Understanding the effect of Naga Nationalism movement
- Part 1 -

ZK Pahrü Pou *

If we are to assume that Naga National Movement started right after the First World War, then the Nagas will be celebrating the Movement's Centenary (100 Years of its existence) within 10 years period. While acknowledging the priceless sacrifices made by our National Workers in carrying forth and making known the Rights of the Nagas to International community, it is also time for us to examine the effect of this Movement locally.

During these decades of struggle what have we achieved? What have we learned? What are the effects of this Movement? Till today there is no any tangible or workable political solution in sight yet the enormous effects of the Movement is apparently clear. This article highlights some of the effects of the Movement and the need to intervene by the Naga public in deciding the future of it.

Effect on Religion (Christianity).

Christianity, although undeclared, is the State religion of the Nagas today. Without Christianity the Naga National Movement could have died many years back. The Movement got its strength from Biblical stories and teachings. As this Movement gained strength it helped Christianity to spread its tentacles more widely in the Naga soil. They fed each other well.

Because of this connection, the Movement is able to face various difficulties, overcome hurdles and survive for decades. The Movement got the support of the public in the form of 'Christians'.

By and large, non-Christians were assumed to be 'non-loyalists' or people who have little or no concern at all for the Nagas' cause. Majority, if not all, of our Underground Cadres are Christians. Interestingly many of these cadres have converted many non-Christians into Christianity through means of threats.

Once the Nagas become Christian, they called themselves "Second Israel" (God's elected people or race). Selected Bible chapters and verses were used by many Naga preachers to describe the Nagas as the "Second Israel", "Chosen People", "Holy Nation", "Called out from darkness" and so on.

Rainbow—the covenantal symbol between God and the whole creation—was chosen as the emblem of Naga National Flag. Many prophecies speak about the same thing. The biblical stories of the Exodus and the Conquest of Canaan by the Israelites were earnestly interpreted and used by Naga nationalists to promote their ideology and justify killings.

These were used not only to justify the killings of enemies (supposedly Indian and Myanmar armies) but even Naga brothers and sisters (by often quoting Achan—an Israelite who was assumed to be responsible for Israel's defeat in a war against Ai—as an example). The Exodus story of the Israelites was then taken as a valid paradigm for and by the Nagas to assert their right to political freedom from the dominant and oppressive countries.

Unfortunately, the whole presentation of God in the Bible was overshadowed by the event of Exodus from Egypt and its subsequent conquest of Canaan by Israel people. God, as understood by the Nagas from this perspective, was the One who helped His people (Israel) to kill enemies mercilessly to the extent of wiping out the whole population and properties in order to achieve the goal of the supposedly God's 'elected people' (Israel people). Encouraged by this kind of half-baked understanding of biblical stories, killings go on unabated in Naga's land.

Naga Churches are often asked to pray for the Cadres so that no harm would come upon them. Those who perpetrate violence continuously justified themselves or its act by using biblical texts—dragging God's name unmindfully to suit their action. God of life is hence depicted as God of destroyer and killer.

Will God, who is the author of life, be really happy with us when we destroy life? Life is a free gift from God. We have no right to take away a person's life (whether righteous or unrighteous). Life of all people is protected strongly through one of the Ten Commandments which says, "DO NOT KILL". Jesus came to this world to give life (physical and spiritual) so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

The Nagas are very unfortunate because we have turned Christianity—the religion of life into a religion of death, religion of love into a militant and violent religion, religion of forgiveness into a religion of vengeance. If anyone or any organisation uses the Word of God or God's name to justify killing, they are doing so in their own risk. God's vengeance will come upon them.

II. Effect on Economy

Let us presuppose that there are around 5000 able bodied Naga national workers in all the factions of the Nagas who are not in any way involved in labour-intensive work. Also let us take Rs 150 as an average daily wage per person per day. If we multiply 5000 (Naga national workers) by Rs. 150 (a day's wage of a person) then the net wage is 5000 x Rs. 150 = 7, 50, 000 (Seven lakhs, fifty thousand rupees) per day.

If we calculate for one month, it will be Rs. 7, 50, 000 x 30 days = Rs. 22,500,000 (per month). You may calculate for one year and see the answer! The economy of the Naga public is affected badly by this Movement. Frequent confrontations with the Indian Armies and among the Naga different factions resulted to a halt of economic activities such as closure of shops, imposing of curfew, etc.

What has happened to Shiroi Villagers (in Ukhrul) is a startling example of this. Apart from losing this huge amount of money of wage (earnings), the Naga public also pays taxes (house tax, vehicle tax, shop tax, employment tax, etc), to various factions. In addition to collection of tax, we often hear intimidation and extortion of money from Naga public by our national workers.

We are also convinced that our national workers are involved in various cases of kidnapping and even murdering to get ransom as Newspapers testify it many time. The temptation to materialism has put many national workers behind bars as they involve in black-market. In most of the Government's schemes too there is certain deduction of money by Naga national workers.

Many contractors cannot get their jobs done without the consent of the Naga nationalists. Many developmental projects in Naga's land (especially in Manipur Hill Districts) came to a halt for the reason best known to our National workers. How much amount of money is being paid to various factions each month or year by an individual, village, organisation or institution is difficult to ascertain.

Certainly it will be in terms of Crores of Rupees. And how do they spend the huge amount of money collected through various sources? Palatial buildings with modern furnishings, extensive fence around the residence, latest model of vehicles, Television set, mobile phones, and other costly gadgets they possessed may well help us to understand to a great extent apart from the fact that this money is also spent for Naga National cause.

My daily wage as a Lecturer is around Rs 270 per day. This amount could be nothing comparing to an income of a mere factional cadre (Commander) in-charge of a small town. Fortunate Naga farmers get Rs 100 to Rs 200 per day. Majority of the Nagas will be getting only Rs 50 to Rs 80 per day in spite of engaging in tough work. This is how the Naga public earns and supports the Naga national movement.

Our Naga national workers must think seriously through whose labour they are surviving. They must think twice before collecting money from the public. They must love the public and think seriously before spending the public's money. Farmers take great care in spending just Rs 10 in a day as they know the value of hard-earned money. Many of our national workers are spendthrift. This could be because that they do not know the value of money as they do not earn money through hard labour in any way.

To be continued....



(The article is intended to create awareness among the Naga public and urged them to involve in the Movement so that Solution to the Indo-Naga problem would be arrived at in the earliest in a way acceptable to all Nagas. If the article hurts the sentiment of any individual or organization, I express deep regret and ask apology for the same.)