Hukai. H Zhimo
Forest colony, Dimapur
It's been more than 5 decades since statehood and we are yet to have a women legislator. This explains enough and speaks volumes of how politics in our state still remains a bastion of male chauvinism. Though outwardly, we present ourselves to the world as holier-than-thou when it comes to respecting and valuing our women yet the paradox, the surprise continues to be, why is it that, almost "WE MEN” have to oppose the 33% woman reservation??? Does it really infringe on Art. 371A vis-a-vis our traditional culture and practices....??? Or is it just that "WE MEN" cannot see a woman occupy a legislative chair. I seriously believe, Art. 371A has been cleverly and craftily used as an excuse by some misogynist vociferously, to spread false propaganda and deny reservation to our women. There's no disputing the fact that 'We the Nagas' respect and value our woman but it's time, we do away with the mindset of respecting them just for the reason because they are our daughter, mother, wife and sister. It's time we respect them as equal human and lift them from political repression which they have endured for long. So, to all the misogynist out there, please compromise on your hyper "traditional and cultural practices" mentality and tell all the selfish, egoistic, negative and prejudiced fools in you, meeting in your mind to "SHUT UP" and give the due opportunity to our womenfolk be it in municipal bodies or state legislative assembly as we cannot continue to politically oppress them in the name of culture and tradition. Posterity will surely blame us of selfishness if we do not “STOP” from putting the burden of culture and tradition on the shoulder of our women to serve our own selfish ends. Please also understand that, by your logic, if you had kept your hyper "traditional and cultural practices", you neither would have embraced Christianity nor Western Education.
But now, that you also have compromised with your traditional culture and practices for good and has moved on, don't be double standard here, by giving lecture on it. While the land and its resources, taxes, municipalities etc are the issues that may be compromising with the special safeguards provided under Art.371A but Woman reservation issue was a completely non issue blown out of proportion by some misogynist so called, “the savior of our culture and traditions”. I feel, Women reservation is a right step in the right direction towards bridging the gap and removing gendered barrier in politics. So, instead of flexing muscles, creating unwanted disturbances and making issues out of a non issue, let us have a holistic approach towards empowerment of our womenfolk so as to enable them to be on an equal footing with man in all aspects of life. Someone said, “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”
