Imlisanen Phom
The recent break away of three giants Tribal bodies of Nagaland the Ao Senden, Sema and Lotha Hoho from Naga Hoho proves that desperate time calls for desperate measures. What these three giants did will give a new meaning and shape to the future of Nagaland. I hope this is a start of a fresh new perspective for Nagas. No power on the earth can stop an idea whose time has come. Looking at the present breakaway many may say a house divided cannot stand, however one must understand that there is no division, it is only a separation. And as for the house divided…. a house divided for a righteous cause will ever stand. There is a difference between separation and division. Division is bad but separation is ok. We have different tribes in Nagaland with separate customs but ever united and un-divided. Separation is also Biblical.
Not all breakaway are evil.
Companies have separated over business policies, churches have separated over doctrine issues, countries have separated over political issues and political parties in Nagaland have separated over issues best known to them, but none of them are actually divided. All these companies, churches, countries, political parties despite their separation work together and in times of need would extend help to one another. They are only separated by ideology but united and undivided in the spirit of humanism. India and Pakistan are arguing tooth and nail but should there be a disastrous natural calamity in India, Pakistan will extend its help and so will India to Pakistan. Therefore it must be understood and understood well that three Tribal bodies i.e Ao Senden, Sema and Lotha Hoho’s decision to exit form Naga Hoho does not mean they are the bad guys. There are no good guy or bad guy in the current situation. There are only those who can and those who cannot. And if those who “can” want to separate from those who “cannot”, common sense says it’s ok.
The three apex Tribal bodies i.e Ao, Sema, Lotha have tried their best to negotiate the Rongemei issue. Despite the negative outcome the three Tribal Bodies stayed with Naga Hoho, which is a clear demonstration of humbleness. After much dialogue the three Tribal bodies decided to act on their ultimatum and finally leave Naga Hoho. This shows that they abundantly upheld the spirit of negotiation till the end and by walking out of Naga Hoho the tree Tribal Hohos proved to us all that they are not just talkers but doers as well. Thus the three major principle of conflict resolving through negotiation was fulfilled by the three Triba Hoho’s in spirit and action. Therefore there is no room to raise our eyebrows at them. The three giants Tribal Hoho’s of Nagaland are separated from Naga Hoho yet undivided in cause for the Naga political cause. Therefore to use the matter of Naga political solution as bonding agent to re-join the three Hohos once again with the unstable Naga Hoho in relation to the Rongmei issue is misuse of the Naga political issue. Is Naga political solution so cheap that for any matter we can throw the issue of Naga Political solution on the face of those who don’t see eye to eye with us? Is Naga political solution greater than its Naga citizens? Is Nagaland for Naga? Or Is Nagaland for Christ? It is reasons like this that has reduced the Naga National Movement from International affairs to tribal affairs.
To say that the “Rongmei” issue had become a matter of contention among the Naga Hoho, the State government and the Ao, Sema, Lotha Hoho is an excuse with a heart but no soul. It could have been any Naga Tribe. The yard stick which is applied to the Rongmei Tribe applies to any Naga Tribe be it the X-Tribe ,Y- Tribe or Z- Tribe. If a Tribe does not have the required qualification to be given the Indigenous Naga Tribe Status within Nagaland it cannot be bought with intellectual or political means.
I do not in any way underestimate the other Naga Tribal bodies, but It is true that to pass certain decision regarding Naga customary laws in Nagaland the Ao Senden, Sema and Lotha Hohos play a very crucial role. Naga Hoho understands this and wants the three giants back in Naga Hoho fold because without the Ao, Sema and Lotha Naga Hoho is unstable. At present there is no safety mechanism in Naga Hoho. There should be a safety mechanism in place; a safety mechanism to stop individuals (working as a mole from the inside or outside) to push certain ideas/laws which many not be in line with our Naga customary law using Naga Hoho. This safety mechanism can save a lot of misunderstanding and inconvenience which could prove to be very dangerous. Thus disassociating from Naga Hoho the Ao, Sema and Lotha Hoho have done a great favour to the people of Nagaland. The Ao, Sema and Lotha Hoho will now act as a safety mechanism against such assaults for all Nagas. Which is number one priority for the Nagas at this moment. A single stick (a single Naga Hoho) can be easy broken but a bunch of sticks (Bunch of Tribal bodies) like the CNTC,ENPO,NTC etc working together “independently” would be impossible to be broken.
The present scenario looks like some highly qualified intellectuals have come up with a Clever mathematical formula that is, a political party in Nagaland with no opposition plus A Naga Hoho where Nagaland Tribal bodies are outnumbered by Naga Tribal bodies from outside of Nagaland equals to passing any decision in Nagaland as “they” wish. This formula sounds intelligent but lakes WISDOM and is certainly not working. One can only imagine how much time, money and effort must have gone into this mathematical formula. This proves that inelegance, education, wealth, position, age, and even “Super majority” do not guarantee wisdom anymore. Looks like the intellectuals at the negotiation tables are not gathering data to make a better decision but are gathering data to justify their decision, which Is wrong. It makes one wonder what will be their “Plan B”? Is “plan B” already being executed under the disguise of appealing the three Ao, Sema, Lotha to come back to the Naga Hoho fold? People are watching and if the Ao, Sema and Lotha Hoho just run back to the Naga Hoho, it risk losing its dignity and respect in the hearts of many Nagas who stand with the three Hohos decision to disassociate with Naga Hoho for the greater Interests of Nagas.
The Nagaland legislators asking the Ao, sema and Lotha Hoho to reconsider the withdrawal from Naga Hoho is a job well done. I am sure tomorrow our Nagaland legislators would ask their fellow legislators to reconsider the dangerous level of corruption in our State, to reconsider their commitment to serve our fellow Naga citizens, to reconsider cases like unpaid salaries to many Hindi teachers, the pathetic road conditions, the recent fuel adulterations case and those hundreds of matters which are left unconsidered.
This world has witnessed two world wars. Many precious lives were lost, but In the middle of all the bloodshed and horror, the jet engine, Radio navigation, penicillin, the Radar etc were invented. It is an example that best can come out of the worst. The present scenario in Nagaland about the Rongemi issue is like a war in itself. Many Rongmeis have been hurt and more may be confused by the current issue, it is a sad situation. However I believe the present war like situation will give rise to more refined humans among the Nagas. We have a lot to learn and a long road ahead. Years from now when we look back, we will thank God for the present situation. Many of us have experienced it in our lives that a little discomfort is a good thing, but a lot usually proves to be even better. May or Good Lord grand wisdom to all our Naga Tribal bodies to make the best out of every worst situation. God bless Nagaland.
