Nagaland for Christ! Where is it heading?

Dr Nelson Vashum *

Many years ago in 1968 – Some time in March late Mr. R. Suisa (former MP, Manipur outer constituency and later advisor to the vice president NFG-NNC) addressed the school (mock) parliament of Tolloi Academy Manipur – delivering a marathon lecture of over 2 hrs. A man with impeccable integrity and outstanding oratory gift – he kept us spellbound and reactive.

During interaction, I as the Prime Minister of school parliament asked Mr. R. Suisa whether the slogan (in the process of discussion then) "Nagaland for Christ" was a blasphemy or a healthy spiritual slogan to make the Nagas Christ conscious. Because I saw as a young man many national workers not living God-fearing lives. Mr. R. Suisa composedly replied, "Let us henceforth live for Christ".

However, down the years and till date- Naga national workers – overground and underground lived in Christianity but not in Christ! Lifestyle is too compromised and murky and in no way worthy to be the light (contrasting with darkness) and salt (to be dissolved and lost in the service and welfare of the people). Their living testimonies are on the verge of Psalms73: 6 - 9 – which may not be out of contact/misplaced.

o Pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.
o Their eye bulge with abundance; their greed earns them more than heart can desire.
o The policy of oppression and deceit, their chief joy.
o Their loft speeches touch the height of the skies.
o Their tongue lashings swipe the earth unrestrained (my modified language for comprehension). Humble living and truthfulness strangers to them. The people whom they claimed to liberate and serve – live under the crushing bondage of poverty, sickness and want.

The last Nagaland assembly election was one of the most expensive according to many local news runnings. Liquor, muscle power/gun power and money power unashamedly displayed – all in professed Christian society.

However, memory at best is labile and short. So let us go with the current affairs. Mr. Neiphiu Rio got elected as MP of Nagaland. It was apparently a clear mandate. However, was it all clean? I leave that to God and the people of Nagaland. Manipur outer parliamentary election – NPF candidate Mr. Soso Lorho failed to get elected in spite of sound political logics:
1. Cong (I) fielded a weak and non-performing candidate for whom no grass root workers were enthusiastic.
2. BJP candidate eroded the counter balancing vote bank of the valley and relevant issues pertaining to the Nagas in Manipur could have united the Nagas.
3. Many especially the young generation were itchy/edgy for change.
4. Nagas had every advantage of geography and size of vote bank.

In spite of all these advantages – NPF candidate was defeated. Using simple common sense, the defeat was a good possibility. The NPF leaders in Nagaland who decided the affairs, implicitly and explicitly ignored the groundswell that was developing. The trumpets of the people were ignored and insulted by high command culture/dictator's hand in the gloves of sham democracy.

Well before the voting, I wrote through Morung Express dated 23rd March 2014 under the caption "Naga leadership – where is it heading, where is it leading? ", I did say clearly and loudly – NPF leadership have nominated the "wrong horse" and however good the cart, it will not go/work. I didn't write that as a prophet but as a laity who glean nuggets of wits and wisdom from the word of God.

Above everything else, people who live in the soil of Nagaland were supposedly giving divine like instructions to vote both for Mr. Mani Charenamai and Soso Lorho – Blindness/Madness? The information flow is such no leave rustles without the wind! Nothing goes unnoticed – even the most humble villagers live abreast of all events, especially emotive electoral issues. This is the second consecutive loss for the Nagas in Manipur.

Accountability is called for. Don't simply rub away by blaming the Naga voters. Learn from the Hindustani Party- Cong (I) Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the President and Mr. Rahul Gandhi, theVice-president (being family owned party), solely and completely owned the responsibility for the utter routing of the party in the last Lok Sabha election. Why the NPF top brass – Mr. Neiphiu Rio and Mr. TR. Zeliang passing the bug?

Well let us forget the past loss. Let us look forward. Let me quote Psalms 106:15 – So He gave them what they asked for; but sent a wasting disease upon them. Our Heavenly father is so bountiful and tolerant- puny human being is sometimes allowed to arm twist and to deceive – but He is a just God! Deceit and arm twister never enjoy His blessing. Mr. Neiphiu Rio may be given a cabinet (DONER?) berth in DAN government though he forfeited one of his hands.

Mr. TR. Zeliang's style of walking unto the chair of CM of Nagaland is at best is inglorious. Hopefully he doesn't have a surviving mother. Because when the Christian world was celebrating Mother's Day on 11th May 2014, Mr. TR. Zeliang and his supporting MLAs were picnicking of all the places – in Kaziranga (Christian centre or Hindu Centre?). To my simple mind it was a blatant insult to all the mothers. Kaziranga campers owe apologies to their mothers. Upcoming generations forgive them for they are your rulers but not role models.

Seeing all the forebodings I am tempted to quote the lamentation of King's designate of Mr. David on the day king Saul and his Jonathan were killed by the Philistines IISam 1: 19 & 20.

o The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places.

How the mighty have fallen!
o Tell it not in Gath (non Christian world) proclaim it not in the streets of Askelon (Delhi, Mumbai etc.)

Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice; lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Nagas for Christ?
Is Christ amongst the Nagas?
Is the glory of the Lord upon the Nagas?
Nagaland for Christ not a blasphemy?
Are our leaders for the Lord?
Are they leading us to Christ?
Time to examine or else we may face the fate of living without the glory amidst us. I never regretted asking late Mr. R. Suisa whether "Nagaland for Christ" was a blasphemy.