K. Ritse
Pfutsero town
The phrase ‘the truth shall stand sooner or later’ carries a deep meaning and we can give an ambiguous answer in defining what ‘truth’ is all about. The word ‘truth’ means quality of being true all the time, but the truth as claimed by the dictionary is often uncovered in all angle of life. It is so because the society is evolving for a greater height and bigger horizon as the world is rushing ahead. In general, truth mostly tends to mean ‘fact’ or ‘reality’. It involves the quality of faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty and sincerity.
As an intellectual citizen of the Naga society, surely we will agree on the fact that our past Nagas were governed and controlled by the principles of Naga norms, values, and culture based on truth. For a simple and innocent citizen of Naga society, the meaning of truth means ‘the wholesome truth’ under all circumstances. Wherein for the other advanced and developed societies, this simple truth is being categorized and fragmented within various zones. For this the phrase ‘the truth shall stand sooner or later’ has been interpreted for one’s own conveniences. So what we can learn is we ‘the Nagas’ can’t always sit on the truth as expressed by this volatile society.
When we consider the real meaning of truth which is the driving force for what we came so far are based upon three commanding words ‘shame, fear, forbidden’. Along the line, these three words played a very significant role in administering the whole village. For instance if any problem arises in a group/clan/khel/village, the body of the feast of merit holders came together and decide the verdict based upon ‘shame, fear and forbidden’ which immediately are counter challenged back by these three doctrine.
The legend also goes that only the most gifted and chosen people within the village can see the coming of ‘common village spirit’ (which reveals itself in the form of a ‘white cock’ and disappears with just the blink of an eye). Such people who have seen it were considered the most fortunate leader in the village and were assigned to govern the place. This proves that somehow, somewhere, something is there to lead the society or mass for a better cause.
Further to go deeper to the interpretation of the word ’truth’, one should understand the very nature of truth which can actually differ widely depending on the subject. Generally said, there are various kinds of truth such as logical truth, conversational and nominal truth, mathematical truth, scientific truth, cultural truth, absolute truth, abstract truth (prophetic truth), political truth so on.
Considering about politics reaching another level involving very playful tactics-the weapons used by the politicians and political parties includes political truth, conventional truth, sect oral truth etc. In such a case, it becomes very hard especially for common people to trust in the so called ‘TRUTHS’ as spelled out by the elite groups to woo/lure the voters during elections.
Above all, what we Nagas need in this crucial time is the ‘divine truth’ which comes from God alone. Rules and regulations of a place will come and go, nation make laws pertaining in governments favors. But when the people fail to abide in these set of laws, it becomes just a mere rule and it is a futile exercise which cannot be a permanent truth.
Let making an honest attempt in talks be the mandate of any truth teller. May the metaphysical belief in the divinity of truth rest upon each dwellers heart and let it be the serving foundation for the entire subsequent for the days ahead of us.
To conclude as it is written in the Bible in Hebrews 11:1 ‘Now faith in confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ be our guiding star because Naga society rely on the living almighty God and for that reason we claim ourselves as ‘Nagaland for Christ’.
