When I had called Zhovehu Lohe 'a man of few words'; our common friend K V Pusa would joke -- "This man even laughs and smiles after doing some calculation".
So now that Lohe's lengthy article on Nagaland politics has come - let us take it as a well measured and well thought out statement. He is cautious even while he is displaying his anguish. At times he sounds 'frustrated'. He is virtually suggesting - people and leaders of Nagaland both social and political have proved themselves as the people's and society's worst enemy.
Look at the classic way of saying so:
"People manning civil bodies are supposed to remain as assets of the society and stand for the suffering common man....," --- half the message is gone. He is asking and stating what people whisper and laugh around over coffee and glasses of local Madhu -- Boleros may come ... Boleros will keep coming.
The fun gets funnier - this is from my side and thanks to 'natural justice' - Nagaland roads are doing a vanishing act despite the fact that each Naga courtyard has loveliest of good vehicles.
Let us come back to Lohe's statement:
He says ... ".... yet they (civil bodies) shrank from their responsibilities of spearheading the movements for the common welfare and preferred to recede to their "cocoons of comfort zones".
(Bolero rides is admitted indirectly)
"These people are bereft of concern as to what disaster may befall Nagaland hereafter. They are in their dreamland as though they can escape from being blamed should disaster strike our land. Such vested interest and lethargy will pave the way for preventable misfortunes.
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| Only Lohe knows the art of speaking out frankly and not to use harsh words |
He has thrown a challenge to Nagas --- make up your mind -- Political Solution or Surrender?
Those of us who know him know it well .... Only Lohe knows the art of speaking out so frankly and yet not to use harsh words. Once he told Law College students at Kohima --- "Yes; there is corruption in our state but I cannot hide it from you because you all are my voters. But there has to be limits".
He was Speaking as the Law Minister in the S C Jamir cabinet.
Many 'forced retirement' type Naga politicians will hesitate to say so in 2025 or even in 2026. The reason is the old Bolero and a few new models.
Now on Nov 3rd, 2025 within a few days since the 'Manipur saga' of NSCN-IM ... he notes:
"... The Govt of Nagaland and the NSCN(IM) jointly moved for the removal of the last Interlocutor and Governor Mr R N Ravi who was very ardent to transform the two basic agreements into a single solution.
Then having allowed the dust to settle, the Govt. of Nagaland proposed to the Union Govt. to appoint another Interlocutor vide Mr R N Ravi, Governor which was out rightly rejected by the latter as known.
The logic of the rejection of such appointment is that the necessary political negotiations with both the Naga political negotiators had been successfully completed and closed. There is no more task left for the Interlocutor
..... and whatever task left to be done as yet can be handled by the emissary in the person A K Mishra is the message so conveyed to the Naga people."
Our late friend K V Pusa would have said :
"Nirendra, our friend Lohe has hit many birds with one stone".
Take this .... such statement only strengthens the argument further:
"When the Nagas have political solution on volition under both of the basic Agreements, namely, Framework Agreement and Agreed Position or under anyone of the basic Agreements, we will have political status.
Whereas, in the event of failing to have political solution either based on both Framework Agreement and Agreed Position nor on one of the two, still the GoI may not possibly overlook the Naga National Movement.
Under such circumstance, the Nagas may have to opt for status less offer of ‘Surrender’ or ‘Violence’ under compulsion.
As much as I cannot guarantee that such optional imposition would be forced upon the Nagas ultimately after March, 2026 and so also none can guarantee that no such imposition will ever be forced upon the Nagas".
Lohe further notes:
"..... it’s painful to observe how the anti-solution segments have been playing its games thwarting and blocking the passage for solution tacitly and with bombastic statements all through these years.
Are the anti-solution elements promising better and brighter future for the Nagas with indefinite negotiation or without solution?
As for indefinite negotiation, the bona fide citizens of Nagaland in particular are tired and fed up. So much retrogression in every aspect of life has taken place adversely impacting especially the younger generation.
What people want is the result of the negotiations, either success or fiasco. Even the Govt of India may not like to continue the negotiation endlessly."
Lohe's last query is a very pertinent question --
"Those who are hell bent to sabotage political solution today are responsible for such disaster, should such happen.
Will I be branded to be too sensitive to apprehend that those Nagas who have been relentlessly working hard to delay political solution or doing their best not to have solution are in
hobnob to ultimately lead the Nagas to surrender than to have solution with political status?"
Lohe has deliberately or for reasons of space has not spoken about so-called 'hyper regionalism' in Nagaland. But we also know ... as a former Congressman; he never liked regionalism despite hailing from Tenyimia belt.
He hails from Chizami in Phek district. That constituency by default gave Nagas their first chief minister Vamuzo. The fact is when he took oath as the chief minister; Vamuzo was non-MLA and the vacancy was created in Chizami when MoS K G Kenye had resigned. Lohe later said : "Come what may .... my Chakhesang people should know in years to come that their son Zhovehu Lohe wanted to contest in the by-election against Vamuzo. But my Congress party prevented me".
Lohe understands politics better. But his understanding of the same is not guided by 'power hunger' as is normally the case.
As a principled democrat; he does not believe in giving cakewalk to a candidate. One is sure ... going by that logic he does not like the concept of opposition-less Govt.
That's one way of accepting Hail Hitler .... and the other way is road to profitability.
There may not be good roads; grab the Bolero. Drivers will come Dhaka !!
In parliamentary democracy an elected member's "independence" means he or she can say what the member (MLA.MP) wants.... challenge what is desired to be taken on .... and stand up at a time when others are sitting down.
The 'Cock' is sitting on a Lotus... Globe has been thrown into the dustbin of prosperity. There are many other political symbols. All keen to say -- 'crow crow ... like the Cock'.
'Mogambo Khush hua' ----- The Nagamese version is soft, sweet and hardly sounds aggressive : "Beshi Khusi paisey".
Some mischievous admirers of this blogger would tease me :: "Northern Northern .... "
My limited knowledge and unlimited love for English literature often makes me say:
‘So here it is at last, the distinguished thing,” said Henry James as he was dying.
ends
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