Dr Asangba Tzudir
The second narrative of the creation of man is seen in Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) which says, “so the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a women and brought her to the man.” For God saw that Adam had no helper fit for him. Then began the mistranslation and misinterpretation in tune with tradition and culture where women for so long were domesticated, and in context, became the “second sex” subordinate to man and not as equals in the likeness and image of God.
To a large extent, this mistranslation and misinterpretation continues within the domain of religion which is attested by the various forms of misrepresentation in Naga society today. The taking of the man’s rib in the creation may be seen not as a symbol of subordinate or a help but rather as a symbol of companionship.
Within the fold of cultural and traditional practices, if not for the cultural domestication, Naga women would have been baptized along with the men much earlier. It was difficult for women to create their own narrative within a naturalized setting other than to bow and even propagate in defense. This cultural and traditional roots coupled with domestication was so strong that women especially the mothers from their own domesticated confines were at the fore of prohibiting man and more so women from becoming Christians. Even today there are the mothers that liberate their daughters, so also those that domesticate their daughters within the culturally constructed image of an ideal woman.
Within such subjugation, Naga women continue to struggle for space especially in the political domain in relation to decision making. During a recent consultative meeting of the state government with the tribal hohos of the state, the Chief Minister while talking about reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies has stated that “we cannot become prisoners of our traditions, or let them stand in the way of good modern practices to come in.” And added that “it is fallacious to say that the status of women in Naga Society is very good or high, while on the other hand there is a near nil representation of women in the decision making elected bodies. The issue has remained controversial for a long time with many opining that it “impinges on traditions and customs.”
Today, women are excelling in every field of activity starting from education where women compete among themselves, that men hardly serve as a competitor. But, even today women continue to be sidelined from decision making bodies especially in the political domain. Considering the changing times and circumstances what the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said needs serious reflection – “we cannot become prisoners of our tradition.” For so long in so many ways culture and traditional practices continue to keep the Naga Society imprisoned and Naga society cannot and should not continue to stay in chains.
To release from the bondage of this imprisonment there is a lot of rethinking to do on the issue of mistranslation and misinterpretation, and by starting to respect women not as a subordinate but as an equal, and where women is freely allowed to enter into decision making bodies to recreate the companionship that looks up to each other in creating a balanced and harmonious society and for the well being of everyone.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
