Atsung Imchen
Kolkata
I had to take a step back on all this exchanges because more knowledgeable people like Mr. Kaka Iralu stepped into the picture but your recent response compelled me to share a final note to you and your assertion of Naga Nationalism. Since all of us want to stress on realistic notions I will not waste my time or yours referring to “Phrases” from around the globe and keep this exchange strictly on the terms of realism. And if you ask why a Final note? It’s because there are other important issues that needs to be highlighted on print Medias rather than indulging or dragging this topic any further. I will try my best to lay it all out on the table and as simple as I can to get the message across to you.
The first thing on the list is to ask you is why are you called an American? Was America never under colonial rule? What is 4th of July to you? Your very own identity which you carry in your purse or wallet signifies your identity of who you’re and where you belong. The American Revolution if never happened you might be known as aBemircan or Brimican (if we want to be humorous). If at all American never got independence, if at all you’re still part of a British colony, your assertions on Naga Nationalism will without a doubt make sense. Your references, your point of views will definitely stand out but since you’re standing on the very foundation of a free state, based on a revolution against colonial rule, based on the past struggle that had countless sacrifices, based on division and a bleak future it does not add up to your analysis or your assertions on Naga Nationalism. Look where you’re standing now? Look where America is right now?
If at all during the revolution era likeminded people as you were in majority, who knows America will never be America of today, but the reality is that you’re known as an American from America, a free country. The only difference between America and Nagaland or Naga’s land is that you’ve achieved your freedom and we’ve yet to, apart from that the very will and aspiration to be free is without a doubt the same. We’re humans after all, it’s built inside our DNA to be free especially when we are forcefully subjugated.
With regards to your boastful remarks of how “India will lose patience and wipe out the Naga’s” let’s be honest here, they’ve tried and they’ve failed during Jawaharlal Nehru’s reign and that’s another reality. And compared to your intellectual assertions and references from around the globe this remark is too childish to even contemplate. And another reality is that India is not stupid, this remark does not only show your ignorance of Naga Nationalism and how it is the world oldest freedom struggle. When the Indian Government has acknowledged the rights of the Naga people and heading towards a solution your assertions stand out of place. There is no beating around the bush with regards to Naga Movement, if you consider it holds merit as you claimed, that’s the end of the story, there is no plus minus on that topic except for what follows which any human with basic sense will do anyhow. If we’ve to start from scratch we will, the world we live in right now is not what it is was during Hitler or Stalin, it’s more open and more business oriented. Whatever happens when we finally achieve our rightful status, which we will eventually we will pick up the pieces and carry forward from there just as your forefathers did, we are no different.
If you think those gun wielding Naga’s are the only ones who are fighting for this cause then think again, If at all there comes a time when India unleashes its wrath as you boasted, the other reality is that people like me who have normal everyday jobs, posted away from home will pack our bags and head back home to stand with our people because our fight is genuine, our people’s cries are genuine and come rain or sun or whatever assertions or assumptions are there it does not even come close to our aspirations and will to be free or to think about giving up our rights. Be it blood, sweat or tears we will fight for it.
I have ID cards with citizenship mentioned as Indian, I enjoy the status as an Indian, I use Indian money but that is not what we wanted, we never wanted that. When our leaders approached India we never asked any of that, that’s another reality.Whatever they’ve bestowed upon us are just free gifts and which human being does not like free stuffs? Does it mean the majority of the Naga youths feels like giving up our rights? NO, they don’t, the majority of the Naga population is still rural the handful you might have come across does not even sum up to what the actual majority feels.
We long to use an ID card that says Naga, we long to have our own identity which has been taken away and I request you to intellectually and logically come in terms with that as much as possible and make peace with it because that is the reality and no amount of study or assertions can nullify that.
Being a third party if you want to contribute I would suggest you invest your time in sharing the untold amount of war crimes that is yet to receive justice or sharing the plight of the Naga People which will create awareness instead of plunging into why and how. When you go against the concept of being free, being subjugated to accept a constitution which we were never part of, not only do youstamp on your own Identity as an American but it’s an insult to those who sacrificed much more than you and I can ever do to achieve that freedom which you currently enjoy in New York and America as a whole.
This is not my voice alone if you think it is nor a farfetched illusion, this is the reality, this is our struggle and this is us The Naga’s. What is ours is ours, as mentioned before to be or not to be depends on time, our job is to stand tall not forgetting those who sacrificed their everythingwhich we NEVER will.
