Progress of historic proportions

The current situation that the Naga people are living in today was not of our choice. However, whether it was by chance or by design, Naga people are compelled to adapt to the situation and the prevailing conditions. How best we adapt today to these situations and conditions will determine the quality of our collective future, our destiny as a people. As vexed as the Naga political problem is, decades of conflict, violence, bloodshed and polarization has apparently confused the Nagas, the protagonists in the Naga saga themselves, in finding the elusive solution to the Naga political problem. There is so much confusion, so much so we can’t make heads or tails of the problem. On one hand, Naga people want a solution but on the other hand, we don’t know what kind of a solution we want. Or, rather, we want an exclusive solution that suits one’s interest instead of an inclusive one that best suits everybody’s interest. Further, some of us want a political solution between India and the Naga people as a whole while there are others who want a solution for Nagaland state. Some of us talk about the interests of Nagaland state, while some of us talk about the interest of Naga people living in the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. And then there are some of us talking about the interest of Naga people living in Myanmar. While all of these interests have their own reasons and are all genuine, it is unfortunate that we have come to believe that they are mutually exclusive.

The Nigerian philosopher and political scientist Chuba Okadigbo’s words sound relevant here. He says, “If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education and exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability.” We may have our differences but clinging on to our viewpoints should not be to prove one person or group right and the other person or group wrong. We should be willing to hear opposing viewpoints and together arrive at the truth. And justice.

The news of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and the NSCN-IM agreeing to form a ‘Council of Naga Relationships and Cooperation (CNRC) is not only a major political development but also a major progress made as far as finding a solution to the Naga political problem is concerned, a progress of historic proportions. The two opposing groups agreeing to form the CNRC to explore, at the earliest, “realistic ways for Nagas to move forward on the basis of Naga historical and political rights” is progress made in the right direction. It is hoped that there will not be some people trying to dismantle the CNRC even before it is instituted just because it involves people with views opposed to theirs.