In conversation with Vitono Gugu Haralu

Vitono Gugu Haralu is known by many as a social worker, activist, the youngest member of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and the Radio Jockey of Nagaland’s first community radio station, 90.8 Hills FM. But Gugu is more than that, which many people are unaware of. She is deeply committed to reaching out to the grassroots and addressing issues such as women’s rights and mental health.Gugu, unlike many others, is not afraid to speak out against ‘patriarchal toxic masculinity’ in our personal space and in our society.

“It gives light and fire to my passion to address this issue,” she says. However, she believes that this is where many people assume she comes from a privileged background.

But is there a stereotype associated with privileged people? We learn the depths and breadth of a confident Gugu’s viewpoints here.

“I am indeed from a privileged background for which I feel very blessed, not lucky, but blessed,” she says. “However, I have never used my privilege card to my own advantage to date.”

“I never used it for myself because I didn’t need it.” So, whenever I go to government offices to find out information or to help, many people always say, ‘Well. Gu, you come from a privileged background; why do you need something like this?’ It’s not for me, I say. It’s for the people I work with, and I meet a lot of grassroots people, and this information will help them at least apply,” she says.

People are often curious about what she gets out of her activities, she claims.
“I get nothing out of it. But isn’t it our responsibility to reach out and help our people?” she asks.

Gugu on women always being made a source of conflict

Gugu, in various contentious issues such as the protest against 33% reservation in ULB, has publicly expressed in media outlets how she cannot help but feel that we, Naga women, are being “yet again” made a subject in the name of protecting and safeguarding the Naga race’s lineage and heritage.

Speaking about it, she recalled that at the time, ULB and 33% reservation were a hot topic, and thus, hearing or reading many Naga Organizations opposing women’s right to be part of the ULB was the point where she felt that women were always made a source of conflict.

“It was my personal perspective. I believe ULB has more than 33% reservations. There are many other issues or provisions of the ULB that are rarely discussed,” she says.

“Ours being such a patriarchal society and this Article 371A giving rights to our customary law and is respected and protected so at that point, I felt, why, first of all – are we saying that women are not included in the society? Are we invisible? Yet our votes are needed? So, are we saying our menfolk want us to always be behind the backdrop? That’s where I felt it was not fair. It is never fair to think the society is raised without the other half. So, the whole ULB I felt that ULB is much beyond 33% reservation,” she opined.

“The majority of men and women believe that 33% reservation is unnecessary.They claim that by bringing up such trivial issues, we are dividing society. A survey will reflect people’s attitudes toward women in politics and decision-making,” she says.

“Whenever I speak to men who are my friends and are in authority, the student body and other organizations, and I say, hey! When you elect, I don’t see any women in your group. They say, women don’t come up. Then I say, “Well, how can women come up when you don’t even encourage them and your approach is not inclusive?”

“Do you require a special invitation?” they say. But I disagree. It is not about special invitations. “Our Naga women have been conditioned to believe and think that we are second class citizens,” she claimed.

When asked if Naga women will ever be able to lead in public life, she responds, “I think participation in public affairs, making political decisions, and policy making for Naga women is far away. I believe it starts at home for me.”

Gugu on women having opinion

She also described her own struggles in breaking the patriarchal mindset, which is often overlooked in society.
“My relatives have dubbed me a ‘big mouth.’ People come to my parents and tell them, “Control your daughter.” But, to be honest, my parents know what they have to do. I’ve always struggled with this patriarchal mindset of always bullying the girl,” she explained.

“I grew up in a liberal but respectful environment where your rights are respected. However, there will be people who come and tell your parents to keep your daughter under control,” she continued.

“I’m not sure why people started calling me a feminist simply because I had an opinion. I had no idea what feminism was until my friends – my male friends told me, “Gugu, you’re too feminist.” What exactly do you mean by feminist? I’m simply expressing my opinion. I’m just saying that I like this colour, I don’t like this color, and I have an opinion like you. So, how does that qualify me as a feminist? Either people don’t know the definition or they try to put you in a box and decide who you are,” Gugu said.

Gugu on women empowerment

When asked if she believes that Naga women’s participation in politics today reflects any changes in mindset, she stated that in the name of women empowerment, women are placed in positions of authority, but she believes that those women do not even know what they are supposed to do.

“In the name of women empowerment, a lot of initiatives have been taken. People have gained but there also has been manipulation. If it is done in the truest sense, today, we would be beginning to see young women taking leadership.”

“As far as I am aware, it may be due to my ignorance, but the kind of leadership women are given through politics is either to appease us or to get our vote – but I haven’t seen the real thing on the ground yet. I’m speaking generally,” she added.

“The effort of few women who stood for women’s welfare cannot be made unknown. NMA has helped raise the issue to make us think. In policy making, who decides our welfare? Any women representative?” she asked.
“Changing the mindset of a society like ours requires a long process of grassroots involvement. It takes willing participants in the system to effect change. A change in Kohima or Dimapur will not affect the rural area,” she stated.

On being asked if there is any way to change the mindset, she expressed that women are already empowered but her empowerment will only happen once she knows that she is already empowered as a human being.

Gugu on her experience as a member of FNR

Speaking about her experience as a member of FNR, she expressed how wonderful it was to work with the elders and seniors in facilitating a process that was difficult but not impossible.

“We are all volunteers in this forum, and as the youngest member, I wondered what my role was because it is a forum for reconciliation. It was only recently that I realized that the reconciliation forum or process cannot take place unless each member of the forum has actually practiced forgiveness and mending relationships, because reconciliation is that point where we have forgiven someone, where we have tried to do the right thing in our own lives. That gives us the conviction and the strength to pursue because it builds trust,” she shared.

She then continued how the forum is a facilitator where they bring all conflicting parties to come together and mediate the process with unbiased approach and with understanding.

“FNR is not the decision makers but it plays an important role for bringing in conflicting parties in disagreement, to be the neutral party so that both sides are equal to talk and dialogue. We listen; listening has been one of our main core objectives. We create that ecosystem for people to dialogue.”

“FNR has made me more responsible and accountable for my own personal actions, and while I still make mistakes, it reminds me that I am accountable.”

When asked if she is confident in the political solution in which the FNR has just brought two opposing parties together through peace building, she replied, “I am confident as long as they maintain the trust they have built. Trust building has to be on all sides and I can’t say more than that.”

Mokokchung Times