A collaborative effort between Clark Theological College and Department of Sociology, Nagaland University (NU), Lumami witnessed the realization of a one-day seminar on Peace and Development in NorthEast India on December 2, which was sponsored by Centre for Gandhian Studies and Research, Nagaland University (NU), Lumami.
The seminar was organized at the Jungshinokdang Hall at Clark Theological College and it brought together a diverse mix of people representing the academia, church leaders and members of civil society. The inaugural session was chaired by Prof. Lanunungsang, NU while the welcome and introduction was made by Dr. Takatemjen, Principal of Clark Theological College.
Abhishek Singh (IAS), Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mokokchung presented the keynote address as the Guest of Honor. He stressed on the growing concept of globalization and the revolution of information and technology as complementary factors responsible for breaking down barriers of isolation. He said that all we need today is a ‘window’ to get connected to the rest of the world.
The young DC reflectively shared his views on the idea of peace and development as dynamic concepts that change with the time and needs of the situation. He remarked that peoples understanding of peace is in a state of continuous change and just when one realizes the immediate desire for peace, another desire takes its place. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the notions of peace and development have changed, he said. In reference to which one should come first, peace or development, he felt that with the changing times, development should come first and lay the foundation for sustainable peace.
Abhishek pointed out on how development activities had increased over the last few years, particularly in Mokokchung. He however cautioned that while sufficient funds for development was being allotted for Nagaland, those in the decision making were often citing ‘law and order’ ‘insurgency’ and ‘extortion’ as an alibi for the lack of development. He stressed that development cannot be avoided in the name of insurgency and extortion and revealed that people should demand and make use of the Right to Information Act (RTI) to ensure that the funds for development were being utilized properly by the concerned authorities.
The first technical session was moderated by Dr. SN Lotha, HOD, Department of Sociology, NU while the panelists were Rev. Dr. FS Downs, USA and Prof. AK Singh, NU, while the respondent was Dr. Akumla Longkumer.
Rev. Dr FS Downs, a historian provided an insight to Peace and Development in Northeast India: Perspectives from Christianity. Rev. Downs an elderly man with vast knowledge and experience in the northeast shared his observations in diverse cultures and the role that Christianity had in promoting peace and development in the region. Born in the Garo hills to parents who lived among the Garo people for forty years, he recalled his conversations with Nagas in the 1960s. He said that the history of Christianity among the Nagas has been a history of peace missions. Considering that there were ongoing inter-village wars, Christian workers were constantly venturing out to the other to try and bridge understanding between clans and villages to bring about peace.
He stated that prior to Christianity, values of respect, honesty and community were confined to clans and villages and therefore one of the major contributions of Christianity was to universalize these values by going beyond the clans and villages. He reiterated that Christianity in the Naga context was first and foremost a peace mission. He however regretted that the present system of electoral politics was responsible for awakening the dormant feelings of ‘ism’ since intending candidates were campaigning along the lines of clan, villages, ranges and tribes. He said that the electoral system had destroyed the traditional consensual decision-making processes which were respected by all. Rev. Downs said that Christianity’s contribution to development in the Northeast and Nagaland in particular came in the form of education and believed that education was the basis of human development.
Prof AK Singh, NU shared his perspective on Conflict Resolutions: Some Case Studies with emphasis on foreign policy. While stating that he disagreed with the Deputy Commissioner’s viewpoint on globalization, Prof Singh went on to say that the present trend of globalization was not one of diversity, but one in which the powerful was trying to impose its culture over the others, therefore resulting in conflict because it was only natural to resist when imposed upon. Prof Singh pointed out at length the various sources that lead to conflict and the approaches of conflict resolution, while stressing on confidence building measures as a means to build on the possibilities of a peaceful resolution.
Prof Singh stated that the end of the cold war did not necessary mean the end of all conflicts and he referred extensively to Samuel Huntington and Francis Fukiyama.
Prof Singh believed that the one major source of conflict was the issue of ‘identity’ and he went on to say that though conflicts may be projected as ideological, they were in fact about identity and national interests. He touched on the method of non-violence as a means of resolution of conflicts and stated that the Gandhi was not about a person, but about an idea that advocated for non-violence as a means to peace. Prof Singh revealed the contradicting position of India when it came to non-violence. He said that when it came to external affairs, India was committed to the principles of non-violence, but however failed to uphold the same position when it came to matters of internal affairs. Prof Singh declared that he often told his students that Nagaland would have been independent by now, had the Naga movement been a peaceful one.
Dr. Akumla Longkumer responded to both the presentation and raised questions that led to a short time of discussion.
In the afternoon technical session, Dr. RK Singh, Reader, Department of Sociology served as the moderator while the panelist were Prof Lanunungsang, Nagaland University and Aküm Longchari, Managing Director of The Morung Express. Prof. Lanunungsang, spoke on Peace and Development in Nagaland: Gandhian Perspective. He began by pointing out that he got to know Gandhi only very recently and that he was now a staunch follower of Gandhi. He pointed out that non-violence was not only a form of resistance, but that non-violence in its totality was a philosophy and a way of life.
Prof. Lanunungsang stated that non-violence is based on truth and that love was primary basis of non-violent action. He went on to add that Gandhi had said that non-violence was not for the weak, but was for the courageous and for the fearless. Non-violence needs commitment and the moral courage to resist through peaceful means. He pointed out that the village is the basis of a nation and therefore the principles of Gandhi must be reflected from the village level. In the course of discussion he said that, the time of armed fighting was over and that the Nagas must now find solution through negotiation and other peaceful means.
Aküm Longchari, Managing Director of The Morung Express spoke on Towards JustPeace. He lamented that the pursuit for power and the struggle for rights made the processes of dehumanization and humanization as inevitable destinations. He said that because of these paradoxical destinations, the question of right to self-determination was at the center of a shared humanity. He went on to add that the manner in which a people exercises their self-determining capacities to determine their own future was the decisive element in the question of peace. He pointed out that the lack of critical imagination and the arrogance of power was responsible in creating an unjust status quo in which the powers that be functioned on the assumption that the hammer was the only means available to deal with differences and that the use of such force only resulted in a monologue.
Aküm cautioned the politics of underdevelopment as not just simply the absence of development, but a policy defined by political and economic system thriving on a militarized and bureaucratic system which sucked resources from villages to towns, from towns to cities and from perceived peripheries to the center. He said that such development models only encouraged large scale borrowing and maximum spending which inevitably caused debt and dependency. He also remarked that development should not be a psychological tool to cover past hurts.
Aküm in his closing articulated for the need of a prophetic imagination that comes about through self-criticism which begins with people rediscovering their own voices and aspiring for the fullness of their humanity by exercising their ability to expand a vision for their future by transcending the existing realities which were limited by present conditions. He called for a process in which resolution, reconciliation and reconstruction were intertwined with each other into one process. He urged that we must collectively be persuaded to move beyond what exists while still living in it.
Following the presentation by the panelist, Dr. Akheto Sema and Dr. Rongsen Longkumer were the respondents who open the discussion time with their comments and responses to the panelist.
Finally, the valedictory session was chaired by Dr. Takatemjen, Principal of CTC, while the concluding remarks were made by Prof. Lanunungsang. Dr. Akheto Sema said the vote of thanks. As a symbol of affirming the process and ending the day long seminar, the participants stood together holding their hands as Rev. Downs closed with a prayer.
The concluding remarks made by Prof. Lanunungsang reads as follows:
A new history and a new chapter has been created by having a one day seminar on Peace and Development in Northeast sponsored by Center for Gandhian Studies and Research NU (Lumami) organized by Clark Theological College and Department of Sociology NU (Lumami) on December 12, 2006 at CTC.
1. It is the first interaction between CTC and NU and civil societies and the outcome is found to be result oriented drawing more challenges to continue such programs in future.
2. The main theme of the seminar Peace and Development was deliberated at length. Right to have peace and right to development is the right of everybody. Therefore there is a need to go beyond the concept of peace and development,making these concepts a reality.
3. Peace studies program in CTC and Center for Gandhian Studies and Research in NU Lumami should work more together in such field in future.
4. CTC is one of the most important theological colleges in Northeast in imparting theological education. Two more subjects for Masters Degree in Christian Ministry and Christian Theology are being introduced from next year at CTC, which will be an added challenge.
5. Collaborated project such as teaching learning programs, students exchange, cultural activities, library, seminar, research activities between CTC and NU Lumami will be highly beneficial in future.
6. On peace process, there is a need to involve all sections of people. Intelligentsia should be given a chance to involve in the process.
7. Indian electorate politics is not the real answer in Northeast India unless traditional based democratic institutions and value systems are adopted.
8. In many part of Northeast India, basic development has been initiated from the Church. Church should play a more pragmatic role in modern society aiming at the salvation of body, mind and soul. What you call social gospel.
9. There is a need to create confidence building measures as a tool for conflict resolution and peace making at different levels.
10. In the midst of conflicts where there is tendency of violence and war, Gandhian methods of non-violence is extremely applicable to find the answers.
11. In the threshold of globalization and technological revolution, Gandhian method of sustainable development is one of the answers.
