In the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, there is a verse which says that “two is better than one”. This implies that two people coming together as one team can do and accomplish much more than a single individual working solo. This Bible verse is often quoted by our pastors while solemnizing marriages at church weddings. And by referring to this verse at church weddings, our pastors naturally wish to imply that a man and a woman becoming one flesh can enjoy much more, accomplish much more and soar together much higher when they become one in the Lord.
But today I wish to reverse this statement and instead of saying “two is better than one”, I wish to say “one in better than two” in view of the fragmented nature of our society today. Nagaland has become a land of so many unions, groups, parties and denominations which has undoubtedly crippled us in so many ways and left us handicapped and unfit to counter and confront the challenges that stare us in the face today.
Nagas are one and we share a common history and will inherit a common future. So whether it is in the sphere of our national struggle or in the arena of our state politics, so many groups and parties vying for the same goal does not make any sense. Our splinter groups should shed their egos and petty differences and come under one common banner if they wish to overcome the challenges that confront us today and hence, in this context I have titled this write-up as “one is better than two”.
Recently the attention of the Naga people has been drawn to the news that the so-called two regional parties of Nagaland are soon going to merge and become one entity. Since I am not an avid fan or follower of Nagaland state politics, I usually prefer to respectfully withhold my comments and observations about issues and matters relating to state politics.
Nonetheless, I cannot deny the fact that today our state government is the most powerful entity in our land and it is perhaps the one entity that literally holds the entire fate and destiny of the Nagas in its hands. That is why our so-called elected representatives followed by the bureaucracy are the most powerful, the most resourceful and the most crucial entity in our land as they are empowered by the system to frame and carry out policies and programs that can decide the fate and future of Nagaland for good or for worse.
Today many issues confront us and the need of the hour is certainly unity in every spheres of life. It is only when we are united and can present an image of being united to others that we can effectively tackle our problems and maneuver our way to a better and promising future.
So, for any Naga who is desirous of seeing a bright and promising future for Nagaland, the news that the two so-called regional parties of Nagaland are going to become one is very welcoming and enriching. None of us can deny that state politics in Nagaland is dirty and driven by money. But at the same time, at this juncture, it is the state government which is most well equipped to effectively safeguard our identity, our culture, our land and natural resources as it holds the power to make and execute laws that would be binding on all living across the length and breadth of Nagaland.
And one of the most effective ways to safeguard our interest and tackle the many mammoth issues that confront us today would be through the establishment of a strong regional party which can stand its ground and fight against alien laws, programs and sinister agendas that are often intentionally initiated against us by big national parties and leaders of mainland India. And the good news is that the seeds for such a regional party had already been implanted in Nagaland as early as the early 1960s when we became the 16th state of the Indian Union. The symbol of this Naga regional party is the Cock.
This cock party is as old as the Naga statehood itself and it has existed throughout the whole history of Naga statehood though under different nomenclatures. One of the primary motives of this cock party has been to preserve and protect Naga identity and promote Naga welfare against the potential intentions of big National parties to impose its alien ideologies and sinister programs over us.
For most Nagas, the Cock party, irrespective of its nomenclature, is the one and only true regional party. And as such it has deep emotional and sentimental value for many in every corner of our land. In fact, in the realm of Nagaland state politics, the cock party is the only party that can evoke the true and original spirit of Nagahood in our hearts and minds in a way akin to what the Naga National Council (NNC) was to many Nagas in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s (though in a lesser degree).
For over six years now, another so-called regional party with the globe as its symbol has been at the helm of affairs in our state. But this so-called regional party was born only out of the misgivings, rivalry and ambitions that arose amongst the leaders of the cock party. So this new party is just an offshoot of the cock party and as such can never replace the cock party. The cock party has been implanted so deep in the minds and psyche of most Nagas that it would be a far cry to even think that another so-called regional party would emerge in the Naga horizon and erase the memory and stamp of the cock party.
So when the top brass of the globe party are not aloof to the idea of returning to the original party with a view to strengthen the party and the Naga people, I think it’s a move in the right direction. Even if there are some ulterior motives and personal agendas of the state politicians in this, I would still feel that this reunion would be well worth it because what the Naga need most today is unity.
Nagaland is a small state comprising of hardly 2 million people and in a small state like ours, if two so called regional parties are to exist side by side we are only weakening ourselves and presenting an image of a fragmented people to outsiders and this can have disastrous consequences on us.
It is said that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. This is very much true in the context of our state politics. The Nagas are a small people surrounded by some of the most populous nations and communities in the world. Nagaland is a state within India, the most populous country in the world. To the north we have the very mighty and populous China even though as of now we do not face any imminent threat from China. Then to the south we have the over-populated Islamic nation of Bangladesh which today poses the greatest danger to the demography of not only Nagaland but the entire North East India. Even within India our immediate neighbors like the Assamese, the Bengalis etc are communities whose population and its density far exceed ours. And the reluctance of the Nagas to take up manual works is inadvertently creating many job opportunities for outsiders both from within and outside India. So the very fact that the Nagas are a small people in the midst of overwhelmingly large populations certainly means that we cannot afford to divide ourselves further because of our petty egos and selfish interests.
One day, god willing, the long awaited final political solution may dawn on the Naga horizon and the Nagas may finally get to live under a new political heaven and earth. But until such a time, our existence as a full-fledged state within the Indian union may have to continue. And as a state within India, I bet the safest guarantee for our identity, culture, history and future would be a strong undivided regional party which can imbibe all Nagas under one umbrella cutting across tribal lines. Fortunately for the Nagas, we do not need to create such a new regional party afresh since such a regional party with the cock symbol already exists.
So, in the light of all the above assertions and arguments, as far as regional parties in our tiny state of Nagaland are concerned, one is better than two. And only a strong united party can garner the respect and acknowledgment of people both from inside and outside Nagaland. And in our present situation, having more than one regional party in our tiny state would be like committing political suicide and becoming a laughing stock for others to witness.
