The Dilemma of 50 years

DECEMBER2013

THE STATE, DEMOCRACY AND INDIVIDUAL

The Dilemma of 50 years Thepfusalie Theunuo The beginning of the twentieth century has witness imperial retrenchment and decline: the dismantling of those very same colonial empires that had been expanding in the last century and multitude of independent nation-states appeared that replace the power of high imperialism in parts of Africa and Asia and for millions and millions hope was in the air. The nation-states embark upon promising developmental paths and the emergence of the new system of structure that has change the course of the human lives ,exploitation was then replace by economic development and social progress and in order to catch up with the former metropolitan masters, ideologies like socialism for some or neoliberal market for some, was a path towards a structural change . The de-colonized world was portended for a blessed future but such was not the end it simple took on more subtle, insidious and even more potent forms and nation like India still struggle itself in the new imperialist world of west’s power that continue to vex over the globe. Continual exploitation, gender, ethnic, violence, inequality and cultural annihilation to mention a few continue to destroy the very essence of democracy. The conscience of nation building ignore the core that itself continue to popularised and the process of Democratization continue to corrupt the institution that it thrive to promote. In search of a concrete ideals and serious engagement of analytic episteme knowledge discourse can be the way out within such domination. in context of, emergence of the new order which was unimaginably divisive that isolate community within the framework of unity which then triggered a complex phenomena that challenge the conscious of every human intellect to drain itself and the search for knowledge either remains the purpose of the few or none or the Nation state itself drawn in propaganda of a few that would continue until a single being realised the existing hegemony. How far then such struggle for uncertainty to pursue? How far greed and narcissism would rationalized itself? How far would we remain ignorant and deny the truth?

Half a century is not a matter to take for granted and it is not a period to retrospect for a community that is homogeneous but how to accommodate itself in the world civilization should be the prior concern; it is certainly also not a time to celebrate of what has been done. But a time to analyse what it means to be Modern, and what it takes to be a fully democratic society.

For many, Naga history is a unique history which remains either absurd or abstract, for every human society has a historical progress of its own and is likely to move from a simple to a more complex structure depending on the elements that it contained within itself.

The present reality is partly inbuilt and partly influence but totality of itself depends on what one consider to be beneficial for its progress.

One cannot ignore the fact of transition in socio-politico- economic development but one cannot also overlook the process of such historical transformation. If we were to be part of the project of modernity then knowledge of society has to be re-drawn and re-thought. Amidst the emergence of protest and movements and the dialectic of rationality and irrationality of thought and action have to

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be discursively situated at the boarder realm of delicate culture, social, historical and political nuances and the subtleties of the contextin- question. Henceforward, it is necessary to juxtapose the European absolutism to the formation of democracy trickle down to the individual level. The European absolutist state that spanned from the middle of 17th century to the 19th centuries which implies enormous power and authority at the macro-meso- and micro-levels of societal sphere .

The attainment of such absolutism through monarchic discipline was indispensable in the creation of modern state authority and the most notable achievement of the absolutist state which proved to be the seeds of early modern European state or the zeitgeist that govern the social context at that time and various institutions (via, education, religion, bureaucracy and the police ) for generation of such zeitgeist, that allow the successful evolution of the modern state without intractable heap of difficulties. Such monarchic discipline was not based alone the realm of authority but at all levels in institution that leads to its glorification , form the church to the unit of family from education to military, polity to community, social manners to even speech and to the various levels of social hierarchy and the level beyond the Nation-state. Referring to the broadest manifestations of Social discipline that produce the overwhelming value of spiritual, moral and psychological changes in Individual and further internalized this very spirit and passed on transgenerationally which for centuries continue to be a vibrant force for such absolutism and largely remains a uniform European phenomena. But in as much as in absolutism it is also crucial for establishing a vibrant democracy and the struggling liberal democracies.

So how does one fit such notion of

discipline in our democratic state? How does one go about? It is certainly irrational and impossible to create a European phenomena of absolutism in the modern nation state. Revisiting the statement how do we conceptualised our self as modern and truly democratic? To begin at least at the prima facie level is the freedom the most important prerequisite in democracy but not the only means to established a truly democratic state. As Oestreich puts ‘Yet, beside freedom, democracy presupposes discipline on the part of the citizen, a discipline which serves the common good.’

So what does it actually mean to be a ‘disciplined’ individual in a democratic context?

What does it refer to when we say that a society is democratic?

One is ‘disciplined’ when a human person is defined to be a member of sociopolitical community, fully understands and internalizes the normative standardization practices in behavior that are considered to be generally accepted by any given community in which such person is a member of. More importantly it also means restraint-veering away from all that may be considered restraining by any ‘modern’ society or community, or staying away from executing any act that may be generally apprehended as ‘un-modern’.

And hence democracy may only flourish with ‘self-disciplined’ political citizens and with certain notion of rationality. Critically and in its most self evident terms. ‘Social discipline’ is a necessary but not the sufficient condition for a fully democratic polity. First, ‘discipline’ at the individual level, requires a strong sense of ‘demos’; wherein the human self is always define in the community. Second, most democracy would have a conception of societycentric as its foundational genesis which may result to reducing individual as a mere object of

discipline, a mere object of values and a mere object of institutional instruments for power and there are high tendencies that the entirety of citizenry may fall into high propensity of irrationality or even worst and towards utterly misplace selfishness as Tocqueville calls ‘tyranny of the majority ‘ where justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been, and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursued.

Arguably, in the short term, the imposition of discipline may have despicable effects on human emotion and may undermine a certain sense of individuality. Nevertheless, in the long term, the imposition of discipline can create a responsive and a thoughtful critic that would provide for the public good and social knowledge and further the development of a truly democratic society. thereby, such discipline should not only directed by the state in conquering and restraining the irrationalities of human behaviour but also geared towards making the external natural environment in concurrence with human society towards civilizational development. In other words social discipline is also about a matter of self empowerment, to be conscious, to be productive , to be informed and to be critical and indeed it is not too late to discipline ourselves to re-appraise various alternative discourse in building our modern state. By such discipline one also cultivate the value and the ability to change for the good for it is not the only institutions that provide the public good but individual itself is responsible for an absolute development. So then, what future and to what goals do we orient ourselves?

To What frontiers to we need to explore? What knowledge do we need to impart? All this doubt can be critically answered when we begin to discipline ourselves, discipline the knowledge of our world and ‘communalization of the self’.

“Reflection from Yesterdays: The Nagas”

Charcoal Art Photos by Moba Inggang

Moba has a Home Based Studio called “Lost n’ Found Art Studio.” His artwork draws inspiration from Naga culture. The name “Lost n’ Found “ is an efforts to propagate people’s interest into Naga rich culture which is fast vanishing due to over influence of modernization.

Opinion is a theme-based supplement published on the third Saturday of every month. Here you are the artist, the writer, the photographer, the storyteller and the creator of your own opinion. The articles do not reflect the position of the newspaper.

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Land Of Urban Horror And Festivals Mapu Jamir I.A.S. (Retd.)

Congestions, narrow roads, traffic snarls, short streets, land misuses, haphazard buildings, multiple drainage blockages and its garbage disposal problems, perennial safe drinking water shortage, erratic power supply closely followed by an army of blood sucking mosquitoes injecting malarial sickness of different varieties, water-borne diseases, typhoid, gastro-enterities, cellulitis, etc. characterizes the growth of state urban sector.

Secondly, the lack of physical and social infrastructural facilities and support such as air and road connectivity, good hotels and restaurants and the diminishing as well as degenerating vibrant culture of the past are repulsive to genuine visitors to the state. Nagaland and her people are beautiful.

People love festivals and music. Yet Bollywood did not visit this state to entertain the state and its people. Surprisingly, Nagaland has invented its own entertainment industry and defined the state as a land of festivals and music.

On this backdrop, how can we attract tourists, build our modern economy and develop our own talents? What festival do we have and what music do we compose? We simply try to

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copy the mind set and habit of alien western world. Playing second fiddle to western culture ignoring modernization and perfection of our own vibrant culture has diluted our presence and identity in the eye of the visitors.

21st.century has been referred to as the century of urbanisation. If so, how can we correct haphazard and lopsided growth of our urban habitat. The area of concerns are many.

There are numerous challenges to be faced in the urban sphere.

It is all the more necessary to ensure that urbanisation takes place to improve the quality of life. An urban town should be healthy and livable and should contain basic amenities appropriate to modern living. Here the state government as well as the urban local bodies should join hands to speed up the creation of physical and social infrastructure in the urban areas to provide not only a better living environment for the citizens but also to make urban areas the focal point of growth, economic development and attract investment opportunities. In short, urbanisation should be a highway to prosperity.

Another question is: are we implementing Urban Land Ceiling Act? The town planning authority must put pressure on introduction and its strict implementation to discipline urban land misuses and its lopsided growth in and around urban agglomeration. Secondly, it is necessary to ease traffic congestion and increase vehicular speed with consequent reduction in time. The emphasis should be on widening the existing roads, construction of by-passes and link-roads connecting Hospitals, Markets, Bus-Stations, Railway Stations, Airport, Schools, Colleges, etc. Thirdly, monsoon is the only natural source which helps to clear the clogged drains and a limited source for drinking water. Is there any endeavour besides rain water, to augment supply by replacing the individually arranged ground water source by well treated surface source?

The design of urban areas and townships must include the lay out of neighbourhoods for mutual support coupled with the availability and proximity of transport systems. There should be a creation of mixed developments such as location of offices and areas for economic activities within affordable distance to promote resident’s ability to be physically active and enterprising. All of the above is termed as “active living”. Traffic calming, cycling infrastructure, recreational parks, parking facilities, road restrictions, efficient land use, health care, sanitation and sewage management, water supply, electricity, schools and colleges, etc. and a back-up support system such as banking, internet, postal system, communications, etc. are the fundamental requisites of urban life. Good investment in these will deliver over-all improvement in the quality of life for citizens.

Further, sustainable patterns of development as promoted in Santa Barbara, California are worth consideration.

Only environmentally friendly buildings are allowed to be built. The establishment of compact neighbourhood through efficient resource distribution and environmental preservation allow rural areas to have urban benefit.

It is seen that the disadvantage section often bear the burden of environmental costs of urbanisation. The impact of urban projects and programmes should be informative to prevent environmental consequences. The elimination of threat by degradation, for example, prevention before harm occurs,

should be the preferred strategy including shifting the burden of proof upon polluters who do harm on urban dewellers, but even more so on the economically and educationally marginalized people in the sub-urban areas.

Presently, there are no organized method of disposing waste. We simply throw waste out into the open. This litters the surface that pollutes rivers, contaminates ground water, poison the soil and make our air unhealthy to breathe. This leads us to think of preventive measures. One of the threat reduction programmes is awareness by educating the people on various measures. One example is, recycling of urban waste. We need solid waste management designed to tackle waste material from source to disposal point by way of “reduce-re-use-re-cycle”.

These measures can first be attempted in Dimapur and Kohima.

However, before embarking on such a venture existing markets for use of these recycled materials should be identified. Barriers to its successful implementation if any, should be ironed out first. Thereafter, encourage the state agencies to purchase recycled products, followed by aggressive marketing among the public be resorted to.

This venture will open up many opportunities for self employment. Entrepreneurship at the grassroot level by developing bio-gas plants for power supply is very much a possibility. These plants on a cluster basis can generate power for the locality. This is just to supplement electricity during power failures. Further, professional engineers and architects maybe encouraged to set up their own construction and consultancy firms. These firms can play a crucial role in the design and construction of private urban structures that meet modern safety parameters, have high functionality and provide good value for money.

Urbanisation too needs a concept plan for beautification. Beautification of different urban stretches by introducing greeneries, rock gardens, lawns, water bodies, ornamental walk-ways, fountains, etc. be considered. Here comes another area of consideration for public-private-partnership (PPP).The state government may initiate a policy of public-private-partnership to make the urban development a more pro-activate and supportive towards facilitating growth in beautification.

Balanced urbanisation, dynamic and responsive Local Bodies is the need of the hour. Sustainable development for all sections of the urban dewellers both poor and rich is a daunting task, and it is where the need for good urban governance is strongly felt.

In these times of global recession countries like China are learning to appreciate the value of large domestic demands. Nagaland is still far away from becoming an economically self-reliant state. Still we can learn valuable lessons from these countries which is “going local.”The state must act as facilitator and not as predator hindering new business and local entrepreneurship in the urban management sector. This will turn the people of the state into fully empowered participants in the growth process. Gradually the participative base will include the people in the margins of society. This way the people can earn profit for living through self-employment enterprises while helping the community to live healthier lives. This social and economic cohesion is called “inclusive growth.”In Nagaland this was planted but this is now allowed to grow wild.

A Bird’s eye view on Fifty years of Nagaland statehood Dr Tssikhen Kithan Having lived in UK for 38 years, my article is naturally just that, Bird’s eye view.

Then: I was in class X when Nagaland became the 16th state of India on 1st December 1963 and vividly remembers the momentous event. People in general, were quietly happy hoping for everyone’s better future. People however, could not openly rejoice for fear of repercussion from NNC, since NNC totally opposed the creation of Nagalnd State within India, and their forces were to be reckoned with.

Politicians who came forward to become MLA did so fully knowing that their life could be in danger. Only their genuine willingness to be part of shaping Nagaland into a better nation drove them on.

The first Chief Minister, Mr, P. Shilu Ao formed government with six just Cabinet and three Deputy Ministers. Things were very different then, the politicians were mostly honest, dedicated with clear convictions and integrity.

Governed by few dedicated but more effectively and efficiently. The first two decades, up to the 5th Chief Minister, I think, was most effective period for development and progress as corruption was not prevalent. After that, corruption and nepotism crept in, flourished and uncontrollable to the present rampant state.

Now: Today, Nagaland is one of the most corrupted states in India, governed by at least tenfold increased number of Ministers and Bureaucrats. It is not the Land of Festivals nor of Christianity as some important and influential people would like us to believe.

Nagaland is now Land of Corruption, Corruption and Corruption affecting adversely every fabrics of our society. Sadly and shamefully, excepting handful of individuals; today’s Nagas are corrupt from top to bottom; there is no even such being as innocent Naga Villager anymore.

Nagaland’s biggest festival that runs for months is not The Hornbill festival but the general election festive period, all at the expense of every MLA candidate, to the tune of several Crores. After the election, the politicians recover their money from the public coffers by unfair means at the expense of public welfare.

Successive Government have not even maintained the roads, schools or hospitals constructed during the first two decades of our statehood.

Basic essentials like roads & communications, healthcare, education, reliable water and power supplies, the responsibilities of the Government, are almost non existent.

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Consequently: 1. Our roads are like river beds; either muddy or slippery and water logged during summer and extremely dusty and bumpy in winter.

2. Health service offers nothing free apart from the Doctors and Nurses time. People have to buy everything, A to Z, even plasters, cotton wools, simple bandages etc.

3. Education: When seeking for Teaching job, why does everyone wants Government’s and not private but nobody wants their child to attend Government s school, why? See the irony.

4. Decent water supply is non existent in majority of towns and villages and electrical power supply so erratic and unreliable everywhere.

But, does anybody care? Nobody seems to for common good.

Meanwhile, numerous corrupt officials are becoming Crore Patties whilst poor gets poorer. Where these people do acquire their money and wealth? When I left Nagaland in 1975, I have not heard of even one Naga Lakh Patti and so these Crore Pattis have not got there by inheritance but by stealing Public Money, full stop.

The irony is that officially, Nagaland is Christian state and one might ask how a Christian state can become so corrupt.

The answer lies in the fact that most Church workers instead of preaching the corrupt rich people, condones, bless and prays for them in return for money and material gains- people rightly calls it selling their prayer. The corrupt person, after rewarding

ILLUSTRATION by Atong Rothrong

the Prayer feels somehow sanctified and carries on as before. It is now symbiotic collusion industry between the corrupt people and the Church workers.

Another very big players operating are Underground factions, their number growing as it is now like free money making industry. They too take significant Public money in more than one way. We cannot therefore put all the blames on the politicians, corrupt officials or dodgy business people.

My fervent opinion and conclusion: Nagaland to be called as “Christian state” is a joke and still the biggest joke in the world would be; Nagaland coined as “Dry State” imposed following the forceful campaign led by the Churches, students, Mothers etc. Ironically alcohol is available everywhere.

Are Nagas living honestly or just being hypocrites? The later, no doubt whatsoever.

Solution: Nagas, by and large, have got to change current mind-set and like, FNR, work hard towards reconciliation and amicable political solution, a pre-requisite for peace, progress and prosperity.

Other alternative; peaceful revolution like, Naga Blog or something similar might succeed, and I hope that would be soon.

May God show us the way, Amen.

Long Live Big Brother Nagaland!

Wobamo Shitio Well, I am 23 and he is 50. Unusual, how at this age I’m going to write something about a man of 50. It is chocking and suffocating me and I need some space to get a breath of fresh air. Lucky am I as I’m privileged to have this space to energized.

I could not imagine how our state was way back when I could just open my eyes at the age of 4, new to the world and it was a world of A B C D……..

1 2 3 4 5….. 2x1=2 2x2=4…. So innocent that I never thought these small silly things would take me into 23rd years of my life, making me capable to compete and run after every Govt. Job that are splashed in our daily newspapers. I’m sure even our big Brother Nagaland at 50 now must have never thought how he can attain 50 at his innocent age after given birth on Dec 1, 1963.

At 50 better not to fight with him in term of experience and intellectual, he has the upper hand to throw more powerful punches than I Could do, yet never say never as a proud Naga so here I am standing with pride to say something about a man of 50 at 23.

As we all look into the history of our state Nagaland in a more realistic and people’s friendly way with less focus given to the common man reach, we could write or say something about. Saying about people’s friendly I mean to stress more on the progress and development made Educationally, Economically, Socially and as an Individual.

When we look back, You and I could imagine how travelling from one place to another was like for us, there was never ending stretch of road with big, small, medium pebble and gravels burning our buttock red with those thundering jerking we experience as a quite serious travelers not sure who will be thrown out of the car window. But now the pros has its says that to some extent of comfort, those moments are to be experienced less with better road system and connectivity often referred to as the “ Life-line of the Society”. With growing age and maturity we could see the progress made in the quality of our road.

Now with better and improved road we could also see our state Nagaland growing economically sound than before. I am not an economist nor student of economic subject but I often read and see as the economist of high knowledge defines “with growth in economy, per capita income increases and with increase in per capita income the living standard improves”. I believe with this now you could make out how you were at your young tender age of 5/6 years as a child before and at this present age of 50; new generation of fashion and trend setters. All these lifestyle, food habits, business establishment and high living standard attributes to our economic growth yet more is to be done as we are still lacking behind others.

At 50 I can rightly tell you that you are more energetic, matured, talk less and doing more.

See the infrastructural development, no more cow dung thatch house nor mud smeared house but we

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could just stand in front of the buildings, pop our eyeballs out, stretch our neck and point our finger and continue to count 1 2 3 4. . . . . know how many storey the buildings have. That’s infrastructural development and progress we are talking about a man at 50.

Wait, at 50 where does our Education level..?? I was put to wonder how people come to know he/she was the first or only graduate from the village, community or tribe before, I’m sure our big Brother Nagaland must be really embarrassed at first. I could imagine how many graduates he could see at his young age as compared to the present, not to mention all the Govt. and Private both schools and colleges and the number of students studying in the entire state must be at his finger tips say on his palm and can count each one of them. But with growing age, I’m happy as you are that he is able to produce more educational institutions, more students, more graduates and more educated youths. He is a proud daddy at 50 after all the hard work and efforts given for the education sector.

Finally, our society comes to our image after all this talk. I’m not much comfortable to talk about this, so with little resource I have to keep it for the final talk. I am just 23 and not even half of our big Brother 50, but I wanted to question him this, when you were young, did your parents/elders ever taught you to be honest and not to be corrupt??? When I was 10, I heard about Corruption, Bribery etc. At 15 I still heard the same word again at 20 I continue to hear the word Corruption, Bribery and at 23 finally a new word for me: Backdoor appointment, under table and what not. I believe they have the same meaning with Corruption.

Tough to say, yet our society has its merits too, I believe that before our society was so introvert and was alien to our own neighbor and brother’s but me at 23 and our big Brother at 50 now must be really seeing the kind of unity and bondage we are sharing at this present age. I’m pleased that this mega event of our state Hornbill Festival has brought our different cultures and traditions closer to one another creating unique oneness. There, our society is growing my dear people of Nagaland, so let us give more effort and chase this evil i.e. Corruption, Bribery, Nepotism etc out from our unique peace loving society.

Well, at last I have to stop for a short break so in the meantime please have the privilege and think or say something about yourself as an Individual Pros & Cons.

Phew . . .!! I’m taking off now for home. I bought a bottle of champagne today to give a toast and celebrate for my big Brother Nagaland 50th Birthday today Dec 1, 2013.

I hope from every district and every nooks and corners of Nagaland will come together to celebrate this special day of our big Brother 50th Birthday while he has a gift for every traveler with a well packed 50 potholes each on their way while I receive an air of dust on my way home.

Long Live Big Brother Nagaland!

50 years of Statehood Nagaland: The pros and cons T. Achumi While congratulating ourselves for coming to half century of our statehood and as we celebrate in much pomp and splendour lets not forget our founding fathers who took all the hardships to recognise ourselves with the rest of the country. Nothing should be short for our appreciation to them for who we are today and who we will be tomorrow. We are shining brightly today because of what they did for us. We should not forget the integrity, love for our own brothers and sisters and unity that have bind us together all these years and still impact us in every aspect of our lives today. Let us all remind ourselves of the sacrifices made and remember the many people who have lost their lives for our today. And as we reminiscence and feel nostalgic as we celebrate our statehood day let us also not forget that we are challenged to be better citizens of Nagaland in every possible way of our life.

There has been so much said and done about the various issues that have been complementing towards our strive to a better society. And as we struggle to be recognised with the rest of the country and the (world) in all the fields that we are experimenting and moving forward in a much faster pace, we need to understand and carefully examine ourselves so we will not be a mockery to our own self obsessed society.

The pros and cons of all kinds impact our lives both positively and negatively. The pros, we cannot turn blind to the various plans and schemes that the government has been implementing to improve the state affairs and particularly to improve the young generation of Nagaland. This government has been so pro-youth which is laudable. I believe it is the young generation that is the strength of the nation or otherwise state in our case. Promoting tourism, up grading many more institutions and substantial improvements of livelihoods for people both in rural and urban areas, better education and eager to pursue to a higher degree regarding education are noteworthy. Many more efforts of the government are seen visible through these many years of statehood. I also believe the government have the capability to improve the conditions of the people in many more ways.

Though the pros are highly appreciative we cannot simply ignore the cons that exist side by side the pros. Besides the governance, we are still ill-established on various other forms of state affairs. We still remain undernourished on basic necessities of life such as water supply, 24/7 electricity supply, good roads etc. It still remains hard for many people to enjoy even the little joys of life (which are mentioned above). How far have we come in these fifty years?

We, the common people are the silent spectators of the governmental affairs. And the government cannot ignore the common people of the state as we are bound by the law to get what we deserve for a decent life. The people as a whole should not also deceive themselves for the want of leisure and exclusive lifestyle which in retro make the government the scapegoat of corruption. To achieve greater heights in everything we all should do our bit for the whole and not for individual self. So the question remains as we celebrate 50 years of statehood, where is your bit?

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50 Years of Nagaland Statehood : A Review The birth of Nagaland as a State of the Indian Union was the outcome of strife and fractured reconciliation. There were those who could not reconcile the cherished dream of total independence.

It was emotion versus rationale.

What might have been, if Nagaland were an independent entity, can only remain in the realm of conjecture. Geo political reality was that the Naga Hills and Tuensang Area lay in a region of turmoil that was in the midst of intense rivalry between a resurgent (Communist) China, an insecure erstwhile (East) Pakistan and an India that was still consolidating after independence. In the event, Nagaland was granted full Statehood, as part of the Union of India, on 1st December 1963.

The optimism and hope arising out of full Statehood and the Cease Fire of 1964 was short lived. Dissent within Naga society proved fertile ground for regional power play, pitching the State into renewed violence. The Shillong Accord of 1975 similarly proved another chimera. In conflict with the Accordists over the dream of independence, an alien Communist (read Socialist) culture was sought to be imposed on an unsuspecting Naga Society. Who’s purpose did the resultant strife serve will be

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judged by history. The reality is that Nagaland remained in an unending cycle of violence, both fratricidal and with the Security Forces. It has had a lasting effect on every aspect of life and governance in the State.

Any review of the past 50 years of Statehood, to have value, must be a dispassionate analysis.

Recognition of reality has to be the start point for change. An outsider with no personal stakes, but a keen observer, may well be one such suitable Analyst.

Any analysis of Nagaland as a State has to factor the effect of the still prevalent, all pervasive culture of violence. If direct physical violence is far less than in the past, the omnipresence of the culture of the gun, proliferated by self appointed representatives of the Nagas, has ensured that little has changed. Society has been stifled.

Elected representatives have been sidelined and Institutions of State have been compromised. It would be appropriate to state that there exists an absence of the “rule of law”. Its effect is manifest in every aspect of life. Major crime, perpetrated mostly by the “revolutionaries” goes unrecognized, let alone unpunished. Levels of corruption have reached abysmal levels, with development and progress being the casualty. State elections of February 2013 made a mockery of the Individual Vote. The cumula-

tive effect has been the stunting of growth of the State and its people.

The future of Nagaland, its youth, have been deprived of opportunity to realize their potential. The exodus from the State, of those with the means, is tragic reflection of the state of affairs. These are conditions that have been created and sustained by the all pervasive presence of the “Mafia”, the revolutionaries who fear to tread amongst the population they claim to represent. That those responsible to remedy such a situation have failed in their duty would be an understatement.

The constant refrain from Society at large, for the need for Unity and Reconciliation, for development and all the very basic necessities of dignified living are held hostage to the outdated vision of a few who fail to recognize that their time has passed. They also happen to be amongst the few who have prospered during these turbulent times.

People who continue to live in the past are destined to be alienated by those who aspire for a future. They retain relevance only through the barrel of the gun but recent events are testimony to their transience.

Does this description convey despondency and a lack of hope - far from it – because it is a situation that naturally brings to the fore the resilience, traditional strengths and values of a Society that has long

N George Maj Gen (Retd)

been subjugated internally. It would tantamount to denial, to blame others for the fissures in Naga Society, even if the charge of abetment has merit. The challenges are humungous, not for lack of ability to mend the situation, but for the ability of Nagas to unite in common purpose.

It is important for people to realize that we are today in an interconnected world. No State or region can remain an “Island”. Divisions within the State can only spell disaster.

Events across the globe have lessons to offer, besides having their impact. At the national level, it is pathetic to watch aspirants for leadership, evidently for lack of a vision for the future, attempt to analyze personalities and history as a measure of competence. In the neighbourhood is the constant turmoil in Bangladesh and changes occurring in Myanmar. They offer both challenges and opportunity. For those still harboring dreams of independence, it is pertinent to recognize that nations fractured on ethnic and tribal lines, with an economy that is dependent on others, fits into the mould of an Afghanistan. Nations of the Middle East and Africa that are well endowed with natural resources have for similar reasons experienced unending strife. There are no short cuts to nation building.

Unity and a sustainable economy lie at the heart of the issue. Scotland and the Catalan region of Spain ex-

ercising their vote, for or against separation from their mother countries, hold lessons in this context.

Economic considerations on the other hand are driving Puerto Rico to seek full fledged statehood with the United States. It is wisdom to seek lessons from experiences of others rather than repeat follies of the past, which can only be at great cost to future generations. Opportunity for Nagaland lies in reaching out to the larger Naga populace, across administrative boundaries, through development and progress. Rendering administrative boundaries irrelevant is not a new concept. It had evidently reached an advanced stage as a solution to the problem in J&K. The European Union is a classic example of unity for mutual benefit.

What Nagaland needs to progress is an oft repeated litany.

The greatest impediment to progress is the inability to create the environment for progress to be made.

The issue needs to be tackled on many fronts but at the heart of it is the need to re establish the rule of law. Establishment of the rule of law cannot be the sole preserve of Law enforcement agencies. It requires public support and initiatives.

31st October 2013 was one such initiative, with long term portents.

There’s a new moon rising, darkness is always followed by the light.

Kuknalim

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Reflections on 50 Years of Statehood Khrietuonyü Noudi Some experts may argue that India is a true federal country when compared to other federal countries of the world. However, the fact still remains that India is basically a federal country as it is made up of some component unit governments in addition to a strong central government which is based at New Delhi.

The Constitution of India says that the Indian parliament has the full and final authority to change or alter the boundary of any of these existing states if it (the parliament) so desires in the interest of the nation. What is more, the Indian parliament has also been vested with the full authority to even create a new state if it feels appropriate for the welfare of the nation. The Indian constitution goes on to say that the Indian parliament need not necessarily consult with the concerned states for these alterations and creations.

Thus, theoretically, it is very easy to create a new state within the Indian union as absolute power in this matter has been vested in the union parliament. However, India is a land of multi-religions, multiraces, multi-languages, multi-cultures, multiphilosophies and diverse topography. Thus, whenever the Indian parliament decides to create a new state, it has always resulted in some form of revolutions, controversies and unprecedented political dramas.

If we take a look at the manner in which the state of Nagaland came into existence in 1963, we can see that the creation of the Nagaland state was very different from the creation of other Indian states before and since. The creation of Nagaland was a political endeavor of the Indian government to placate the Naga people who had been asserting their political independence and sovereignty ever since India became free in 1947. It was also a move of the Indian government to present a picture to the outside world that the Nagas had willfully agreed to be a part of the Indian union.

The state of Nagaland came into being as a result of the so-called 16-point agreement signed between the Nehru government and the NPC (Naga People’s Convention). This agreement had been earlier drafted by the NPC and the Nehru government was literally compelled to sign it due to complications arising out of the Naga political movement. Thus, in a way, the state of Nagaland was a product of a political agreement between the government of India and the NPC (who claimed to be the representatives of the Naga people) and this is what makes the state of Nagaland unique, very special and totally different from all the other states of the Indian union.

After the British withdrew their empire from South-East Asia, the lands of the Nagas came to be divided between India and Burma (Myanmar). And another unfortunate phenomenon of the creation

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of Nagaland state in 1963 was that the new state could not even encompass all the lands of the Nagas within the Indian domain. It could encompass only 16,579 sq. km of the Naga lands within India territory. Or else, if the new state of Nagaland could encompass at least all the Naga lands within Indian Territory, this Nagaland state of India would have been much larger than the present one.

After the state of Nagaland came into being in 1963, the government of India has been pouring in huge amounts of money regularly into Nagaland for the so-called development of the Nagas. In fact, when it comes to transferring money to the state of Nagaland, the Indian government has been very trustworthy, reliable and consistent.

But what has this money actually done in Nagaland? Of course, there is no denying the fact that this money has developed Nagaland in many aspects and areas. However, it also cannot be denied that this money poured into Nagaland from Delhi has been the root cause of many evils in our land and has also negatively influenced our mid-set, way of thinking and way of life. The gap between the rich and the poor has widened. The search for easy money and easy life has become the norm and virtues like honesty, hard-work, dignity of labor and earning one’s bread through sweat and blood which were once the proud trademarks of the Nagas have been pushed aside to the backseat.

Early writers labeled Nagaland as the land where the purest form of democracy exists. But now, due to the influx of easy money into Nagaland from Delhi, this purest form of democracy has been turned into a mockery and shame where nepotism, favoritism and greed for easy life and money have become the order of the day.

Someone also says that Nagaland is the land of festivals. But lately, all our festivals have become money centered and moneyoriented. And I say that our biggest money festival is not the one which we celebrate in the first week of December but the Assembly elections which come every five years. It is during election times that we literally bathe and drown ourselves in Indian currency.

The gospel of Jesus Christ inspired the American missionaries to bring the good news to us in the last quarter of the 19th century and our forefathers saw the light through these messengers of God and were wise enough to enroll themselves as heirs in the kingdom of God. Consequently many of our churches are already celebrating their centenaries and even 125 years of Christianity. But are our churches becoming more like commercial churches in some ways instead of being spiritual churches? And is the conscience of the Nagas slowly dying?

We don’t go to our offices but we don’t mind collecting our salaries in the first week of every month; we go to church every Sunday but Christ is nowhere reflected in our lives in the other six days; we may be paying our tithes regularly but are we doing so with stolen money? We proudly proclaim that we are 95 % Christians. But by the way we live

our lives, we are literally nailing Christ to the cross every now and then. Therefore, when we shout ‘Nagaland for Christ’…..others are saying ‘you must be joking’.

There are Naga people who think that we should be grateful to the Indian nation for embracing us into their folk by granting us full-fledged statehood in 1963.

They also say that India is responsible for all the developments that have hit Nagaland in the past decades. Some may also go to the extent of thinking that the Naga political movement was a foolish and unnecessary episode as the Nagas are enjoying full freedom and prosperity as Indian citizens.

However, we should remember that the statehood of Nagaland was a direct product of the Naga national movement. In other words, if there had been no Naga political movement, there would have been no Naga statehood.

When Nagaland was created as the 16th state of the Indian union in1963, it was nothing short of a miracle. The new state of Nagaland was only 16,579 sq. km in size and it was smaller than even many of the districts of the other then existing 15 states. Population-wise also it numbered just a few lakhs while the other sates were composed of crores and crores of people. The extraordinary circumstances under which the state of Nagaland came into existence can be understood from these facts alone.

Today the state of Nagaland becomes 50 years old and many are proud of the occasion. But is there anything visible in Nagaland today to indicate that we are one of the oldest states of India and the second-oldest state in the North-East? I don’t think so. Our only airport in Dimapur is still in a pathetic state. The long-conceived Kohima airport still remains a utopian and idealistic concept without even the needed infrastructure laid for this mega-project. The Nagas have many doctors and engineers… but Nagaland still has no medical and engineering colleges worthy of mention in its soils. People say that Nagaland separated from Assam in 1963 and became a fullfledged state within the Indian union. If this is so, why is it that all our most vital judicial cases are still pending in the Guwahati High court? Similarly if Nagaland is a full-fledged state, then why do we still have to depend on Guwahati for procuring our passports and other necessary travel documents?

Every child starts consuming from the moment he is born and as he grows, his consumption also increases. Therefore, when it comes to human life, it all boils down to the issue of consumption for survival.

We all want to live our lives to the fullest by making sure that we have enough to consume for ourselves. This is plain human nature. And this basic and fundamental human nature has worked wonderfully well to the advantage of India since Nagaland was given full-fledged statehood in 1963.

This is so because, since 1963, the Indian government has been assuring security of life to the Nagas by pouring in crores and

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crores of rupees regularly into Nagaland.

We have been assured that we don’t need to worry about farming anymore, and that our food, clothing and shelter are assured since Nagaland is also now a state within the Indian union. “Everything that India has achieved will also be shared with the Nagas….so, don’t worry” says India. And to a large extent, the Indian government has succeeded in brainwashing the Nagas with this philosophy.

This is the reason why Nagas today cannot think beyond state government service sector when it comes to employment and careers; this is the reason why we glorify our state ministers and MLAs; this is the reason why many a times it appears as if we have been spoon-fed by India and that we cannot survive on our own; this is the reason why our senior citizens are only talking about their pension money and about putting their children in wellplaced and highly remunerative jobs in the government sector. The Nagas have come to live and behave in this manner and style because Indian currency has been flowing unabated into Nagaland since the year 1963.

But we must know there is life and there is a Nagaland beyond this present Indian state of Nagaland.

The scenario probably would not change as long as India continues to release money into Nagaland from New Delhi. One of the greatest capabilities of human beings is that we can imagine. And therefore I believe that it would do us well to imagine for ourselves a scenario where money stops flowing down from Delhi. If indeed, one day, money stops coming down from Delhi, the whole mindset of the Nagas and the scenario here in Nagaland would turn drastically away from the present one.

But as of now, we seem to have totally forgotten that the Nagas were an independent and self-sufficient people and nation long before we ever came into contact with the Britishers, Americans and Indians……..

Issue Theme for January:

My Hope for Nagas in 2014

Deadline for Submission: January 12, 2014 Date of Publication: January 18, 2014

The Morung Express monthly supplement ‘Opinion’ will be published on the third Saturday of every month. In the Opinion, you are the storyteller. Please share your story by responding to the theme of the next issue: “My Hope for Nagas in 2014” Contributions can be in the form of photography, illustrations, photos of artwork, essays, first-person accounts, poetry, reported articles, and any other form of expression that can be printed.

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