Dr John Mohan Razu
Two articles appeared recently being published in two prominent Nagaland’s news papers entitled “Naga Nationalism and Nagaland” and “Between faith and corruption can ‘Nagaland for Christ’ still stand true?” pushed me to write this piece, as both the articles show nuanced and subtle ways to communicate the deeper meanings and thought process that ought to be peeled layer by layer, so that the real and true meaning be brought to the fore. Prior to embarking on it, there is a need and necessity to delve into two major concepts— ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’, so that these two terms in what ways they vary and thus become distinct between each other, and how they are used in our day-to—day existence.
Patriotism and nationalism have often been used interchangeably as terms or concepts. They are the same in tis meaning, connotations, and implication. In fact, some without knowing the meanings and differences of these two terms use loosely without knowing the distinctives and dynamics. For example, patriotism is a feeling of attachment and commitment to a country, nation or political community, and its origin goes back to Greek and Roman roots Basically it reverberates the ethical virtues such as love for law and common good.
While on the other, nationalism is a modern ideology that emerged in the 18th Century, focussing on an individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state often surpassing other interests. However, patriotism basically involves commitment to common liberty of a political community, political virtues and the preservation of political liberty. While nationalism on other, deals with special attachment to the nation, emphasising cultural unity and other paraphernalia. Nationalism as a concept is slippery and nebulous. Tagore defines “Nationalism is a great menace”, and for years it has been at the bottom of India’s troubles.”
More importantly, it involves a desire for a separate and independent nation, driven by a shared culture, history, and language. In all, it is a belief in the superiority of one ‘s nation over others—a key distinction from patriotism. Embarking on one of the most powerful rhetoricsthat keeps echoing like that of “Nagaland for Christ”, which has its validity and vitality that stems from the majority of people who are Christians approximately make up about 88 percent of the overall population, making Nagaland as a Christian-majority state.
In view of the its population Nagaland is referred and claims as “Christian State” where majority of its population are Christians, wherein Christianity as the way of living has deeply intertwined with the Naga society. Though Nagaland is part of India, where Hindus are in majority and yet being called as secular country where religion has not been given its primacy. In our Constitution, the Preamble clearly and explicitly states that India is a sovereign, socialist, and secular nation—meaning all religions are given equal weightage and value by brining clear separation between religion and state. When we say ‘secular’ it pre-supposes that politics and religion should never be mixed.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that if a state or a country that have more population subscribing to one religion, one language, one culture, one ethnicity, and some others, then we find a yearning for control, separation, and domination. It is natural and obvious. We have come across this trend across the world and even in India, based on its distinctiveness, majority of population, and geographical separation that a number of separatist movements emerged and struggled for independence from India.
It is called as sub-nationalism that asserts a regional, ethnic, or linguistic or religious identity that is separate from, and sometimes in opposition to, the national identity. If a majority population subscribing to particular religion, culture or race or ethnicity are asserting or wanting to establish a separate state and in process is engaging in diverse forms of resistance to achieve its goal is called as sub-nationalism. Therefore, sub-nationalism is the assertion of a regional, ethnic, or linguistic identity that is separate from, and sometimes in opposition to, the national identity. It is thus prioritising the interests of a specific state, province, or region over those of the nation as a whole. It manifests in demands for greater autonomy, distinct symbols or flags or protests based on cultural, racial, and ethnic differences.
Sometimes it may aspire to secede from the nation and sometimes asking for more autonomy and self-determination. And so, it is sensitive on the region or state when a particular racial or ethic or lingual or religious distinctively positioned in a particular majority which is distinct from national identity. Sub-national groups showings specific interests than that of larger interests of a nation. It expresses in various forms such as separate flag, protesting against the imposition of the Centre’s language formulae and policies perceived as threatening to its identity. The classic example, the Centre’s move including BJP/RSS to tampering with the Constitution from secular to theocratic, in line with the majority of the population based on religion.
In line with the above, Nagaland being a state having absolute majority hailing from one religion came out with a slogan long ago ‘Nagaland for Christ’ which resonate to the rhetoric of those belonging to RSS and India that “India for Hindus”, Hindi as the national language, and pushing Hindu culture as national culture and so on. What we have been observing at the micro and macro levels, based on the majority population in religion there is struggle going on at the national level and also resurgence of ‘Nagaland for Christ’ shows similar intent.
It is very sensitive and susceptible. There are political parties and movements that tend to move away from secular credentials thus subscribing to religious majoritarianism would certainly lead to chaos and conflict. Be it Centre or State, secularism has been the hallmark of India’s pluralistic, multi-religious and cultural ethos. A beautiful canopy within which all races, cultures, religions, ethnicities, castes, classes, and belief-systems co-exist. Based on religious fanatism, Christian or Hindu majoritarianism, and cultural nationalism, if we position and promote our ideologies and political vision, then there are all possibilities of India being broken to pieces.
India is country known for secularism and pluralism. Accordingly, India accommodates multiple ethnicities, cultures, way of life and living basically premised on ‘Majority of Indians firmly believe not in the fundamentalism religion, but fundamental of love, peace, sharing, equality, diversity, and common humanity’.
