Oken Jeet Sandham
The Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta who is completing his term as Governor in next few days is one who has really contributed his part for the growth of the State. He was closely involved in the peace process while he was IB Director. He was busy setting things right for smooth discussion of the NSCN-IM and the Government of India. He was present in number of talks between the leaders of the outfit and the representatives of the Government of India held at various parts of the world.
Sending him right after his retirement from the IB Chief as Governor of Nagaland by the then NDA Government at the Center was mainly to help expedite the ongoing peace process and see the grounds for strengthening the process and create peaceful environment. And it is no wrong choosing a man who is high profiled and has vast knowledge in the country’s issues and problems to become Governor of Nagaland. It is rare having such a man who has the knowledge of the Naga issue as Governor, although he, as Governor, might have limited role to play but when he himself knows the subject of the ongoing peace process, it carries sense and those players in the theater cannot undermine him.
Governor Datta’s first media interaction, to which I was also present, soon after his taking over the reign at Raj Bhavan Kohima, was significant. He was quite frank, on the contrary of the press persons’ initial assumption that he would be hard nut to crack at being a man from country’s elite intelligent club. He tried his best to quickly shed his tough posture to invite the frankness from the media herd. He wanted to know many things from the media side about the prevailing situation in Nagaland and also equally interested to know how the local media had been functioning in the State. On the other hand, the media persons instead of asking his reaction to his new assignment as State Governor were more interested to know his past experience as IB Chief. This had taken him rather by surprise and he candidly and quickly admitted that working as IB Chief of the vast country like ours had a lot of tasks. He narrated the highly complicated and compartmentalized working system in IB set up. The system itself made him solitary and interaction with the public was extremely rare. Then he admitted quickly with the huge difference he would now carry on as a Constitutional custodian and fly off at a tangent.
He was thrilled knowing at the high rate of newspaper readership in Nagaland and English as Official language of the State. And in fact, Datta still maintains his classic English in all his public addresses and interactions even to the lower level. At one occasion, which was oddly dominated by the mainland people, he was requested to speak in Hindi. But he politely refused and started addressing in English.
Datta came to Nagaland as Governor when SC Jamir was the Chief Minister of Nagaland and the present Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as Home Minister. He must have had fewer headaches and more relief then because Jamir’s Congress Ministry was literally without opposition except one Independent MLA Mavil Khieya, who at times acted as Opposition, keeping the 60-Member House a good-humor atmosphere.
His gubernatorial experience actually began when Jamir Ministry was dethroned by the NPF-led DAN coalition. No sooner had Rio Ministry been formed than he started receiving memorandum after memorandum from Opposition Congress Party demanding even dismissal of the Government. Truly, Governor Datta is not in Congress-led UPA Government’s good book, although he could develop excellent rapport with then Chief Minister Jamir and his (Jamir) Congress Ministry.
During his time, Datta also could see his friend Jamir becoming as a second Naga to occupy the similar seat of power he has been holding in Nagaland.
He was always receptive and trying to understand the issues. I was lucky to have two interactions personally with him during his stint as Governor of Nagaland. He never hid anything and was always open and was happy the way I encountered him on the Naga political issue. He was deeply concerned on the prevailing factional clashes and killings and I could see him so pained and at times his voice chocking with his painful feelings on the killings that frequently took place in the State, threatening the peaceful environment. He kept lecturing in many public functions the futility of violence, while the younger generations were continuously actuated by his genuine approach to imbibe and restore the aged old work culture. He is a man of pragmatism not living in theocratic society, yet he is a truly God-fearing man.
Leaders come and go, so as Governor Shyamal Datta. He has come to Nagaland as Governor, as custodian of the Constitution and ultimately become part of the Naga family. He is fully acquainted with the Naga way of life. He has now won the hearts of the people of Nagaland that will remain as an inedible imprint in the history of the Nagas.
He may forget many State journalists one day after settling down to his native place but some of us, as journalists, will continue to quote his many inspirational sayings till we remain in the profession. It was the most touching for the Governor as well as the cultural troupes on the occasion of 57th Republic Day Celebration at Secretariat Ground on January 26, 2007. He couldn’t help but danced around with every troupe and one could read him devastating on that historic moment, as he knew he would be living the land and people so dear to him.
Au Revoir and Bon Voyage Mr Governor.
