H Kikon
On the 22nd of May 2006, I happened to be in Diphu, on some official trip, when I picked up a Newspaper by the name of ‘SENTINEL’ a Guwahati-Assam publication. While going through the newspaper, various article relating to a place by the name of ‘MERAPANI’, struck me, which is located at Wokha (Nagaland) - Assam border supposed to be a disturb area. The article pointed out the fertility of the land in that area, its prospects, it also published various activities that is been carried out in that area, which includes the recently inaugurated ‘Fish Hatchery’. All these interest and activities in that area may not be very healthy/viable for Nagaland in the days to come.
If the information (history) handed to me from elders and other sources serves me right, it is said that the ‘Rail Track’ at Farkating (Now in Assam) is the line that divides Assam and the then ‘Naga Hills’, for which the state of Assam paid ‘Khasana’ (Land Tax) to the Nagas as late as the Sixties (60’s), for the said land, which, goes back to the British Period. But, as of today this practice no-longer exist; instead the state ‘of Assam had claimed certain hills under the state of Nagaland.
It was due to this wanton claim, demarcation and occupation of land under Nagaland, by Assam way back, that lead to 1985 Dispute, also better known by the name “The Merapani War” between Assam (consisting mostly of Assam Police and Central Security Forces on one hand) and Nagaland (consisting of Naga public on the other). It was a defining moment for the Nagas which helped reclaim most part of the land. But due to lack of interest, initiation and consistent policy/steps/measure on the part of the public in general and govt. in particular, that the victory was only a fleeting moment, and as time went by everything went back to square one, i.e. back to the possession and occupation of Assam.
Today, most of the area/land bordering Assam and Nagaland is declared as ‘Disturb Area’ and are manned by the Central Security Force, presumed to be a ‘Neutral Body’. But, due to various assistance provided to the Security Force by the state of Assam, racial similarity (don’t intent to be racist, but as ground reality stands), and other factors, the security force personal tend to be bias and all out in favour of Assam. These fact can be witnessed by any Naga staying in the so called disturb area. Today a person of Assam origin (including Foreign/Bangladesh immigrant) can built any where in the so called disturb area, any time of the year and any number of house with out any problem, but for the Nagas it a whole new and different story, leaving aside building/construction of a house a person can not even renovate/repair his house without permission, to that extend that carrying of any building material of any kind is not permitted by the Security Forces on the pretext that it will provoke or escalate the matter.
Apart from the above mentioned problem, some are self inflicted, because of the lack of initiative and interest on the part of the state executive (Bureaucrats), legislatures (politicians) and social activist, there are no police personals/station from Nagaland in the so called ‘disturb area’ to assist the Nagas of that area. Due to which, for every problem/issue (including very petty or silly issue), our brothers and sisters of that area are taken to the Assam police station (including trial in Assam court), whereby apart from undergoing untold physical torture and mental humiliation they also have to face extreme financial difficulty. Therefore, to protect out brothers and sisters living in such areas from uncalled-for humiliation and torture and also to preserve the integrity and natural boundary of our land, every steps and measure must be taken, least we fail to do so, we are answerable to the coming generation, ‘that we failed to preserve and protect, what was handed to us by our predecessor’.
Having said that, I would like us to come back and look into a particular problem and a place i.e. ‘Merapani’, also well-known for the ‘1985 War’, which is located at the foot hills of Wokha district of Nagaland, also supposed to be a disturb area. The said area, apart from being known for it fertile soil is also said to be rich in natural mineral and other resources, (as published in the ‘Sentinel’). It is under this region that the well-known ‘Doyang Hydro Electric Dam’ the only if not the major revenue earner for the state, is located, where there is already a project to construct the second dam.
Apart from that, the famous and also another major revenue earner for the state in the form of ‘Champang Oil Fields’ are located (it’s another story that some of them after exploitation are just left, where by due to leakage not only the fertile top soil are polluted but creates environment hazards). This is the main reason why, the state of Assam is hell-bent on occupying and claiming it to be a part of Assam, because of which various developmental activities are being undertaken.
But, our people and our state have to this date (apart from the 1985 war) have had a much laid back approach, little realizing its consequences. The Wokha - Merapani road a ‘State High Way’ is the only road of that area, serving as apart from being the life line for the people of Wokha district, is also the only road that links the ‘Doyand Hydro Eletric Dam’ and the various ‘Oil fields at Champang’. But, as of today the condition of the road is in such dilapidated condition that only Trucks and Buses can ply. It is heart rendering to notice that one of the state’s main highway in terms of its economic contribution to the state coffers and also serving as one of the main life line for its people, is left at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Taking into consideration the above mention contentions, it is very important for us to demarcate our boundary and at the same time mark out the significant places/areas and thereafter take concrete and immediate measures so as to preserve, protect, promote and exploit the region for the benefit of our people, also at the same time bring about development in those areas where by any unwanted design to claim and occupy such region/areas can be kept at bay, and to realize this fact it not only requires the participation of every individual Nagas, but also the responsibility.
Thus, looking into the present state of affair it is by far from satisfactory. Therefore, what is needed today is the concept of the people to change and also leaders with vision (who can show us what lies for us 10 years or 15 years from now), so as to lead and serve the people, garner the strength of the people towards development and prosperity, also at the same time maintain peace and cordial relation with the neighboring state, but all the same not compromising an inch or integrity of the land, which is not only our God given right but out duty. For if our Naga society/people is not ready to protect and die for our land, then we have no right to claim and occupy the land.
