A cultural dance troupe perform during Saleni festival celebrations at Pfosemai village
Pfosemai (Manipur), July 29 (MExN): On the occasion of Saleni a festival of the Mao tribe, Pfosemai and Viswema villages in Nagaland today reaffirmed a “peace treaty” said to have signed between them in 2001. Representatives from various organizations from Viswema village were invited to the festival. Representatives from village councils, student unions, youth organizations and various organizations from the neighboring villages from Nagaland and Manipur were also invited.
Pfosemai has already signed treaty with 32 villages from Nagaland and Manipur ‘to forgive and forget the past misdemeanors.’ According to history there was a war between the villages for supremacy. Pfosemai had first made peace treaty with Khonoma village (Nagaland) in 1800 and the last treaty was signed with Viswema and Kezoma in 2001.
Interestingly to strengthen their bond they had opened a joint bank account having Rs. 12 lakhs which would be utilized for the welfare of two villages. It was in 2001 veteran Congress Lawmaker K V Pusa who was the chief guest in today’s programme had donated Rs. 1 lakh which has now reached Rs. 12 lakhs.
Pfosemai is some 35 kms from Kohima near the Nagaland border well developed village among Mao tribe. Tribal king of Mao tribe Pf. Kaikho invoked the traditional blessings on the two villages and on the people who had come to celebrate. Thousands of people attended today’s celebrations.
Congress MLA and former president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, Pusa in his speech said Naga society underwent two major cultural shifts with the coming of western political governance and the Christian religion. He said the process of politics has compartmentalized the Naga people within different political boundaries and the new religion that they have embraced has brought in an alien culture. But he said on the other hand ‘on the positive side’ consciousness emerged – the new development in which Nagas began to identify themselves as a people led to the Naga national movement, the Congress leader said.
However, he observed that achievement of the Nagas’ political goal as envisioned by the early Naga nationalists appears to be going farther from reality. ‘The protagonists of our political struggle seemed to have strayed away from the path taken by its proponents’ he added.
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that a way would be found in which Naga identity be accommodated within the ambit of political justice and the right to self-determination.
Pusa also observed that given the current political scenario of the state, when Nagas are disunited, their cultural uniqueness is being diluted very fast and the pressure of urgency to resolve the crisis is without doubt phenomenal.
The Congress MLA also lauded the efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation headed by a Baptist clergyman, Rev. Wati Aier to bring all Naga groups to the reconciliation table vis-à-vis unity.
‘We should no longer remain in the cocoon of tribal mentality when globally national boundaries are opening up in order to broaden economic opportunities for optimal growth and development’ he urged. He asked Naga leaders to focus on the young Nagas for the global playing fields in all areas of human progress and activity. Nagas cannot realize their full potential until they enter into the same arena where they are tested with the best of the world, Pusa reminded.
Pfosemai has already signed treaty with 32 villages from Nagaland and Manipur ‘to forgive and forget the past misdemeanors.’ According to history there was a war between the villages for supremacy. Pfosemai had first made peace treaty with Khonoma village (Nagaland) in 1800 and the last treaty was signed with Viswema and Kezoma in 2001.
Interestingly to strengthen their bond they had opened a joint bank account having Rs. 12 lakhs which would be utilized for the welfare of two villages. It was in 2001 veteran Congress Lawmaker K V Pusa who was the chief guest in today’s programme had donated Rs. 1 lakh which has now reached Rs. 12 lakhs.
Pfosemai is some 35 kms from Kohima near the Nagaland border well developed village among Mao tribe. Tribal king of Mao tribe Pf. Kaikho invoked the traditional blessings on the two villages and on the people who had come to celebrate. Thousands of people attended today’s celebrations.
Congress MLA and former president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, Pusa in his speech said Naga society underwent two major cultural shifts with the coming of western political governance and the Christian religion. He said the process of politics has compartmentalized the Naga people within different political boundaries and the new religion that they have embraced has brought in an alien culture. But he said on the other hand ‘on the positive side’ consciousness emerged – the new development in which Nagas began to identify themselves as a people led to the Naga national movement, the Congress leader said.
However, he observed that achievement of the Nagas’ political goal as envisioned by the early Naga nationalists appears to be going farther from reality. ‘The protagonists of our political struggle seemed to have strayed away from the path taken by its proponents’ he added.
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that a way would be found in which Naga identity be accommodated within the ambit of political justice and the right to self-determination.
Pusa also observed that given the current political scenario of the state, when Nagas are disunited, their cultural uniqueness is being diluted very fast and the pressure of urgency to resolve the crisis is without doubt phenomenal.
The Congress MLA also lauded the efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation headed by a Baptist clergyman, Rev. Wati Aier to bring all Naga groups to the reconciliation table vis-à-vis unity.
‘We should no longer remain in the cocoon of tribal mentality when globally national boundaries are opening up in order to broaden economic opportunities for optimal growth and development’ he urged. He asked Naga leaders to focus on the young Nagas for the global playing fields in all areas of human progress and activity. Nagas cannot realize their full potential until they enter into the same arena where they are tested with the best of the world, Pusa reminded.
