Despite mounting threats from different quarters including from an armed underground faction, the Naga students from the four hill districts of Manipur have shown great courage of conviction to come and sit for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination conducted under the aegis of the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE). This is not only a historic step but also symbolizes the inherent desire of the Naga people to be integrated into a single body politic. Unification of contiguous Naga inhabited areas as acknowledged even in the 16 Point Agreement is a common objective of every Naga political organization whether under-ground or over-ground. No one can however deny that the affiliation of Naga students from Manipur to the Nagaland Board is a matter of intense debate and there have been opinions voiced against such a move. That however does not mean that innocent students should be targeted with threats to their lives.
The Naga Students Federation (NSF), which has become the main target of criticism ever since it shouldered the responsibility, has already clarified on the affiliation movement wherein, it clearly emphasizes about the biased education policy and imposition of Meitei Mayek (Meitei script) upon the Naga students by Meitei-dominated Manipur government. The NSF has also stated that affiliations of these private schools to NBSE in no way will encroach the job opportunities and scholarships meant for students within the present state of Nagaland because every state government has its own job reservation policy based on bona fide citizenship of the concern state and scholarship is a union government’s policy directly funded by Union Government’s exchequer.
However, since the NBSE affiliation issue has become a major debating point and rightly so as it concerns both the future and present wellbeing of students both in Nagaland and also those private schools (students) seeking affiliation from the four hill district of Manipur, another assessment can be undertaken once the present examination gets over. For the immediate though, there is no reason as to why those who are willing to come and write the exams should be turned away.
The peaceful conduct of examination until now is a welcome sign and due credit must go to the district and police officials of Kohima and Dimapur for taking the necessary steps in maintaining peaceful atmosphere. The active participation of the public and their visible presence at the exam centres has also helped in removing the fear psychosis in the minds of the students. Appreciation must also be reserved for the underground group in question for restraining itself despite its earlier warnings. This in itself goes to show that no matter what their argument is, they respect public sentiment and will not do anything that will go against the wishes of the people who aspire to live in peace, harmony and with dignity.
For the innocent students who are as much caught up in the vortex of history and politics, the main concern should be to enable them to live a life of dignity and in the hope that they will be worthy torch bearers of the future generation. And education is a tool that will provide them this much needed opportunity. In fact, to deny them this right will go against the fundamental value of freedom which Nagas are themselves aspiring for, over the last sixty years.
