The 'jackboot of fascism' symbolizes the brutal, violent, and militaristic oppression used by authoritarian leaderships to crush dissent and enforce control.
The Consequences of being wrong is often huge.
Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed Manipur situation with with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
In Ukhrul-Kamjong region of Manipur; the decade old policy of "imposing the will" has ended up in a shambles.
"In a crucial sense, every human in the world is like each of us. In another equally significant sense, every human in the world is different from all of us.... .
.... Many Indians see Nagas as Indians. Many Nagas do not now think of themselves as Indian". --
- Rajmohan Gandhi in a foreword to book 'A Naga Odyssey - My Long Way Home'.
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| Jotsoma Village area near Science College, Nagaland |
What has happened in the Naga region of Manipur state in the last few days was unthinkable even a week back.
The myth of the 'power of the invincible' was exposed. The BJP leadership in the centre is cautious. Things should not deteriorate beyond a point.
Even other protagonists are busy with damage control exercise.
However, a section of analysts may quickly give Congress-BJP spin. Think of it deep - one can catch the flavour of Ibobi Singh-Amit Shah (and also Governor Ajay Bhalla) polity.
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| CM Khemchand and Home Minister Shah |
The Home Minister in principle reportedly agreed to the raising of one Mahila India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for Manipur and asked the Chief Minister to send a proposal.
The Chanakya theory has triumphed in a way. "The Impact of NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah's visit to Somdal village did not last even for six-seven months.
The Congress leaders in 2010 had made him a hero by disallowing the militant leader to go to Ukhrul; but the BJP dispensation and Team Amit Shah allowed the trip after receiving innumerable requests from Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and then comes March 2026".
The vandalism of some houses belonging to prominent militant leaders from the Hebron camp has left security apparatus stunned. The dogmatism and the manner a hermit to native village was misused shows "Fanaticism cannot be defeated only by the 'decency' of Naga people".
The words are loaded.
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| "In action" -- But it's different - Moditva |
The true character of an individual is often unveiled in times of crisis. The same yardstick applies to societies and countries. In a recent article to 'Ukhrul Times', James Pochury had said:
"The real disease begins when principles become flexible. When leaders start explaining away what they once would have condemned. When the question quietly changes from “Is this right?” to “Can we manage this?
"Once positions start giving moral cover, instead of moral character justifying positions, everything shifts. Criticism is treated as betrayal."
By March 29-30, most Nagas if not all - either in Nagaland or beyond - must have realised the import of every word of the author.
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| File snap: 2015 - Blogger and Daughter Tanvi |
My friend in Delhi - a retired military officer - having served in Kashmir - advises me to study 'Punjabi nationalism' in comparison to Bengali Nationalism and also Naga Nationalism. It's a tall order and to start with -- appeared very confusing.
I quizzed him for a while and he pointed out among other things that the Bengali Muslims largely aspired to be part of Pakistan in 1947.
In West Bengal, of course the Hindu majority preferred to remain within India. But within 25 years and less than that -- something called 'Bangladeshi nationalism' had emerged and a ne country was created leaving Pakistan bleeding and humiliated.
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| Key Naga rebel leaders in China : Great Wall - 1960s |
The 'Naga Nationalism' spirit emerged under the leadership of A Z Phizo. The Statehood was a reality in 1960 and was seen as an achievement especially in the context of desire for Peace and development.
But the 1960s also marked the influence of China hands and things entered the next phase.
The reality throws up a few questions and the answers lie in the womb of time.
But some words from my ex-military friend make sense. What are the negative aspects around - something in common between Pakistan and some elements in the north east. -
The Rise of fundamentalism/radicalism/ even Tribalism
- Politicisation of Army (every key aspects of life and social structures)
- Commercialisation -- taking Bolero-influence of polity as panacea to all maladies.
- Growing tentacles of ISI (or some particular camp and so on).
My friend says even Pakistan realised at one point that 'controlled democracy' does not make much sense.
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| Public fury - Not without Cause |
The Joint Tribes Council (JTC) has appealed to the Tangkhuls and to all right-thinking citizens for peace.
A total shutdown entered its second consecutive day on April 1 (Wednesday) in Ukhrul town of Manipur.
They call it 'mounting public anger' over the killing of four Naga Army cadres in Kamjong district on March 28 continues to hit normal life across two districts. Elsewhere there is tension. Anxious moments have dawned in Nagaland state too. Reasons are obvious.
- Bolero-influenced Democracy can be worse.
- The 'Hate machine' can only have negative repercussions and cannot be controlled.
Bashing up a rickshaw-wallah in Dimapur, or mudslinging against some leaders and even Delhi-based bloggers and 'India-bashing' within the four walls of state assembly are not the same thing.
A few Delhi leaders have mooted a meeting of the Speakers of State assemblies especially in north east to discuss -- how could ranting against India within the four walls of the state assembly be allowed unchecked.
Worse -- as reports poured in ... the mortal remains of the four men (three Tangkhuls and one from Myanmar) are being kept at the office of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex socio-cultural body of the Tangkhul Naga community.
Their families have refused to proceed with funerals until a full and transparent account of the killings is provided.
Sources speaking to EastMojo website on condition of anonymity suggested the incident may be linked to illegal timber trade activities and a cross-border syndicate that has operated in the region for some time.
“How long can they conceal it, now that the issue is already out in the open?” said one experienced activist from the region.
A prominent Naga leader from Imphal described the incident as an internal conflict — “an act of self-destruction” — sharply distinguishing it from the ongoing external aggression faced by Naga communities in the Litan and Sinakeithei areas. “None of us are happy. There is widespread disappointment,” he said.
“But we must reflect on the way forward and consider resetting our actions to promote unity.” (as quoted in East Mojo)
Arguably, the Hongbei killings did not occur in isolation.
The Tangkhul Naga community has been under sustained pressure in recent months, with residents in the Litan area and Sinakeithei village facing attacks by Kuki armed groups — a reflection of the broader ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since May 2023.
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| Nagaland Governor and Amit Shah : Rule of Law and 'not of the jungles' |
ends
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