Expanding the Identity Naga Nation and Threat to Integrity of Neighbouring Indian States
- Part 5 -

H Bhuban Singh *

Map of Nagalim

Criminalisation Of The Cause

What has happened to the movement for independence is clearly visible today. All idealism seems to have been lost and the goals for which thousands suffered and sacrificed their lives appear to have been completely forgotten. The movement has now degenerated into sheer terrorism with killing of innocents, extortion, looting, intimidation and threats becoming the order of the day. Gun culture is all-pervading and the price for dissent is death.

People are afraid to express their opinions, and the straight forwardness that characterised Naga society appears to have vanished. Leaders who head the movement now do not seem to have the vision, the wisdom, the democratic credentials and the compassion that are required to lead a people and 'run a nation'. They impose their decisions through threat. They do not command respect—they demand it from the people at gun point.

What was once a movement of the people by the people for the people, is now reduced to meaningless terrorism with the so-called national workers embarking on a spree of extortion and self-agrandisement. A movement which once had volunteers sacrificing their everything is now reduced to goondaism. This is amply shown by the fact that cadres of the different factions of the underground go around villages demanding that they should be fed and supplied with rations and money, as if the villagers owe them.

In other words, the movement initiated and nurtured by the people has gone against the same people, and those criminalising the once noble movement force themselves to believe, or suffer from delusions, that they have the sympathy of the public. The recent resolution of the village representatives from the 1068 villages at the VDB Conference speaks volumes about the attitude of the people towards violence.

Modern Concept of Sovereignty

Apart from this, we also must be practical enough to realise that independence is not some magic wand that would solve all our problems at one stroke. The world has changed, and national boundaries and territorial sovereignty have little meaning today. Small, under developed and economically poor nations have no future in a world that is increasingly driven by market economy.

Inter-dependence has replaced independence as the means to prosperity and economics is the real politics of today. The modern concept of sovereignty is based on economic sovereignty, and not political sovereignty as in the past. The European Union is a prime example. A number of countries have formed the Union to have a common currency and maximise their econo-mic interests. They have abolished all trade, citizenship and commercial barriers among their respective nations

The main reason why nations should merge is that people want prosperity, a better life; and rapid economic progress. They do not want to isolate themselves, nor do they want to strive in vain or live in poverty. These are the trends that are dominating the global scenario today and it would be naive and self-defeating to ignore these developments sweeping across nations the world over.

Naga Independence : A Hypothesis

In this background, let us seriously introspect on whether Nagaland can survive as an independent nation. There are people who argue even without a historical legacy, the Nagas must struggle for independence. Under the label of 'scholars' and 'thinkers' there are some busy-bodies who strongly advocate that Nagas are not Indians and that Nagaland is not part of India. For the sake of academic discussion, let us for a moment agree that Nagas must struggle for sovereignty or independence.

Now the question arises—how to establish an independent Nagaland and run this nation? First and foremost, as an independent country we should be able to stand on our own legs. Are we in a position to do so?

Where do we find the resources to manage the manifold and complex activities that are essential for even the smallest nation? Let us take just a few examples of what an independent country requires:

* Resources to run the Government, General Administration, Judiciary, Police, Civic Services etc.

* Establishing and finding resources for a standing Army, Air Force and other Defence related expenditure.

* Providing education, health care, power, water supply and numerous other developmental activities for the people. (Despite being a small state we have over 60 Departments presently and would need many more as an independent nation.)

* Establishing diplomatic mission, atleast with major countries, and expenditure on UNO membership etc.

* Finding avenues for employment for our educated youth within the nation, since many avenues that exist at present would not be available.

* Establishing our own Air and Rail services, Postal, Telegraph and Telephone services, Customs and Excise machinery, Banking services, Currency and Coinage, Industries etc.

The list is endless and could go on and on, but the general picture is obvious. Do we have the resources, the expertise, the professional and technical competence and the machinery to do all this? It is easy to be idealistic and be swayed by wild promises; it is difficult to face hard facts. For instance, in 1999-2000, the budget of Nagaland State was about Rs 1256 crore.

Out of this, as much as Rs 1073 crore (86%) came as grants or loans from the Central Government and financial institutions and about Rs 92 crore from GPF subscriptions of Government employees and recovery of loans. What was our own contribution? The internal revenue generated by the State was as little as Rs. 86 crore (6.8%). Again, much of this accrued as taxes from traders belonging to other parts of the country, which would not be available after independence.

Obviously, all grants and loans from India would automatically cease if we became independent. What sort of an economy would we have to sustain a nation? Surely it cannot be an economy built out of extortion. If taxes are to be levied, where is the income for this?

It is clear that ours would be a bankrupt and insolvent country and the people would not be able to survive. The plain truth is that without economic strength, no nation can survive as an independent entity. Nagas can do without that bloody sovereignty if it means pulling the society back by hundreds, if not thousands of years in terms of social evolution, Let us not march backwards but forward along with the rest of the world.

The Last Word

Statehood fulfilled the aspirations of the Nagas to a large extent: The identity of the Nagas had been preserved as desired by Naga leaders ever since the feeling of Naga clanness began. A special provision in the Constitution of India guarantees the protection of the religion, culture and traditions of the Nagas as well as their land and its resources.

The 16-Point Agreement was not drafted by blind persons and signed blindly. Every clause was carefully considered and finalised after extensive consultations and with the interests of the Nagas in mind. The leaders of the Naga People's Convention were genuine patriots who fervently desired a bright future for the people. They were practical and realistic and kind that dreams alone cannot provide bread and butter to the people.

They were also true democrats. They did not believe in violence, killings and coercion as the means to settle problems. It would be extremely uncharitable and petty to denigrate them and what they did for the Nagas. They need our wholehearted gratitude. All of us need to seriously consider these issues before jumping to hasty and wrong conclusions.

We have a new millennium ahead of us. We have no choice but to look forward, evolving new ideas on how to survive and exist as a people in the next millennium. The future is the theme, not the past. We cannot now afford to live in the myths of the past. Are we going to prepare to face the challenges of the future in order to survive, or will we live only in the dreams of the past by which we will surely perish. We also have to be in consonance with the historical processes that are emerging and are likely to govern the world society.

END OF BEDROCK OF NAGA SOCIETY

Recommendations by the author

61. Now Nagaland in boiling. To cool it down, impose President's Rule with Nagaland State Assembly dissolved and make Shri SC Jamir as Governor of Nagaland with freedom to choose Advisors to Governor. Let Shri Jamir sort it out.

62. My second recommendation concerns Manipur, if the DAN Government of Nagaland under Neiphiu Rio is still obstinate, let us cut off our road communication link with Nagaland. In fact, we should NOT think of the existence of Nagaland, as far as Manipur is concerned.

63. For connecting ourselves by road or rail we should use Imphal-Jiribam road. On this road, Meiteis should settle at Tupul, Noney, Khongsam, Nungba, Kaimai, Gulathol etc and win the faith and friendliness with our Kabui brothers and sisters. As far as Manipuri Nagas are concerned, they may be requested to leave Nagaram, Imphal and other settlements at Mantripukhri etc and a clean cut-off may be better, though I admit, should NOT be a solution as emotions are unpredictable.

Let us think wisely and thoughtfully and NOT ALLOW SENTIMENTS to overpower us. The last and final plea by me, on behalf of all Meiteis, is that let us continue to live happily, peacefully and lovingly as before, since there have been many inter-marriages between us

Concluded ....