Nagaland at the crossroads

By Dr. SC Jamir

Nagaland, the land of the Nagas was wracked for decades by unrest, violence and bloodshed in pursuit of an independent and sovereign nation. The Nagas felt it was their legitimate right, since they were never conquered by any other country and were largely independent even during the British rule of the rest of India. In the ensuing conflict with the Indian army, thousands of Nagas were either maimed or killed and their land ravaged.

During this period, many attempts were made to hammer out a solution within the framework of the Constitution of India which at the same time respected an independent socio-cultural identity of the Nagas and their traditional laws and practices. Unfortunately, these ‘agreements’ could not fulfill the aspirations of all sections of the Naga society and, thus, permanent peace eluded the Nagas. Even the grant of Statehood in 1963, though a significant milestone in the struggle of the Naga people, failed to satisfy a section of the society which chose to remain underground and carry on the fight for independence.

To the credit of the Government of India and the well-meaning people of the State, though, hopes for a permanent and peaceful solution to the long-festering problem were never abandoned. Ceasefire agreements were arrived at with a view to carrying on the process of dialogue for a lasting settlement in an atmosphere of relative peace and congeniality. The coming into power of the NDA government with an absolute majority in Parliament augured well for this process. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision for the North East meshed pretty well with his ‘Act East’ policy and this proved to be the catalyst that was needed for the talks to progress.

The announcement of the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the representative of the Government of India on…3rd August 2015 in the presence of the Home Minister and the Prime Minister was hailed as ‘historic’, generating hopes among the Nagas for an end to years of strife and struggle. Although, official details of the Agreement have not yet been made available, the people of Nagaland are optimistic that a Final Settlement is not far off once the framework for it has been laid out and agreed upon.

While this development generated an air of optimism among the people, what has at the same time caused them utter despair is the political situation on the ground. For over two decades now, the State has suffered from a total lack of governance bordering on anarchy. The political leadership’s lack of vision for and commitment to people’s welfare has paralysed administration down the line with the bureaucracy content to mark time. To make matters worse, rampant corruption at the top has seeped through all levels of the governmental machinery and as a result, funds meant for development has flowed to fill the coffers of the leaders, their friends in business and the bureaucrats. Devoid of any idealism and scruples, the current political leadership in Nagaland is embroiled in ugly factionalism, each faction seeking to upstage the other for political survival.

Breakdown of law and order as an offshoot of governance failure has encouraged elements, both underground and over ground, to indulge in crime and extortions imposing a crippling burden on the common man. Lack of economic growth has meant lack of opportunities for the State’s educated youth who are restive and angry, ready to implode anytime. The situation is like a time bomb that is ticking away.

The state of the current political leadership is in stark contrast to that of an earlier generation which had a vision for the future of the Nagas and was prepared for any sacrifice to achieve it. The leaders of yore were not only idealistic but also honest and courageous in their convictions. Their only goal was to work for a united and prosperous Nagaland ready to embrace the modern world while securely rooted in its unique cultural and traditional values. Alas, today, seeing the selfishness and rapacity of the current generation of leaders, they must be turning in their graves!

Given this sorry state of affairs in the State and pending an announcement on a Final Agreement between the parties engaged in talks, a large section of the people was hoping that elections to the State Legislative Assembly would be deferred to a later date during which efforts would be made to first cleanse the political mess and set the State on the road to economic development. However, now that GoI in its wisdom has decided to go ahead with the elections, the people of Nagaland are faced with a hard choice and a number of questions to reflect on:

1. a) Will they be in a position to create an atmosphere where a candidate’s integrity and commitment- and not merely his money and muscle power- will be judged during the elections?

1. b) Will they then be able to break with the past and elect a crop of leaders with a clean image and a commitment to people’s welfare?

1. c) Will these leaders be ready to give up their chairs should the need arise after a final political settlement is announced?

The answers to these questions might hold the key to the democratic future of Nagaland which is currently under threat. This is most unfortunate considering that the Naga society has been a democratic one since time immemorial with the village community being at its core. Parliamentary democracy based on elections may be a later development but the Nagas understand very well that democracy in its broader sense is a compact between the people and their elected representatives which entails a commitment on the part of the latter to work for the welfare of the former.

Should that compact be breached, the people have the supreme authority to throw out from the perch of power those who betray their trust. The Nagas now have a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world the majesty and might of people’s power during the ensuing elections. For this noble objective the electorates of Nagaland must realise the sanctity of election and totally reject the temptations of money and muscle powers during the election.

It is said, there is an end to every beginning just as there is a beginning to every end. Nagaland might be passing through a difficult time. Yet, its people, working together with civil society organisations, the Church and the youth in particular, have a historical opportunity to make it a defining moment in their troubled history. They have only to recollect the idealism, the sagacity and sacrifices of their leaders of the past and draw inspiration from their noble deeds. They are a proud nation which believes in its distinct identity, culture and mores and has the energy and idealism to tide over temporary setbacks and make a new beginning.

History is witness to numerous instances when nations ravaged by war or natural calamities have risen, like Phoenix from the ashes, to take their places among the comity of world powers. So, would the Nagas overcome the present morass they find themselves in and take their place as a proud member of the Indian union.

Dr SC Jamir is a former Chief Minister of Nagaland and currently the Governor of Odisha. This article was published in Nagaland’s local news dailies on January 23, 2018