Moa Aso
“Let’s do away with Naga tribalism. Let’s do away with a Naga being killed by a Naga. Let God’s love for the Nagas prevail.” God did not award the death penalty to Adam and Eve for having breached His Commandment. Punishment other than death penalty was inflicted upon the duo for their commission of sin. The primary reason for such consideration was that God in His fullness of love and wisdom envisaged the ultimate reunion of God and the fallen men, most importantly, the human soul. This vision could have been defeated if Adam and Eve were physically eliminated for their sins at Eden Garden. God, however, manifested His eternal love for mankind through the fructification and resurrection of Jesus Christ wherein His relation with mankind is being restored through Christ and Christ alone. In this Christian era, society needs more of reformative measures than retributive ones, more of love and compassion than hatred and killings.
For sure, Nagas are a struggling people for recognition of their sovereign nationhood. Interestingly, they are also a superior human race with superior human values and virtues; simplicity, honesty, hard work, high intellectual, bravery and courage, among others. Nagas are not as cheap (chalu) as many seem to appear in today’s society. In fact, Nagas are people with character and this virtue has to be developed and cherished furthermore. The recent killings and cheap paper war between the two factions of NSCN was very unfortunate. Every Naga citizen has a burden; the burden to solve the longstanding Indo-Nagalim political problem. The nightmare of “Nagas killing Nagas” in the name of Naga national movement in the past 30 years must now be put to a logical end. The truth is, violence begets violence. It is closely observed that the ill impacts and consequences of fratricidal killings in Naga society far outweigh the merits. The question of Naga nationalism has a direct relevance with that of Nagaism. Some of the basic rules to this doctrine are:-
1) “Nagas are brothers by blood and by descent and not by choice or circumstances.” A Naga who kills a fellow Naga is not truly a Naga. Nagas are brothers by blood and not by circumstances. It is a taboo to kill ones own brother under any circumstance. The spirit of Naga brotherhood must reign supreme in all aspects of a Naga’s life. Highest respect and love for the life of every Naga citizen must be paid.
2) “Nagas are one nation with common history, common future and common vision.” Every Naga tribe whether big or small is an inherent constituent unit of the Naga nation. Nagaism does not recognize the present state artificial boundary imposed by the former British colonials. Nagaism recognizes the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Nagalim.
3) “Nagas by nature are democratic and peace loving people.” Naga (customary) law does not sanction death penalty in their system of administration of criminal justice. However, Nagas have globally earned good name for their courageous performance in war. In the ancient days, Nagas carried out the infamous head hunting war purely in defence of their village-states and not otherwise. Even crisis within the society was settled democratically and amicably as per Nagas’ rule of (customary) law. Meaning, every crime of the individual among the Nagas must be settled according to the laws and customs of Nagas.
4) Tribalism is an act of anti-Nagaism. Nagaism does not recognize any decision on Naga national agenda taken on communal or tribal line. Any national decision must be on national basis.
5) Anti-Nagaism is antithesis to Naga nationalism.
6) Nagas are courageous and patriotic. Courage and a Naga go hand in hand. They are very brave and courageous people with high sacrificial spirit for noble deeds and principles of truth.
The greatest challenge for the Nagas in the 21st Century is the task to conquer tribalism and foster the spirit of Nagaism. Nagalim belongs to every fellow Naga. Let us defeat the element of suspicion, hatred and violence within the Naga society. Let us renew the spirit of oneness and brotherhood. Let us begin to abhor the killing of a Naga by another Naga. NSCN must rethink and reorient their revolutionary policies and ideals compatible to that of Naga laws, Naga faith and Naga needs. Let God’s will prevail for the Nagas. Our sins of wrongful commission and omission must not be allowed to impede the working of God’s will in Nagalim. There’s a time for everything. It’s a time for the Nagas, especially the national workers, to come to each other’s positive point of view and create a wonderful new beginning in the new year and a new century with the true spirit of Nagaism in Nagalim.
The Principles of Nagaism needs to be virtually realised in order to further this crucial Naga nation building from within. The absence of absolute pragmatic wisdom and power to sincerely realise ourselves that we are brothers by blood and by descent is the greatest weakness on our part that enables the enemies to triumph in their pursuit for dividing and destroying the Nagas as a nation. The past killing of a brother by another brother must be stopped. It is not yet too late. Let us practically accept, strengthen, and cherish the bond of our true brotherhood.
