India takes note
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 05 2015 -
The signing of peace accord between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim or NSCN (IM) is significant in many ways.
First, the diminishing hope in the negotiated deal due to hurdles in over a decade of cease-fire has been restored. And second, the confidence exhibited in acknowledging the hiccups on both sides are commendable.
While addressing those who were present on the day termed as “historic”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Naga political issue had lingered for six decades taking a huge toll on generations of people.
He also expressed “deepest admiration” for the Nagas for their extraordinary support to the peace efforts.
Above all Modi took official cognisance of what the Nagas have reiterated over the years on the “uniqueness” of their history and culture.
The Prime Minister said he was impressed by the rich and diverse culture and the “unique way of life of the Naga people”.
While praising Naga courage and commitment as legendary, Modi pointed out that these represent the “highest levels of humanism.” He stressed that there are Naga values that should constitute the foundation of the society that “we all seek.”
Modi too noted the realization of the fact that the Naga problem had taken so long to resolve because “we did not understand each other”.
However, it should be noted that Modi, while extricating New Delhi from the responsibility of rectifying its weakness, has to implicate colonial aspirations of the British for keeping the Nagas “isolated and insulated.”
While the observation that the British propagated “terrible myths about Nagas” in the rest of the country could be easily ascertained through a simple textual analysis of colonial sources of history, New Delhi cannot absolve itself from reinforcing the so called “terrible myths” leading to creation of stereotypes.
This was exactly why any ruling dispensation in New Delhi has so far looked at not only the Nagas but also the entire Northeast region through the prism of “false perceptions and old prejudices.”
Having crossed the initial barrier of at least making attempts to understand each other, Modi’s easy mantra to durable peace in the region is hinged on his idea of economic development and progress.
Keeping these in mind, any discerning observers can wait and watch what could be the contours of the accord’s content.
Until and unless, the public – all Nagas and their neighbours are taken into confidence with regard to the final overture on the protracted Naga political issue, there will still be many questions left unanswered.
Even if Modi is clear on the textual outlines of the pact as he has termed it “shining example”, he should leave no room for suspicion on the minds of certain constituencies both within Nagaland and neighbouring states who have been demanding the details of the negotiations even in the past.
What unfolds now would be inseparably linked to how New Delhi shapes the future of Nagaland and also the entire Northeast.
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