In the unfolding global context in which the war against terrorism has polarized societies and disrupted cross-cultural and inter-faith relationships, the growing need to end the politics of exclusiveness is being felt now more than ever. The present ideology behind the war against terrorism has put to risk the conventional understanding of human rights as more and more governments are introducing legislations that restrict the political and civil rights of its own citizens. In this context, governments and states are the main perpetrators of systemic violations. The values and ideals of Embracing Diversity are of absolute necessity in the present day world order.
The United Nations Human Rights Council chief Navi Pillay has rightly called on all individuals worldwide to make and extra effort to tackle discrimination starting from their own homes and workplace. She went on to say that “Discrimination makes no social sense, no moral sense and no economic sense. In fact it makes no sense at all. We all, and here I include myself, have a tendency to hold ingrained prejudices against certain people because of the group they belong to rather than because of who they actually are as individuals.” This is all true and one must applaud her honesty. Simultaneously it is equally important that the United Nations must with equal resolve hold governments accountable for any acts and policy of systemic discrimination. It is of utmost importance that rights of indigenous peoples, minorities and vulnerable groups of people must be protected and secured. No government should be allowed to justify discrimination or uphold alienating policies.
The values, principles and the vision of Embracing Diversity have relevance in the Naga context. The Naga nation comprises of many diverse tribes with their own cultures, traditions, languages and institutions. It is by their own free will and consent that the diverse tribes came together to assert their collective identity of Naga nationhood. To enable the richness of Naga nationhood, it is therefore essential that the values of embracing diversity is at the foundation of the Naga people, so that every Naga tribe is equally respected and actively involved in the making of the Naga nationhood. The intent to respect diversity needs to be located within the broader ideals of a shared humanity. Naga polities need to be pursued along broad inclusive principles so that all forms and acts of discriminations against women, youths and vulnerable sections of the Naga society become a matter of the past.
Today the world must once again affirm the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Sixty one years after this basic premise that all human being are born free and equal was established, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle. The fight against discrimination cannot be won by shutting ones eyes and hoping it will go away. The fight against discrimination can be won when people start making an effort to think about these issues and by identifying discrimination and then tackling it. It requires individual and collective action at homes, work place, markets and in the society by large. Above all it requires ordinary citizens to hold their governments accountable and to ensure they protect and uphold values of human rights and dignity of all people. It is the ordinary people that must enable in realizing “all human beings are born free and equal….”
