The Naga politics have been misplayed, misconstrued, and misapprehended or misinterpreted by many Naga leaders today. It is imperative to clear all distortions created by Naga-Indian Political leaders. Many Naga leaders are displaying double personalities; One Indian the other Nagas in just one body. I am not down playing any of the present political leaders, I am only trying to find out who are real Nagas playing Naga politic for the Nagas in the Indian political system, advocating the rights of the Nagas. Contextually, there are two truths; the Indians’ truth and the Nagas’ truth in the present Naga political games played or being used by Naga leaders. The public and Naga people are in deep confusions is to who are real Naga leaders speaking for the Nagas’ liberation and who are Nagas-Indians speaking for India integration in Nagaland? The two unspoken or hidden ideologies of the Naga-Indian political leaders are: Naga Liberation and Indian Integration overlapping or contradicting each other. The true Naga leaders are committed to Naga liberation philosophy. The Indian leaders are for Indian Integration. What is expected of our leaders is they stand clear either for Naga liberation or Indian integration of Naga inhabited areas or land. They cannot and should not stand for both as neutral. Neutral leaders will not create solution only confusion and postponement. It may be hard for Naga-Indian leaders to do so, but they can do so as to make their position clear to the people.
The straight truth is Nagas are fighting against the foreign invaders since the British intrusion, Indian Imposition till today and to restore Nagas’ freedom once lost. Any other interpretation or definition contradicting this truth is a National offence or transgression. The bygone Naga Freedom fighters have this instinct and perspicacity strongly moved and determined in their hearts to brave through the valleys of shadows and deaths, no matter what comes till their dream and aspiration for restoration of freedoms perturbed by outside forces is realized. The truth is Nagas were free people and that is what Nagas want it back. They have this endearing perception that they are born free. With this interest, the Movement for Naga National struggle have shaped the Naga politic. Admit that there were blunders and offences committed by the then Naga leaders in their struggle, which have complicated the Naga politic today, yet, despite those wrongs, we have one clear purpose to live for. That is we are a people and a Nation. We are not Indians. It will be self rejection for us to be Indian when we have our own distinction by colour, race, culture, tradition and outlook from that of Indians. We are building our national identity not personal images in the Naga society or in the Indian climate in Nagaland. We Nagas must stay focused on our vision. Our Vision is INDEPENDENT; Free from outside domination,
The protracted journey of the Nagas may be compared to the exodus of Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. The Journey would have taken only forty days instead of forty years had the Israelites follow and obey God rather than charting their own plan prompted by their own mental build-up forfeiting the Divine guidance. This is true with the Nagas. The problems we face today are the result of short-sighted solution of the past leaders. Their blunders, miscalculations, misinterpretations, and misdirection have caused the present complications and confusions. However there are also right direction, right interpretation and right vision that have not been adequately put to wider view of the Nagas may be for lack of technical reasoning or assets or obscured by the season. We need to relook, forgive, and move forward with Hope energized and mind empowered to march together the journey we are taking today.
The Recorded history of Nagas dealing with the Indian Govt. and the hidden policies of Indian political leaders played on the Nagas must need be placed to the clearer understanding of the Naga people. There are lessons to learn for the Nagas not to commit the same blunders or create another or even greater blunder but to stand firm on the principle foundation of the Naga Nationhood. Let us briefly review the Naga history with respect to Indian political system that have shape the Nagas of today.
The memorandum of the Naga hills by Naga club to the British statutory Commission known as the Simon Commission of 1929, clearly portrait the will and wish of the Nagas to be exempted from British-Indian Reformed Schemed and left them free as of in ancient times. The following statement of the commission 1929 quoted herewith substantiates. “Though our land at present is within the British territory, Government have always recognized our private rights in it, but if we are forced to enter the council the majority of whose number is sure to belong to other districts, we also have much fear the introduction of foreign laws and customs to supersede our own customary laws which we now enjoy.
For the above reasons, we pray that the British Government will continue to safeguard our rights against all encroachment from other people who are more advanced than us by withdrawing our country that we should not be thrust to the mercy of other people who could never be subjected; but to leave us alone to determine ourselves as in ancient times”
The Nine-Point Agreement of 1947, the 16-Point Agreement of 1960, the Shillong Accord of 1975 are viewed to be Naga National blunders rather than achievement for the reasons that, those acts were committed blind folded by or with Indian appeasement policies without and against the will of the Naga people. The consequences of those commitments made by the innocent Naga leaders, who were closed-mouth & Closed eyes by the cunning Indian politicians, are many and great. The creation of arbitrary Indian state Boundaries separating the compact Nagaland into parts of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal and a large part of Nagaland under Myanmar, the feeling of division among the Nagas, the distorted Naga national factions, the tribalism, chauvinism and, different political ideologies about the Nagas created in the minds of the Nagas are simply the outcome of the short-sighted dealing with the Indians political agents or representations. The facts have prolonged the Naga national political dialogue. With so much complications created by the past agreements or creations of divisions and apprehensions, it is not a few days or weeks or Months matter to resolved the Naga issues. The Nagas issues are so complicated that the present talk with the GOI should not be taken as easy as one may think. Any settlement should be the collective decision of the Naga people for which Naga people has to be consulted in every crucial matter.
It is very important to know that, every nation or people have their right over their land. That Naga people too have their right and power to rule over their land. It is unfortunate to read certain statement of S.C. Jamir, appeared in one of the leading papers that can be taken as creating fear and inferiority complex upon the Naga minds and people by telling that, Naga people are insignificant in comparisons with the Indian population. Here, one has to understand that it is not the quantity of people, or the power of arms but the truth and the quality of a nation that shall be able to stand against all power. Abraham Lincoln once stated that, “One man with the truth is majority”
Sorry to mention that, today, there are still Indian –Naga leaders distorting the Naga history by giving diverse and contradicting ideologies or views which are only complicating the Current talk process rather than giving impetus to the talk for ultimate logical conclusion. The concept or mentality that, the Nagas living outside the present Nagaland-Indian state are Pan Naga or Naga brothers spelled upon the Nagas will have adverse implication. There is no such as outside or inside Nagas or Naga brothers, all Nagas are one and equal. The Word pan is a new term for the Nagas which meaning does not suit to any situation or status to Naga society.
To me Nagas are one irrespective of location, status, or position in any place on earth. It is our common identity, our pride, our Nation and our Name so long as we live. And when we die we will die as a Naga, not as anything. Some Indian-Naga leaders are intentionally or unintentionally creating the separatist mentality by viewing the Nagas in term of or with the Indian mental setup as Nagas of Nagaland, Manipur or Arunachal, Myanmar etc which are deadly sensitive and destructive misspell. The concept is the framed work of Indian political development. There is no Manipur Nagas, Assam Nagas, Arunachal Nagas, or Myanmar Nagas, we are the United Naga people nothing more nothing less. There is no such as pan Naga body neither shall we accept such a status by political compulsion or by subjection. This desire for Naga unity everywhere is not of spiritual longing, nor sentimental nor emotional. It is a natural instinct we may call it our inalienable political right.It is not to be considered as an alliance, association or league of whatever. It is just that, we are one people and nation. Any attempt to classify the Nagas by territorial location, tribe, religion, or social status is a direct attempt to destroy the Nation which is a National Crime. Therefore, My earnest appeal to all Naga thinkers, workers, leaders and general Nagas citizens is to be aware of the destroyers within and without that are constantly working hard in different facades wisely using the tone and interest of the Nagas to make them appear genuine and then doing destructive things hidden from our immediate perceptions. They have the capability for massive espionage and clandestine operation within our Naga society. They use facades or cover-up methods that appear or seem virtually perfect and true so as to hide their inner operations. They look like real and truthful but the result of their action shows who they really are, often after the spoil, they are realized or recognized. Having this consciousness, I am to pray to all honourable National workers of all factions to kindly reconsider your stands, principles or positions and think in term of finding a common interest, goal and determination for the Naga final settlement keeping aside all your personal, factional interest or gain in the larger interest of the Naga people and Nation. May God bless my Naga people.
Z.D.Bon Gangmei
