the subject and one another which is so important. There is no doubt the honest conversations during the last weeks have reopened doors people had started to shut to one another. The result would be more distrust.
I am keenly conscious of the undeserved privilege given to me to say something at the start of this programme. Yet I would like to propose that this acknowledgement and celebration of what our history has given us should take us in the creative direction I believe God is showing us. And that is reconciliation within our society through the healing of our wounded relationships which will enable us to grow properly with mutual goodwill and co-operation lifting us up instead of the opposite bringing us down. FNR is committed to this all-important task, and it is of course the joint responsibility of all Nagas.
The question “Why Naga Day” takes us back to what happened on this day 89 years ago. In 1929, on the 10th of January, in Kohima, the historic Naga Memorandum was submitted to the British Parliamentary Commission from London headed by Sir John Simon. The points made by the 20 members of the Naga Club who signed the submission are well-known to all Nagas. I do not need to elaborate them here. What Naga Club was and what it is being revived to become again will soon be made clear by another speaker.
As we all know the clear, straightforward stand taken in the Naga Memorandum to the Simon Commission established the political position of the Naga people long before the British whose superior might defeated them left their Empire in South Asia in 1947. The modern Naga journey that started with the declaration in 1929 to today brings to mind an African folk saying: “He who wakes you up in the middle of the night to go on a long journey, you will thank him only after you have travelled a very long distance with him”.
Today, on Naga Day, we are looking back and assessing the distance we have covered and what we have achieved. And many today may not at all be thankful to our pioneers who in 1929 woke their people up to go on the long journey. Because to today’s generation the journey has taken them to where we are and what we are today – stagnant, corruption ridden, without a satisfying purpose of life, and paralysed, therefore unmanageably destructive, if we are honest.
At this baffling time we must not make our situation worse by denial of the facts and truth, our failures and shortcomings that have produced resentment, desire for revenge and poverty of spirit. Or, by becoming irresponsible, greedy, opportunistic exploiters of our people’s bewildering crisis for personal gratification, disregarding the terrible consequences for society.
The time has come to reject the errors of hate, fear and selfishness of the past and take our society forward together. This will come down to a few points.
I believe all this is do-able and on this very special day, let us all make a start and faithfully keep it up for the sake of our society and for the coming generations.
Our homeland is most strategically and perilously placed at the meeting point of nations, races, religions, cultures and ancient civilisations. It is also one of the areas on the globe still quite green with rare bio-diversity hot spots. And we are surrounded by complicated and explosive problems that threaten to bring destabilisation to the entire continent.
If the impacts of the challenges from outside are not to overwhelm us, but make us grow stronger as we should, we urgently need to reach out to one another and restore the health and spirit of our society whatever the cost may be to our pride, prejudices, fears and selfishness. These enemies are not worth our protection.
These are compelling reasons for us to come together and celebrate Naga Day as we are doing today.
