It is difficult to wrap my head around the fact that three lives and so much history, records, documents and properties were lost in the violence that occurred a while ago. The scale of the loss is absolutely heartbreaking. Thinking about it and the reasons leading to such a state of affair and lockdown in our state, I would like to share some thoughts. Growing up in another state I was a Naga, and that was all there was to it. Period.
But coming back to Nagaland as an adult was quite a culture shock in that I realized that there are many layers to being a Naga. You are born into a particular family and clan, belong to a certain village in an area of a specific district and of course belong to a distinct tribe. So even if you are part of a tribe there are affiliations to the clan and to the familial branches of the clan and even if you are from the same district, distinctions are made based on your village/range/block etc. So being a Naga means that we have many things to contend with and now we have the burning issue of being a Naga woman vs. being a Naga man.
Our perspectives are tinted by our personal experiences and observations and living in the Naga patriarchal society, I have seen the good and the bad. There are enlightened men and there are those who are still steeped in traditions and dogma. The same goes for women too. Sexism and misogyny are not exclusive to men.
There have been instances when women have actively endorsed the customary laws towards their own kind especially against daughters/sisters-in-law, widows, divorcees and single mothers, thus perpetuating the patriarchal values and mind-set. Parents have raised children inculcated with societal values/attitudes based on gender; and the home environment plays a very important role in shaping the worldview of the individuals. Thus a lot of introspection and soul searching is required if we are to evolve and bring up the younger generations as good and responsible citizens capable of carving out their own niche in a competitive world regardless of gender.
Empowerment and enlightenment go hand in hand and if we are to progress we must understand that it is our values and attitudes that will ultimately shape our destiny. The gender and societal attitudes that are shaped by patriarchal values are obstacles on the path toward political empowerment and we must try to bring a change through dialogue and reason.
So much has been spewed forth about the 33% reservations for women; and for what it is worth this is my take on this issue.
There have been women candidates who have stepped up and joined politics and contested in the past but did not win. The reasons for not winning may have been due to financial difficulties and due to the patriarchal system that does not support the women candidates in terms of endorsement etc.
So maybe the women could not cut through the barriers of social sanction and prejudice. But the point is that they tried. They were ridiculed, threatened, even attacked but they came forth and they tried. That is the essence of having the courage of conviction and for doing what they believed in and what they wanted to do.
Today women have excelled in almost all fields through hard work, tenacity, brain power, sincerity and parental support. The 33% reservation will definitely go a long way in including women in the political arena on a wider scale, and it is hoped that it will be implemented soon; but even without it, women can contest if they want to and are determined to compete with the men. And there are women candidates who have boldly stated that they are willing to fight elections without the 33% reservations. So it is up to us to stand up and support each other and start a mass grassroots movement by educating both males and females about the necessity of including women in the decision making processes because men and women working together as a team will achieve more. An informed public will ultimately support the inclusion of women in politics in practical and tangible ways.
Instead of defensive aggression and abrasive counter onslaughts/ accusations/ demands/ threats etc., building healthy relationships and goodwill will go a long way to build a stronger and more inclusive Naga society. A shift in perspective could bring about solutions that are radically positive and meaningful.
J Longkumer
