Identity For Survival

Pr Haomei *

State level Gaan-Ngai 2014 at Keikhu, Kabui Village in January 2014 :: Pix - Ashok Ningthoujam

I would like to begin by posing this question: Do Rongmei have a strong identity of their own?

My answer is a big ' NO'. But this is not my personal opinion. Gauging by the persistent attitude of several prominent leaders barking against the concept of a strong Rongmei council, I must say that Rongmei do not wants to have its own identity, whereas Zeme and Liangmai did. And I must add that Rongmei people are hyperbolically 'Zeliangrong', not 'Rongmei', whereas, Zeme and Liangmai have asserted their own separate identity reflected in their own councils, which is responsible for their respective tribe.

I don't meant to say that we don't have our own council, but ours and theirs have a lots of differences in practical aspects when compared; ours is a neglected and suppressed council whereas theirs are not.

Time and again, it has been reminded and brought to the notice of the people by some of our courageously outspoken leaders that the nomenclature 'Zeliangrong' is just an organisation of kindred tribes; viz: Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Npuimei tribes, and not to be confused as a name of tribe.

And that, the Rongmei people should strive to strengthen its own tribe like Zeme, Liangmai and Npuimei had been doing since many years back. But most of the Rongmei people are confused (mostly induced confusion) about their identify.

At the same time, efforts of some visionary Rongmei leaders to strengthen the Rongmei people had been often threatened by nationalist groups in the past aided by non other than some leaders of the Rongmei people themselves.

Out of ignorance, most of the Rongmei people anticipated with dread or anxiety that strengthening the Rongmei council will disintegrate the fabric and consanguinity of Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Npui people. In this connection, several heated debates had occurred in the past, but the Rongmei Council has been always neglected and left to its own devise to wither away in the absence or lack of supportive understanding.

Now, the Rongmei people of Tamenglong district particularly, who always looked up to the Zeliangrong apex body/bodies for almost all their social issues are left like a bastard owing to the split of Zeliangrong Union and Zeliangrong Baudi. Whereas, Zeliangrong Baudi (Nagaland), Zeme Naga Council and Liangmai Naga Council carry on their affairs, oblivious to the split of Tamenglong or Manipur based ZU vs. ZB, and continues to look after their own in their areas.

I don't know why, but it seems, most of the warring leaders are from the Rongmei community in the never ending factional skirmishes between the ZU and Baudi. Are Zeliangrong Union or Baudi the exclusive property of Rongmei?

The seemingly reluctant "let it be, as long as it doesn't bother us" attitude evident from the indifference or little interest shown by some, not so unobvious, group of people to the issue of ZU and ZB in Manipur of which majority of the players are from Rongmei community, has done more harm to the physical and emotional unity of our kindred tribes. The greatest losers here are Rongmei people who placed their faith and hope in the Zeliangrong apex body despite the continued controversy between the apex bodies.

In this context, I advocated the recently popular opinion expounded by most Rongmei intellectuals, that, the Zeliangrong apex body should be a federal set-up with a strong council of each tribe as its federating units if we are to have a strong and effective apex body of our kindred tribes. In that case, we won't be left like an orphan again even if the apex body splintered into a thousand pieces.

Better still, a strongly bonded and more effective apex body will emerge surely. In the present scenario of factions in the apex body of the kindred tribes, it is imperative that the councils of each kindred tribes should withdraw their support to both factions and dissolve the apex bodies until such a time the councils could come together to draw consensus and reinstate a popular apex body with a consensus name and leaders.

So, my dear (W)Rongmei and Rightmei, what shall we do? As for me, I'd vote for a strong and effective council of our tribe if we are to build up a strong apex body of all kindred tribes. Remember, a healthy society begins with a healthy family: likewise, a strong Zeliangrong will be possible only when we have a strong body/council of each tribe.

Finally, to those who don't tread upon this same line of thinking, I dare say, you belong to a non-existent tribe, "Zeliangrong", and not to any of these tribes: Zeme, Rongmei, Npuimei, Liangmai. The unified name, "Zeliangrong" is a paradox, it is a field where the art of manipulation are carried out against each other.

As if not fed up of being exploited in the unified name, the Rongmei leaders are furthering the game by manipulating even their own community under the banner of Zeliangrong. How can one hope to build a strong and united Zeliangrong family, if one can't even build ones own family.

Let us break free from the cocoon of our confusion and hesitation to flutter our colourful wings as we soar through a new sky of hope. And let the Rongmei council be the harbinger of new era and realisation for the Rongmei tribe as a part and parcel of Zeliangrong apex organisation.

Long live the Rongmei. Long live the Zeliangrong.