Moral Crisis

The Naga moral crisis has reached its lowest point. The brutal and horrendous gang-rape of a pregnant mother by four college youths is appalling and has sent shock waves to the heart of the Naga moral fiber. It is a clear reminder to the Naga society that it is indeed time to rise to its feet in unison against crimes on women. The absence of public civil action and the chilling silence on the part of the government in addressing recent violent crimes against children and women have only reinforced chauvinistic thinking and encouraged further perpetration of gender based violence. Unable to stand up and protect the right to life of its people, the Naga Jurisprudence is at peril.
There was a time, not too long ago, when as a young student I often was told by elders both men and women, that the word RAPE did not exist in the Naga lexicon; and that this criminal act was introduced into the Naga life by those who had intruded and disturbed the seemingly pleasant Naga existential reality. I had no way of verifying whether this narrative was factual, but today, as I sit in front of the newspaper, I know for sure that the word RAPE has become very much a dreaded part of Naga life. The recent rape and murder of a 15 year old school girl and yesterday’s gang-rape of a pregnant mother is a reflection of the extent to which Naga society has degenerated. It is a remorseful reminder of how sick Naga society has become.
Yes, we are all sick; maybe some more than the other, but we all need some kind of urgent healing. We all carry some form of trauma, hurt, pain, resentment, anger, hatred, humiliation, and bitterness and unless we admit and redress it, the chances of us expressing these feelings through violent and reprehensible ways increases manifold. The moral crisis we Nagas find ourselves in cannot be ignored anymore. But it is in our denial of the crisis that we are unable to comprehend and address the moral challenges that lie before us. The violence that we see around is a grim reminder that Nagas have ceased to uphold and revere human life. We simply just cannot continue in this path of criminalization, which is leading to our destruction. It calls for Nagas to have an honest and sincere introspection.
While a personal and collective introspection is imperative cutting across all sections of Naga society, it is equally important for the government as well as social and political institutions and organizations to rise up to the call for relevance. In the matters pertaining to women issues, it is imperative that the Nagaland Women Commission makes itself more relevant and responsible. With the increasing number of violence against women both at the systemic and domestic area, the need for the NWC to come alive and take greater responsibility in protecting and developing the well-being of women’s right has become essential.
The tragic fact that the NWC has been unable to make any successful and meaningful intervention in any of the recent cases of violence against women, is a reflection that some serious rethinking must take place within NWC if it is to be a credible and effective body in strengthening the rights of women. There is also a serious need to revamp the Naga justice system, a system that is not limited by custom and tradition, but a system that will thrive and strive on democratic values and principles. It is time that issues of Naga jurisprudence are depoliticized and a vibrant and independent judicial system is put in place, a system that embodies the will and desire of the Naga people.
Indeed, the moral crisis within the Naga society is at all levels and has intruded every home and institution. No one has been left untouched and it would require all our will and determination to overcome the downward spiraling of our society. What we need today is some constructive self-criticism, truthful evaluation of where Nagas are at and where we wish to go and some pragmatic value-based actions to overcome the moral crisis. If not, I am afraid, that Rape may become an institutionalized norm, in the same way that killing has become in prevailing situation. If Nagas don’t stand up today and say Enough is Enough, I guess we never will learn to stand up.