Lamentation over the peace process stretching for 80/90/100 talks in 25 years

Dr Nelson Vashum *

Oh, the peace – the solution, worked out in over 25 years through more than 80/90/100 talks and where the Naga politics heading to ? Is it above or below the zero level the NSCN (IM) leaders were speaking about at the beginning of Indo-Naga talks ?

No one however thoughtless or dispassionate can remain unconcerned about the honourability of the peace deal. Hence, the level to which the peace package has taken the Naga politics is a serious concern for any Naga soul. People everywhere gossiping Naga politics and issues have fallen below zero !

Oh, that the peace deal was not a Hindustan made imposed on the Nagas or a peace deal imposed by the Almighty, because the National honour was squandered on mortal man and the glory of Naga Nationhood was spent by the National workers in the last 25 years and God does not have any more left !

I trembled these many 25 years as and when I remember at what God says in Isa 42:8a “I am the Lord, that is my Name; And my glory I will not give to another”.

Amongst the faithful, hushed whisper used to go round whether the Nagas were giving undue glory to certain National leaders. Good to introspect. There is still future and I suppose, God will give us space and time to redeem. Isa 48:18 says, “Oh, that you had heeded my commandments ! Then your peace would have been like a river; And your righteousness like the waves of the sea”.

Final deal done says all the media but nothing is breaking forth ! Too good or too bad or too small ? Anguish and anxiety is breaking the hearts of many, specially who have suffered in the process of National struggle. The delay of the declaration of the peace package is tormenting.

Oh, the best part of my life is almost over. I am already 70 plus years and within a few years I will come to the point of saying, “I have no taste or pleasure for anything” (Ecc 12:1). Mighty Indian politicians are too indifferent for the rights and welfare of the weak and small. They know more of graft and deception as the best means of success. For them victory is virtue.

How the victory is achieved does not matter. In my life span of 70 plus years, I have not seen the practice of ahimsa – as propounded by Mahatma Gandhi nor the act of righteousness and justice in governance.

India over the years blessed or cursed with many godman/s and godwoman/s but the one billion plus population lived in darkness and started learning hand washing before food only in the 21st century – whereas the people who follow the God of the Bible practiced hand washing since for more than 3500 years. I am full of suspicion and there is no sense of joy. The peace deal done on 2015 but still remains under wrap.

Indians are very fond of magic. What was concluded, sealed and wrapped could still vanish in the thin air. In the tribal folklore–good news is shouted from the rooftop but bad news is deciphered from the face of the news bearer. What do we make out of this undeclared peace deal ?

I was about to turn 50 years when ceasefire was declared in 1997 and now in 2023, I am 70 years plus. I regret our National workers have committed grievous mistake in the conduct of peace talks ! Indo-Naga talks were conducted outside India in the initial stage.

If the Naga leaders stood firm to continue the talks outside India and in the presence of a 3rd country and all the contentious issues like Flag and Constitution settled first and then the political competencies fixed on a time bound schedule then come to Indian soil. Now that Indo-Naga talks done in Delhi taking sluggish pace – incomparable with any in history.

I have a lot of misgivings about the contents – which already is known to be without the Flag and Constitution and I cannot but feel sorry for posterity. The loss of time and lives and the sufferings of many years - all for material gains ! Which way the peace deal is honourable ? Peace without honour and acceptability and imposed shamefully by the Government of India ?

Nagalim to the wind, Naga Nation stillborn ! Naga National Flag dehoisted ! Constitution buried. How shall we go forward ! Any hope left ? Failure because of man ? Or is it because the Nagas took the name of God in vain ?

According to Biblical reckoning, one generation-25 years, gone. Can there be any room for the next generation to take the torch of Naga cause forward ? Shall we surrender to God and let Him determine His own way ? If NSCN (IM) is for a democratic republic system of governance don’t imitate Indian politicians.

In Indian society, the trend has been for clan/family centric politics – father to the son, wife, daughter and even daughter-in-law. Look at Japan, the Nation was literally reduced to rubbles and dust in 1945.

But by 1975 or so it rose to respectable position of second economic power. Learn from Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, he was agile and very able, only 72 years but pass on the leadership to other younger.

Don’t imitate Mao Tse Tung, who ruled China under coma for almost two years through his wife Jiang Qing as the gang of four. Let that not be Naga story. We are Christians and should be based on Biblically based polity. Truth and righteousness should be our most cherished conduct of life and governance.