By Akangjungla
Ever since the December 4 and 5, 2021 incidents in Oting village and Mon town respectively, communities in and beyond the state of Nagaland, irrespective of many dissimilarities, have expressed solidarity and paid tribute to the fourteen victims and shared the angst with the bereaved families.
The expressions of compassion and concern have been manifested in the form of candle light vigils and public rallies. The act of support has been awe-inspiring. In the face of the Oting tragedy, the awareness of solidarity is paving the course for a movement to seek justice for the victims and repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”
An authentic solidity is an act of the conviction and affirmation to pursue a righteous cause. If the solidity fails to symbolize unity and does not manifest through unbounded actions, the value can be no longer depended on for “cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character” as envisioned by the United Nations for the whole world.
The phenomenon and the dependency of authentic solidity must continue to exist for the righteous cause, the individual and the people. The recent rallies and vigils need more than just holding placards and burning candles; it should go far and beyond events on the streets and public spaces. The literal definitions of solidarity talk about ‘the uniting of a group of people with a common purpose, and interdependency of the people.’ Expression of solidarity that considers people as persons can embody the stability and strength to attain a lasting solidarity.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
