Nagas need a vibrant and purposeful leadership that is able to reflectively absorb constructive criticism, in addition to demonstrating the will to act justly while representing the people’s interests. Our history shows that there was no shortage of leaders in the traditional Naga context. The very nature of community life ensured that every individual was a responsible human being who contributed towards the common good. It was by taking care of the community that the community reciprocated in caring for every individual’s well being. Sadly, this mutual sense of caring and sharing has eroded over time as the sense of community has diminished. Now, the negative notions of individualism have begun eating away the notion of community along with the unique contributions of its individual members. These transitions from our traditional Naga context of shared responsibility and mutuality have contributed to an acute lack of purposeful leadership in present day Nagaland.
As the community values and positive individuality have been pushed to the margins, the notion of individualism has created competition and usurped how Nagas relate to one another. Subsequently, one of its many consequences is that existing leaders – State politicians, Civil Society, Traditional, as well as, ‘national workers’ – have failed to understand, listen and communicate to the Naga heart. Failure to understand and appreciate the Naga heart has also meant that the existing leaders are no longer people-centered as evidenced in traditional Naga culture. A critical gap, perhaps even a dichotomy, in understanding has emerged between the leaders and the people. Tragically this gap has been central in defining their perception of each other. And because perception is based on politics; they fail miserably in understanding each other’s intention. Invariably, the focus seems to be centered on posturing, rather than on recognizing and responding to each other’s needs.
Nagas are in dire need of purposeful leaders; leaders with a Naga heart who have goodwill for their fellow human beings and a perceptiveness or insight that enables them to respond flexibly and appropriately depending on what the situation requires. Nagas need leaders who are open and willing to publically acknowledge wrong doings and saying ‘Sorry’. Nagas need leaders who can humbly and sincerely recognize their own limitations, as well as, have the courage to seek popular opinion and involve the people in the process of policy formation. Nagas need leaders who have an all encompassing vision that revolved around improving the lives of all people, not just their kin, clan or their village. Nagas need leaders who have the generosity of the Naga heart to forgive and embrace those who have hurt them. Nagas are craving for leaders who are willing to humble themselves and seek counsel from the people.
Nagas need leaders with a vision for the common good and one that has the conviction to lead the people out of the present condition of indifference and apathy, and inspire new imagination that rekindles the spirit of life once again. In reality the majority of the people are caught up in the cycle of day to day survival, so leaders are needed that can empower and catalyze the people to transcend the cycle of despair is crucial at this juncture. At the end of the day in a multi-cultural and diverse society such as the Nagas, the question of legitimacy in the people’s eyes cannot be undermined. Hence, Nagas are in need of leaders who can break out of the prevailing ‘isms’ and demonstrate their relevancy to the people and the conditions, thereby restoring our Naga heart.
