Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Festival Season musings: Do Nagas share some similarities in the manner Narendra Modi conducts himself ?


Nagas of the past knew which side they were on. Philosophers now talk of Generation Z,  Generation Alpha etc. The new generation or some of those from the old stock may presume any ideology as irrelevant. They are not engaged, they have not seen any cataclysm (a large-scale violence).


They have to bring back the 'commitment'. Those who fail must make way for others, that's nature.  Perform or perish is also the message from Mizoram. 


( I started thinking on writing this piece on Dec 1, - the Statehood Day for Nagaland. And then paused for a while thinking there could be a need for rethinking to set things in order. )


If one fails, he must make way for others, that's message from Mizoram too








Losing is perhaps one way of learning how to win, and who can tell us better on this other than Narendra Modi….so would be the story of Nagas as well.  Those who know Nagas, especially Nagas of Nagaland, would agree with me that they are the most humble and at the same time 'most furious' community of human race depending on the situations. 





Many people say almost similar thing about Narendra Modi. Is it an interesting?? Or a boring argument?? The choice is yours ! But lately, Nagas have developed an image of being conformists. 'Let us agree to the routine norms type'.  In his scholarly book 'The Russians', American journalist Hedrick Smith had said that the Russian students and perhaps also other citizens were (are) not radical or progressive - but they all belonged to the SILENT MAJORITY. 


Smith also had built up his argument saying for example for students, following the diktats were essential as there were/are many ways of putting pressure on them - the stipends, dormitory rooms and also admissions into courses of their choice and efficiency. 



In general sense in Nagaland; it's the Bolero syndrome. And hence pressure groups have also lost their teeth. The problem is there is 'encouragement' to such a phenomenon because this suits the Status Quo....and the state of Status Quo suits a group of people. In Smith's book, he lucidly exposes the generation who are not exposed to moral judgements and moral choices.



Now, a quick check list at similarities and dissimilarities between Modi and the Nagas.

- The history of Nagas actually represents the larger history of insurgency in northeast ## The history of Narendra Modi represents the history of Gujarat from 2002 and gradually turning out to be the future-history of BJP especially since 2013.

-  Notwithstanding tough situations they have crossed, the Nagas also have a tendency to believe that they are destined to ‘succeed’. Here too a similar situation can be suggested about Modi who despite 2002 and international press hounding stuck to his guns and has today changed the game in his favour. 


It’s altogether a different chapter and perhaps also ironical that a headhunting community is “so emotional” that they base most of their actions to emotion called FEELING.
 
So does Modi; at least some actions of his past as well as present suggest !!

YES YOU HAVE GUESSED IT THERE IS THAT ‘DABANG’ WAY OF CONDUCTING THAT HAS A COMMON FEATURE TO NAGAS AND NARENDRA MODI. 


I am not suggesting here that ‘Naga-succeeds’ phrase would apply to Naga peace talks alone. 

It’s on development front too. 








Individual Nagas have achieved so much since independence that senior political leaders believe that the kind of development Nagaland has seen, the feats achieved by many Nagas could not be imagined by their forefathers.


In terms of ‘Dabang’ style of functioning, Modi has given a glimpse of his state of mind when recently he allowed freehand to NSA Ajit Doval and his chosen IPS friend, R N Ravi to go ahead with Naga peace talks. The NSCN (IM) leadership had reservation about Ravi for the latter’s controversial articles against NSCN (IM) in the past. 

But once the message has been passed that Prime Minister has made up his mind to retain the negotiator R N Ravi, the tough diplomatic mantle in Naga leaders also saw reason and they agreed to go along with the talks. This is the story between 2014 and October 2019.

But after that, things got derailed and delayed.

On the eve of Statehood Day, Governor La Ganesan made an interesting observation. In his own words, "unemployment, the quest for enduring peace, equitable growth, and rapid advancement are the battles we continue to fight".  This is crucial part of the message and perhaps reflects his mild anguish that nothing much is being done to ensure 'enduring peace'. This itself will be a mega and key milestone to achieve other goals as envisioned by the Governor. His excellency is right; but perhaps he has to do more. In general sense today, there is an apprehension that hardliner stance could even lead to ending of ceasefire. 

PM Modi could be too busy; or for him one or two MPs from Nagaland or states such as Manipur may not be crucial vis-a-vis the battle of 2024. But it goes without stating only a man like Modi has the 'guts and determination' to deliver something on Naga peace talks.

One is only repeating that in terms of displaying single minded determination (‘Dabang’ style of functioning), Modi has given glimpses by announcing noteban in 2016 and also implementing GST in 2017. 

Nagas who want solution also know that it is only him who can deliver. The rest would prefer again a Deve Gowda or I K Gujral varieties of Prime Ministers and preferably with communist Home Ministers such as Late Indrajit Gupta. You may get a good press; but nothing good may be served in long term perspective.

Nagas have paid a price over the years and they have done so more in the state of Nagaland. Their legislators now want to become ministers. The pressure groups are not speaking out. To top it all came an effort recently where a government-sponsored pressure group would be created. The move has been deferred and not derailed completely.


People who want to control everything never know the limitations. In other words, we may call it corporatisation ! If Gautam Adani's over corporatisation is a problem, so is the one closer home -- often not named, not even identifed.


Nagas are passing through testing times, so is Modi himself in his important part of the career. Both must deliver now. 


Nagas of past knew which side they were on. The new generation may presume any ideology as irrelevant. They are not engaged, they have not see any cataclysm (a large scale violence) ; and hence they are not committed. Bring the commitment back. Those who fail must make way for others, that's nature. Perform or perish is also the message from Mizoram.   

ends  





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