Ng. Muivah
O Nagas, know that your name was Naked. From the nuclei of Nagas Club, you became Naga National Council. The seed of Naga Nationalism was sown through the length and breadth of Nagaland under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo, father of the Nagas. There was positive response from every tribe, big or small. People made firm decision that they will fight for the right of the nation, whereby the land was dedicated to Christ, our Saviour under the slogan “Nagaland for Christ.”
History has testified that many revolutions in Latin America and Afro-Asian countries met their end without success, Alas! Nagas’ struggle for liberation has already outlasted more than half a century. The Israelites made a sojourn in the wilderness for only forty years under the leadership of Moses. Certainly, our struggle for liberation has God’s blessing. We have been tortured, harassed and killed under the policy of suppression by the government of India. Yet the flame of freedom burns brighter and brighter. More and more youth joined the movement to the dismay of the coloniser and proved wrong the logic of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, who claimed that the Nagas revolutionaries could be crushed within five days.
Of course, in term of military power Nehru was right. But Nehru could not understand that the movement is dedicated to Christ. Christ is all- powerful and determines the fate of every nation and individual. Prophet Isaiah says “In the same way I shall not cause you pain without allowing something new to be born” says the Lord. “If I cause you the pain I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation”, says your God (Isaiah 66:9). It is this promise made by God Almighty to the Naga nation who had solemnly dedicated themselves to Jesus Christ. History testifies that Naga movement for liberation from foreign domination has outlasted any other revolutions in the world.
When did you turn yourself into a “Frankenstein”? A simple question is put to every citizen and the leaders of the nation. Are you right with Christ? God forbids! Many women have been rendered widows and children orphans in the factional fights. Is it justified to say that soldiers of the Holy God fight amongst themselves for claiming supremacy? The Bible says that anybody who wants to be the greatest must serve his fellowmen as the least person.
Under the banner of “Nagaland for Christ”, a quit notice is served to the Tangkhuls in Nagaland. This is a drama inside Christ’s kingdom. Who is going to defend the Tangkhuls if at all they committed crime against the nations? To be true to reality, the Tangkhul Naga Long or any other organizations of the tribe do not take any decision to kill any Naga brother for any reason or otherwise. If at all, the responsibility for crimes or excesses committed in Nagaland is to be fixed it should be shifted to the NSCN or GPRN personnel and for that no particular tribe or individual is to be held responsible. One peculiar attribute of the Tangkhuls can serve as a good example that many can learn. The Tangkhuls are shot dead every month in Nagaland in the name of revenge or otherwise. But the Tangkhuls have not waged war against any tribe or group as retaliation so far. Any citizen of the country can move freely in the Tangkhul areas. Is there any incident of someone suffering in the hand of the Tangkhuls on ethnic ground? Record will show the truth. It will be too early to forget the sacrifice made by the Tangkhuls for the cause of the nation. Is there any place or area where no Tangkhul blood is shed? Is the sacrifice of life a useless and thankless service? Let us speak the truth or else we will be distorting the history of the Nagas.
Amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, the delinquent Benjammites stubbornly resisted the eleven tribes and resorted to fratricidal war in which all the Benjammites were exterminated except 600 strong men who escaped to the cave of Rimnon. The eleven tribes had made an oath to the effect that they would not give their daughters for wives to the Benjammites. But their decision was grievous as that would result in the loss of one tribe of Israel ultimately. As they felt sorry for the Benjammites, they provided the Benjammites with wives from Jabesh Gilead (Judges 21:14). It is because of fraternal feelings that saved the tribe from extinction. It is the right time for the Nagas to listen to reason before it is too late.
Our leaders like A.Z. Phizo, S. Sukhai, Imkong Meren are now dead unable to see the Nagaland of their dream based on Christian love and charity. But we have destroyed the very cord of love and fraternity. They will be upset and disappointed if they could learn the news of discord and fratricidal war of today. Let us not disturb their rest in peace. The ceasefire between GOI and GPRN is running ten years now. There have been several rounds of talks but there is no breakthrough except the “Osaka Declaration” wherein the uniqueness of Naga Political history was acknowledged by the government of India. It is of no use to extend the ceasefire if the talk is not fruitful. Prolonged ceasefire through subsequent extensions will lead freedom fighters to an easy and carefree life which they could not afford earlier. The die-hard spirit of Naga nationalism is sifted day by day in having contact with modern luxury. If the talk fails and the ceasefire is called off, they may not want to return to the jungle. Then, the final result will be surrender to the Indian army. Nay, they will be laughed at with contempt by the enemies.
Today, the revolutionary organizations are looked upon as violent and dictatorial lacking in transparency and honesty. Love for freedom is being replaced by love for money. Can we attain our freedom by constructing palatial buildings and possessing air conditioned cars? The Israelites were defeated by a small city called Ai because of Achan greed for wealth. YHWH, the Almighty God of Israel is our God to whom we dedicate. Nay! God forbids! Let us once again recast our ways and attitudes and change to a new commitment acceptable to God.
Are we really committed to the slogan of “Nagaland for Christ”? Will Christ accept our services? If it is not there, then why don’t we ask Christ to give us moratorium for certain period of time until the anger and hatred in our heart dies down? We may shout again “Nagaland for Christ” when we are emotionally and spiritually whole. There are factions blaming each other regarding the policy and programme adopted. They do not see their own mistakes committed. Any failure is criticized to be used for the advantage of its faction. As a matter of fact, the Nagas have divided Christ into parts. They are using the name of Christ for their factional advantage and favour. But Christ believes in peace and love. Love your neighbour as you love yourself has fallen flat in the present political scenario of Nagaland. Dear brothers and sisters, unity is the demand of the hour from us. Let not our anger and hatred hamper the progress of peace talk. Let us forgive and forget the mistakes of this faction or that faction. I do hope that God will also forgive us.
KUKNALIM
(The writer is Retd. Lecturer, D.M. College, Imphal, Manipur)
