We all know that America is not a nation in the strictest sense of the word- nation. It is a fact a nation of nations. It is also a historical fact that the founders of the present American nation were not the ethnic inhabitants of the land. In its origin, what began as an attempt by Britain to set up a colony in North America eventually evolved into the creation of a new nation. This unprecedented phenomenon happened when other communities from Europe also fled to America from religious persecutions in their own lands. After many years of oppressive rule under the king of England, the various colonies where these immigrants were settled, finally decided to severe all their political connections with Britain and declared their own Independence on July 4, 1776.
Because of the aforementioned facts of mixed nationhood, when the Americans declared their independence, their patriotism was not in affiliation to any one nation but rather their allegiance was to a common proposition. This proposition was – “that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…and that… to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
This proposition also laid the foundation of all modern democracies when modern nation states replaced Empires, Monarchies and Dynasties in the 19th and 20th centuries. This form of democratic governments was most eloquently defined by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of American Republic in his famous Gettysburg speech. In that famous two minutes speech, he described Democracy as “The Government of the People by the People and for the People.”
Naga democracy and patriotism is also based on a proposition. But unlike the Americans, Naga patriotism is rooted in a single nation fact that had an ethnic geography, history and culture- all its own. But let us first consider Naga democracy. Long before Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech of Nov.19, 1863, British Anthropologist, Captain Butler had already described Naga democracy as “the purest form of democracy” which was unbelievable to be in existence for even a single day. But in his writings, he acknowledged that this unique democracy had always been practiced by the Nagas. This unique Naga democracy where every Naga village was a sovereign democratic republic is another unprecedented political phenomenon in human history and civilization. It is indeed a priceless heritage that our forefathers bequeathed to us. Now all these sovereign democratic republics resolved to form themselves into one federal republic called the Federal Government of Nagaland on March 22, 1956 at Parashen in Rengma Naga region.
As for the proposition under which they swore their allegiance to one another and their one country, it is stated in the Preamble of the NagaYehzabo. The wordings of the preamble goes as follows: “We, the people of Nagaland, solemnly acknowledging that the sovereignty over this earth and the entire universe belong to almighty God alone, and that the authority of the people to be exercised on their territory is a sacred trust from God…having our attachment to the truth of popular sovereignty…to establish national institutions based on the common ideals of democracy, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity among the people composing it, do hereby adopt our Yehzabo”…
With such awesome words, our national leaders dedicated our lands and our people to become a sovereign federal republic. Personally, I find all these sublime words of allegiance to God and country far more superior then that of even the American and their allegiance to their propositions. In our above stated preamble, due acknowledgement is given to God as the sovereign Lord of the universe and secondly, our commitment to our political rights is stated as a divine trusteeship from God. Our responsibility and obligation to our nation cannot be anything less than this. This is because it is not “WE”, but “GOD”, who is the author and giver of all nations and their geographical lands. (Acts 17:26& Dt 32:8). Naga patriotism is also deeply rooted in the soil (geography) of their lands. When we talk about our political rights to our lands under Urra Uvie (Our lands belong to us), we are not talking about lands leased to us by some Landlords or Zamindars. We are instead talking about private residential plot and terraced fields that bear the distinct marks of our forefather’s architectural and agriculture engineering skills. We are indeed talking about sacred lands where our own forefathers lie buried. With our commitment to such lofty theological and political virtues and a patriotism deeply rooted in our soil, we can build a great nation UNDER GOD for ourselves and our children.
However, sadly, many Nagas have today walked away from these solemn national oaths and commitments and are desperately trying to build their patriotisms upon some dead political ideologies. They are shifting and drifting with the changes of times rather then being anchored on the immutable and changeless truths of God and human history These leaders have even changed the date of our Republic Day. But whatever they may be doing, let all Nagas know this fact that Nagas as a nation gave only one mandate to one Federal Government. If the nation, through a national referendum, wish to give a fresh mandate to a new form of democracy or socialism or whatever, then we can all participate in such an activity. But in the absence of such a national referendum, as far as I am concerned, I will stand only with the Naga mandated Federal Government and its commitment to sovereignty and independence under the sovereignty of God.
In conclusion, every citizen of any country should always be ready to die for one’s national integrity and rights. This is a divine national obligation under God. But woe to them who have laid down their lives for useless man-made political ideologies and dictatorial political leaders. They have died useless deaths for a useless cause
Kaka D. Iralu
