Besesayo Kezo, IPS
Retd DGP
“No man undertakes a trade he has not learned, even the meanest; yet he thinks himself sufficiently qualified for the hardest of all trades, that of government.”- Socrates
Can we simplify politics? How can we make it easier for ordinary citizens to understand and play politics in Nagaland? Who are creating public nuisance and political turbulence? And, why? Can we identify them? Can there be any solution? Let’s try.
Today, it appears that the people of Nagaland have not taken any stand on the moral issues or ethical behaviour of their citizens and state politicians. Both the citizens and politicians are either indifferent or ignorant about their moral obligations towards the society and state. They do not show any collective vision, goal or principles. Neither the citizens nor the politicians seem to have any clear thought or vision as to how they should rule the state or play politics with responsibilities. Since apparently, there is no commitment to any moral principles or clarity of thought or convergence of thoughts around those critical issues or to any universal or eternal values like justice, truth etc, to guide their political behaviour, they play the state politics dismissively, disdainfully, casually and haphazardly as they like and the victory is decided by money and muscle power during every election or power struggle without any other necessary qualifications or conscience. There is no rule or moral restraint. The winner is applauded and nobody questions about the means he employs to succeed. ‘The ends justify the means’. Their methods of acquiring power and position are very crude, repugnant and highly immoral.
It is observed that during every political crisis in our state, the general public behaves and acts amoral; the moralist crusaders remain silent and allow the immoral political activists a free hand to achieve their goals by hook or by crook. The loser doesn’t cause any loss to the society because the election is never fought on any moral or universal or eternal principles so far that concern the welfare of the society.
Nevertheless the society as a whole suffers irreparable moral consequences because of the acquiescence of the public, reticence of the moralist speakers and writers, and, irresponsible activities and blatant immoralities committed by the politicians. Together, they have destroyed the moral fabric and reputation of our traditional tribal society and brought political corruptions into the state systematically and officially as a way of life. Aren’t they all conspirators in the moral collapse of our society? What we are known to the outside world today, is largely dependent on the activities of these elements.
Any modern vibrant and living liberal democratic society is split by political principles and ideologies in which the people with the best and most relevant ideas win the election and run the government. Where nobody represents any universal or eternal political principles and simply contests for power in the election or in political crisis, as a candidate, neither will the society gain nor lose, except the individual contestant. It will be just a personal victory or loss. The society does not share his fate, good or bad. The reputation of the loser will also not suffer either because he does not have any. Reputation is merely a recognition of merit or demerit accorded to or conferred upon by the society for good works. How can he have any reputation when he doesn’t identify himself with any universal or eternal values of life or political principles?
However, for a people like the Nagas, who love to talk about political independence, unique identity and separatism, and, refuse to identify with the national politics of India, but, at the same time, very badly divided by tribalism and individualism, the only politics that can accommodate all the myriad views and interests of the citizens is, ideally speaking, to have 2(two) political parties in the state, namely, national party and regional party.
The national political party of India is absolutely essential in order to keep the fissiparous tendencies in check and slowly but discreetly develop a national consciousness among the people. It will also serve as a vital link through which the aspirations and problems of the state can be expressed and addressed more effectively at the national level. If they don’t have that connection, they will feel neglected, ignored and alienated. They will also be able to partake in the policy decision making process at the national level and understand India better and can contribute towards nation building. A small but politically sensitive state like ours, needs special attention from the centre for funding all development activities as we don’t have enough resources of our own.
Our state was created out of political necessity and not on economic viability. We still remain economically poor and backward after so many decades of attaining the statehood. The infrastructure development is hardly visible. Roads, electricity, education, health services and water supply have not been sufficiently made available to the citizens even in the urban areas not to speak of the rural areas where the sketchy developments and the infrastructures are in shambles or in most deplorable and dilapidated conditions. Most of them exist on paper only. Paper developments and cheap publicity have taken the place of real developments on the ground. Our economy is being wrecked by the political instability, corruptions and extortions coupled with geographical difficulties. The state has to remind the government of India about them again and again lest that original idea is forgotten and we are treated differently at par with the others.
Next, it is also necessary to have a very clearly defined regional political party in Nagaland to represent the peculiarities and special problems of the region in New Delhi whichever political party rules over there. This will even act as a safety valve through which the centrifugal forces can express their frustrations and feelings safely and freely. Collectively, they must send a strong and unambiguous political message to New Delhi regarding the special interests of the people as experienced more than 100 (hundred) years of political struggles and mass uprisings mobilised by some of the most influential and popular Naga leaders of their times. They have passed through many vicissitudes of political fortunes in their long and arduous journey but one thing has been very consistent and amply enunciated clearly by all of them unequivocally that they belong to a separate group of people with a distinct culture of their own and they want to maintain the status quo. Till today, they continue to have a strong feeling of alienation and refuse to naturally integrate politically with the India union. In order to win over these elements, we need a strong local regional political party organised within the constitution of India, which can accommodate their aspirations and allay their fears of being swamped by the overwhelming majority Indians of different race and culture.
