Shimreingam, Ukhrul
When I first read ‘Tuisem: A Confession’ penned by the revered & learnt Dr. Tuisem A. Shishak from the website of Morung Express, it not only gave me a moment to look oneself but also a moment of relief that he took such great courage to speak out the truth on behalf of the common Tangkhul community whose voice are never vented out for fear of possible reprisal. It was really shocking when a seemingly agitated Rh. Raising came up with a strongly worded reaction against the article calling it ‘anti-national’. The points he asserted, phrasal usages used lacked substance, unworthy of an assertion from a man of his stature. On closer scrutiny, it was not even a fitting justification or clarification neither a defense. It was only a blunt display of poor diplomatic skills and statesmanship devoid of any logic. It was only a loosely connected expression of frustration, insecurity and self-righteousness. Was it a personal attack on Dr. Tuisem to settle old personal score? To top it all, I don’t construe the article as ‘anti-Naga’ or ‘anti-Tangkhul’ in any sense neither do I see any reason why Rh. Raising preferred to launch his salvo attack using the shoulder of Steering Committee. Was he too insecure to counter or justify in the capacity of a mere concerned Tangkhul individual and not as the high profile Secretary of Steering Committee, GPRN? If it was something that seriously is undermining national interest which is of immense necessity to make bold justification, I am sure MIP could have done its part well. Now that everything has just elapsed - Tuisem confessed and the Steering Committee retorted, everyone wished the matter stopped there. However, an unanticipated development started building up when some IM functionaries personally started drumming up the public opinion. The gravity of the matter got more accentuated and aggravated when the TNL (Tangkhul Naga Long) the apex organization of the Tangkhul community, taking due cognizance of the idea apparently mooted by IM functionaries remained hell-bent on asking Rev. Dr. Tuisem A. Shishak to back-track his article and also to make fitting apology to the entire Tangkhul community. No rational, right thinking men of integrity would ever expect a man of Truth like Dr. Tuisem to stoop so low and yield at the expense of truth. Seated and placed alone in a raised platform, Dr. Tuisem rose up and said, “If in any way the article was a hindrance, a detriment to the Tangkhuls, I am sorry!” For sure, for any Tangkhul who feel and think they’re ‘United’, his apology must have been a further consolidation; a commendation for all who think Tangkhuls are not ‘Arrogant’; a consolation for those who think Tangkhuls have no ‘Self-pride’. But I am also sure that amongst the hundreds in the packed hall room and thousands in the villages, there was another me who sympathized this man who dared to speak the Truth on behalf of all the common people who in their unflinching support to the National cause for all these years, shedding blood and tears have also been witness and victims to an enumerable instances of torture, callousness and high-handedness of the Naga Army cadres.
The TNL, unsatisfied with what they conceive as ‘in-adequate’, ‘compelled’ apology, came up with an extreme step by promulgating an ‘Ex-communication’ order which entails barring revered Rev. Dr. Tuisem A. Shishak from being in the activities of the community for 6 years. Historic verdict! In fact, the first of its kind in the annals of Tangkhul history, or maybe even in the Naga History. In the sacred customary law of any Naga society, such decree is an exclusive reserve for a killer, a criminal, a traitor. We can hardly afford to misuse the conceptual as well as contextual meaning and usage of such extreme traditional decree. What did Tuisem do to deserve this? Did he kill? Did he incite a civil war? He confessed! He confessed for a reason every Naga churches pray or asked to pray. He spoke out the Truth … the truth that the Tangkhuls (like any other tribe) are sinners and that they should confess; that the Tangkhuls are arrogant; that they have self-pride; that the common people are not happy with behaviors of the Naga army cadres; and that Tangkhuls are not united. Where do we see unity in Tangkhul society today (except the solid support to the national movement)? Inking such historic and sensational verdict definitely prompts a necessity, urgency, a duty to call for a broad consensus of the whole community mandate. The high office of TNL, a traditionally sanctioned institution can never afford to remain a stooge of any system, nor can it work at the behest of any unseen force. The common peoples’ interest, voice is of greater and paramount importance. Pulse of the people needs to be read. The sentiments of the common people should never be taken for a ride. Remember, there’s no room for complacency. Rational approach to issues and problems is highly called for.
As of now, the ‘Ex-communication’ of Dr. Tuisem will therefore stand to nullify all claims and accusation that Tangkhuls are Arrogant, not united, that they have self-pride. To be placed on record are that Tangkhul are Humble, United, and don’t have self-pride! That’s what TNL and some vested individuals demanded and got it besides humiliating the learnt, respected elder. I am doubtfully afraid to question the intention and the rationale behind. But one thing’s for sure – that few people with vested interest sensitized the issue to score their own personal vendetta and to fit their own personal scheme of things. And that the historic judgment was passed under duress. Till now, I as an individual, as a born-Tangkhul, Tangkhul by blood, I tremble to convince myself that I am not part and parcel of the arrogance, self-pride and disunity that’s eating down the arteries of our society, like a moth a moth eating down a huge, tall tree. I, therefore, am constrained to give my own personal consent to detach myself from the ‘fake’ mandate and decree which self-glorifies itself. I am rather ashamed to be associating with a society which is
Rev. Dr. Tuisem A. Shishak has been made to taste a bitter humiliation today for little or no genuine reason but he shall always have a place in their heart for all those who think he was more than anything, their spokesman. God sees the Truth but waits. Let God judge!
