James Pochury
New Delhi
New Delhi
My perception of FNR...subjective though it might be comes from a not-so-close-not-so-distant observation of some of its founding leaders. And this prompts me to share my personal feelings and thoughtson FNR and its journey that touched AND inspired me to the core. Their honest intention, integrity and courage of conviction resonates with the bare and unbiased ‘me - the me without the hangovers of my otherwise deeply personal and prejudiced attitude, perspectives, accumulated from information and disinformation, gossip from here and there, my layers of thick-skinned ego, political ideology, overlapping and confusing perspectives and religious (denomination) feelings of "superiority-inferiority" fluctuations.
During the last three days of their Delhi stop-over of the Journey of Common Hope, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) patiently listened to, responded to and shared their feelings, thoughts, struggles, challenges and hope with as many Nagas and their organisations as they tirelessly did. I met them thrice, first, as part of NPMHR, then as part of Naga Scholars Association (NSA) and then as member of Naga Catholic Community of Delhi. I was overpowered by a flux of all kinds of feelings, thoughts and emotions rendering me incoherent and inarticulate when it was my turn to say something. Once inside, I felt bruised, violated and shaken by the questions, critiques and suggestions of ‘others’ all directed at FNR, the FNR that I feel is the larger part of the tiny me. Very disturbed at times thinking what this was all about and where we are headed as a Naga Nation. One day later after they would have moved to another stoppage and outside of it, I recall and reflect with joy every moment it feeling fired up and inspired by the organic leadership that is poised to emerge along this long and beautiful journey.
Inspired because I realise now, FNR is what you and I make of it - by ‘participating’, ‘contributing’ and ‘leading’ - wherever and whenever each one of us can, and perhaps should.
‘Detractors’ and ‘Distant Observers’ will inevitably be there in every family and society. These are those characterised by pessimism, apathy, indifference, intellectualising everything, pulling down "good" efforts of others in gossip, spreading negativity with an ‘it-is impossible’ attitude, ‘nothing is going to happen’, back-stabbing, etc. - with or without ulterior motive. Nothing good or bad about such kinds of people per se. It is just how society was, is and will be. Rather, it could turn out that some of these detractors and observers could potentially become the greatest contributors and leaders one dayif only with patience, nurturing, fore-bearing, and consciously working at it. Brick by brick, one Naga after another.And ensuring they do not pull the reverse gear to become detractors again.It isn’t easy either to stay there either. It is voluntary, unrewarding and agonising to facilitate, to lead. Much easier to pass commentaries.Could we imagine this level of individual functioning to facilitate and inspire more leaders to emerge would be possible if their singular purpose were not about healing and reconciliation?And that such a mission is only possible when it draws froman un-dryable reservoir of respect for and tapping on the fiercely guarded dignity of every Naga, hitherto bruised and battered by powers that be – both from within and without?
Unlike ‘other’ societies ridden with caste hierarchies, where your dignity is determined by the surname; deeply entrenched patriarchy and wealth disparities, the individual Naga, in a clan, khel or village - regardless of age, wealth, even gender, used to have a "voice"in our political economy as ‘direct participatory democracy’. Disturbingly, not anymore, because, money and wealth - hard-earned or ill-gotten - has become the yardstick and benchmark of status and position among Nagas. And the Indian Parliamentary form of democracy (electoral party politics that empowers the elector only once every five years) continues to ensure the demise of what used to be our unique way of life. The Naga 'Direct' democracy lies mutilated beyond recognition, because we have consciously and collectively allowed the termites (alien institutions, structures, systems, policies and practices) to destroy the pillars of what some Naga writers call as Naga Democratic Socialism. Article 371-A, although a compromise and a steep climb down from our rightful demand for self-determination and sovereignty, had the potential to shift the powers - fromthe corridors of Indian Parliament to the Naga villages. It never saw the light of day,never got implemented in letter and spirit. Because, money crushed our fragile body polity and cracked and crumbled our moral and spiritual foundation.
The pillars manifest in our time-tested customary laws and practices, traditional bodies (in khels, clan, village and tribal bodies), our folk expressions - songs, dance, stories, our rich bio and cultural diversity. Every one of these pillars was a collective endeavour and today it has become individual-centred. The more endowed you are, the more powerful you get.
In this very challenging context and disturbing concerns, FNR, I would like to believe, is attempting, in all humility, to be one of the Conscience Keepers of the Naga Nation (an amalgamation of Village Republics) that was, and is in the making. It is of the firm belief that peace is not merely the absence of violence or war. One could add factions, for that matter. I was deeply inspired by one of the FNR leaders who share his angst that the Nagas exist without the head and body as one entity. That of all the peoples of the world, Nagas should live without an organic link between the rulers and the ruled. That there are a handful minority of Nagas who are ‘powerful’ and a majority of Nagas who are ‘powerless’. Our power to question, our powerful voice before and after the voting, albeit under the barrel of the Indian gun, is a thing of the past. Welcome to the new era where the electors and the electedhave to face water cannons for resisting, for questioning; the head and body not working in sync as in village council chairmen and tribal Hoho Presidents hand-picked by the incumbent MLAs, thereby betraying and losing their mandate and credibility.
FNR did come into existence when some of the leaders courageously rose to the occasion when the situation then warranted, towards ending fratricidal killings. Atleast to reduce the offensives and counter-offensives. But that could hardly be the end in itself. There was more. Naga civilisation that survived a thousand years of colonisation and militarisation had to be salvaged from short-sightedness of a few, leading to further fragmentation and crises of Naga identity and its future.
Everyone of us in our own ways are doing many great things for ourselves and for society, some overtly, others quietly. FNR I feel is one such humble effort that was seeded and planted in peace and prayer initiative (including Shisha Hoho) and is today at the threshold of flourishing beyond the here and now to a shared future, towards a "journey of common hope". FNR will and can only be as strong or weak, relevant or irrelevant and enduring or short-lived as you and I make it to be, and become.
I am of the opinion, it has left no stone unturned to facilitate connecting Nagas and their organisations with healing and reconciliation process as their singular purpose and mission. Despite umpteen challenges it continues to face, even resistance from different quarters (which is understandable), it kept going when the going got tougher. FNR is not a straitjacketed or rigid 'carved-in-stone' institution. Not a run-of-the-mill kind that it is here today and gone tomorrow. Its activities were intended and supposed to galvanise a groundswell of popular Naga people's support.
Which did not happen quite that way perhaps, because, it was taken for granted that Nagas would be motivated enough and inspired to swell the numbers and the jump onto the Journey of Common Hope. But instead, it resulted in falling short of the critical mass required to take off.Because of which, and ironically so, like in every institution - family, clan, khel, village, tribe, nation - FNR has had their fair share of critical commentary and resistance. And surely enough FNR has humbly taken it in their stride.
I don't want to refer FNR as "their" or "they" because I believe a part of me and a part of you is intrinsically there in FNR. And true leaders only know this better. In that, 'movement' (as opposed to status quo) happens only with friction, when the rubber meets the road or the ship, water. That Glory comes only through struggle and sacrifice. If they have failed, I believe part of the blame lies in our failure as well, our apathy and indifference. The detractor in me and that in you. If they have not been as good as could have been, it may have been because they honestly "responded to" situations; as opposed to riding on some wave or shooting from someone else's shoulder.
FNR is not the anecdotal elephant the three blind friends mistook it to be - one touching the broad and sturdy side saying it is like a wall, the other touching the tusk saying it is like a spear, then the trunk and saying it is like a snake, the other touching the ear and saying it is like a fan.
For me, FNR is me, you. The relay baton it is handing over to keep running the unfinished race. It is my story, your story, our story. Our future. Our response-ability. Our answer to our children and theirs… if they find their voice, ever.
