‘Nagas Are In Need Of A Journey Of Change’
Our Correspondent
Jotsoma | November 29
“We can’t leave behind a legacy of distrust and animosity to our next generations. In this fast changing world the younger generation cannot live with the same burden of history,” said Mrinal Talukdar from the Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS) on November 29 during the celebration of the 100 years of Naga Club.
With the theme, ‘Celebrating Coalescence,’ the celebration was organised by the Naga Club at the Jotsoma Baptist Church Centenary Ground, Jotsoma.
Delivering a solidarity message at the celebration, Talukdar remembered the sacrifices of the Nagas in pursuance of a cause and a dream which began with the establishment of the Naga Club. “No doubt, the centenary celebration is a proud moment for all of us and it’s a grand occasion to rejoice, but at the same time, it also offers us an opportunity to revisit and critically reflect the hundred year long journey and our achievements as well as failures and shortcomings,” said Talukdar.
Stating that one cannot leave behind a legacy of distrust and animosity to younger generations, Talukdar appealed the Nagas and Assamese to live as good neighbours whatever might be the future political status of the Naga.
Talukdar, on behalf of the ASS reaffirmed its commitment towards strengthening friendship and fraternity among the people in both states with the active supports from Naga civil society groups.
‘We can only learn to love when we learn to forgive’ Invoking a prayer for the celebration and delivering a message, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, President, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum remarked that perhaps, Nagas are at the defining moment ‘either to come together in unity and exist in harmony as Nagas or to allow others to walk on us and crush us and we perish as fools’.
“We cannot allow the generations to come to inherit a distorted history. Because this history has been our identity as a people and a nation and it will be theirs as well, said Keyho mentioning that three things are necessary for the Nagas-humility, reason and love.
“Those who feel they are right must humble themselves without opposing those who are wrong. And those who feel otherwise must exercise their will power to reason without influence. We must learn to love each other as brothers and sisters but we can only learn to love right when we learn to forgive. Our community is fragmenting in all fronts. We have chosen to be dominated by being politically correct rather than morally-ethically upright,” stated Keyho.
‘Naga Club is for goodwill towards all Nagas’ Speaking briefly on the history of the Naga Club and the Naga struggle, Krurovi Peseyie, President, Naga Club paid tribute to the founders of the Naga club and the signatories and drafter of the famous memorandum to the Simon Commission.
While Nagas should not feel isolated from the Naga Club, Peseyie also stated that no Naga should distort the simple and truthful stories of the Naga Club.
“Today, Nagas are in need of a journey of change. A journey from the mountain of pride to the plain of humanity, a journey from the valley of oppression and insult to the meadows of respect and joy; and we need to take a journey from the cliff of factionalism to the garden of peace and harmony,” remarked Peseyie.
Words from descendents: History of the formation of Naga club
Prasielie Pienyii, great grandson of Lt. Rheichalie Pienyii, a founding member and first President of the Naga club spoke on behalf of the descendents and provided the history on the formation of the Naga club. “The very idea of forming the club was that the British had the White Men’s Club to spend their leisure time feasting and also deliberating important issues. They never allowed other people to enter besides the club members.
This gesture made few salaried people comprising of Peshkars, Interpreters, Clerks, Potdars, Chaprasis etc of the Deputy commissioner’s office of the then Naga Hills formed the Naga Club in 1918, January 7 to get together and deliberate and discuss important issues for the Naga people,” said Pienyii.
“The foundation of this club which basically might have been more of a social club grew in time to be in a position to give a pure innocent and clear reply to the Simon Commission on the stand of the Nagas which became the foundation of the Naga political stand.”
“We Naga people have better days at hand for us all to seize the moment to stand united and resolutely manage our affairs in one accord as the centenary theme is aptly coined ‘Coalescence’,” added Pienyii.
