The echoes of medieval Europe still resonate in the contemporary world, embodied in what is commonly referred to as the “feudal mentality.” This mindset reflects attitudes and behaviors reminiscent of the feudal system, which once dominated European societies. Central to this mentality is hierarchical thinking, where individuals are rigidly stratified into social classes based on birth, wealth, or status. The feudal mentality perpetuates and reinforces existing power dynamics, limiting opportunities for social mobility and entrenching privilege among the elite.
In Nagaland, the imagery of a politician standing beneath the protective canopy of an umbrella, typically held by a bodyguard or a personal assistant, is a common sight. This symbolism of the umbrella speaks to the hierarchical thinking inherent in the feudal mentality. In the theatre of modern politics, in Nagaland and elsewhere, the symbolism of a politician under the umbrella mirrors the hierarchical structure of feudal Europe, where power and authority were concentrated in the hands of a privileged few. Status symbols play a pivotal role in the feudal mentality, with displays of wealth, power, and social status serving as markers of one’s worth and importance within the hierarchy.
However, a recent occurrence stood out when the chief minister of Nagaland was seen holding his own umbrella alongside the Ambassador of Japan to India at the War Cemetery in Kohima. This departure from the “norm” was quite interesting. It was perhaps the Japanese “influence” at work. While the feudal system itself may have faded into history, its legacy lives on in the form of the feudal mentality. This mentality perpetuates inequality, exploitation, and the consolidation of entrenched power structures. Hopefully, apart from forging bilateral ties, the Japanese Ambassador in this instance may have contributed to the dismantling of the feudal mentality in Nagaland.