Editoral
By Dr Asangba Tzudir
The Naga political issue, issues of corruption, and the need for development forms the dominant “Naga narrative”, however, it has continued to stay as a narrative though a change in position towards progress has remained a longing for the people.
At this backdrop, the state of Nagaland is and will be witnessing change of guard at the helm of affairs of the State including the ‘opposition-less’ UDA Government. With the departure of the interlocutor to the Naga political talks as well as the Governor of Nagaland RN Ravi, the Governor of Assam Prof Jagdish is given the additional charge of Nagaland. The additional charge seems like a stop-gap arrangement and therefore there is uncertainty of the time that remains at his disposal considering the backdrop of his entry which has become a normalized condition. While on the other hand the air of uncertainty remains as to who will fill RN Ravi’s shoes as the next interlocutor of the Naga Political issue. However, the general assurance is that RN Ravi has brought the final settlement to the door and just awaiting it to open, that the new interlocutor will not have to restart. However, it has been the case of so near (in paper) yet so far (in reality).
During his swearing in ceremony of the new Governor of Nagaland Prof Jagdish Mukhi, he concluded with the hope for Nagaland to shine as the Eastern Star of the Indian Nation. Touching upon priority areas – “youths”, “mothers and daughters”, Naga political issue, and for the huge potentials in various sectors, he exuded hope and confidence for a better Nagaland. However, in spite of the air of hope and confidence Prof Jagdish brings, there is uncertainty of his tenure being an additional charge.
As a case in point, it has been the agenda of the government for years to give emphasis on youths, and even the new Governor has especially called on giving special emphasis on the youths of Nagaland as partners in the development of Nagaland that would ultimately put Nagaland as the Eastern Star of the Indian nation. But the stark reality was aptly highlighted in a recent talk show hosted by Alobo Naga with two professional footballers from Nagaland. The duo aired their concern without mincing words: “to be honest, if you want to be professional in Nagaland, it’s totally No for us. Its better you study. If the government is going to be like this in the coming years, its better you focus on your studies.” Coming from these two professional footballers, one can make of it as a brutal truth in consideration of their professional training and the facilities they now enjoy at the level they are playing, and which ‘lack’ in Nagaland to provide the professionalism it warrants when it comes to sports facilities. Even the pursuit of knowledge and education, if seen from the lens of employment opportunities, even the incentives for studying is often disappointing.
Theoretical narrative/s is not new to Nagaland, and it has remained so because the underlying concepts and the aspirations within the theoretical narrative have been misplaced due to the realities of the Naga condition. As such, on the level of the theoretical narrative beautiful concepts are brought in, but it has been found lacking in its content. Thereby, the form covering the narrative/s continues to remain superficial. There seems to be some sort of a form when the new Governor says that, “Nagaland is an embodiment of the Indian Union, exhibiting unity in diversity, diverse in its ethnicity and unified by the Naga identity,” or when he says that he is confident that “soon we will have a comprehensive and inclusive solution ensuring utmost honor and dignity to the Naga people,” but, despite the ‘form’ it has continued to struggle for the right content and so the form simply remains formless.
So long as rhetoric continue to give rhetorical forms, the right content in actuality will not find its place, and thereby only add to the missed opportunities. But who is it to be blamed? It lies largely on the people of the inability to chart their course of self-determination. And the differences have not helped create a shift from the present Naga condition.
Yet another time has come for Nagas to reflect and prepare within the change of guard - whether it will end in another missed opportunity and continue life being dragged within the rhetoric, or redefine the Naga narrative that is not just a narrative but within praxis.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
