While I wholeheartedly agree with Zhasa’s views (Dictatorship the need of the hour by Kos Zhasa on Perspective page on November 9 issue of The Morung Express) on the current socio-political state of Nagaland, as well as the view that change and progress are essential for Nagas, I feel that certain points and measures that Zhasa has suggested and theorized are nonetheless contradictory and crude. Firstly, Zhasa mentions abolishing the gun culture that is so prevalent in Nagaland but also mentions the need for a military dictator, compulsory military service, and the need to “shoot illegal migrants at sight.” These three points will in fact not only not abolish a gun culture but will encourage it, creating a more rigid militarized system that will be as oppressing as the one that exists now.
Also, Zhasa seems to be implementing a socialist system of sorts in which state property will be seized and wealth and equality will be redistributed. However, he also promotes entrepreneurship, tourism, and industrialism, which are the basis for any capitalist system and contradict the idea of equality for all (e.g - if white collared jobs are purely for professionals, intellectuals, and scientists that is already creating a hierarchical distinction between people).
Nevertheless, the model that Zhasa suggests has a lot of similarities with China during the 1940s, when Mao and the communists came to power. While, China is now a booming world power, it should be noted that the atrocities and oppression that occurred during the communist era in China was brutal and tragic.
True, a massive revolution and change is an extreme need in Nagaland now but what should be considered is that complex matters such as tribalism and economics cannot be done away so simply without violence gaining the upper hand and having a mere change (and not eradication) of the status quo.
Justin Aier, On email
