Nagas Under Assault of Westernization

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Westernisation threat to Naga culture

By N.C. Zeliang

 

Zeliangrong Heraka Association believes that `Loss of religion is

loss of culture and loss of culture is loss of identity'. Genuine

cultural identity of any society is comprised of indigenous religion,

native culture, language, glorious history of forefathers, art and

crafts, rites and rituals, traditional village institutions and

customary laws. We work to enhance every component of Naga identity.

Today, it has become a fashion in Naga society to talk about Naga

identity while cutting the roots of every component that constitute

genuine Naga identity. Wearing costly dresses, singing pop-songs,

drinking foreign whisky and rum, disco-dance, beauty pageants,

violation of civic rules and disobedience in the name of civil

liberty, indecent dress and heinous deeds, etc. are not the symbol of

Naga identity. It is in fact the state of confusion and perversion.

Unfortunately, the disrespect to law of the land, violation of

customary laws, dereliction of government duties, neglect of social

responsibilities, embezzlement of public money, behaving as a mafia

don, disrespect of Naga religion and traditional festivals and

gasconadors and impostors posing as the spiritual awakener and

saviour of the soul are being considered as symbol of progressiveness

and advancement. High rate of consumption of intoxicants by Naga

youths, boys and girls have led to many maladies including the spread

of killer HIV/AIDS.

 

The root cause of all these problems lie in the adoption of western

way of life hedonic consumerism and disrespect of Naga religion and

culture. If we wish to save Naga society from doom and downfall we

have to return to our forefathers' root. Westernisation in the name

of modernisation is dangerous. Modernisation and economic development

should be brought over in tune with Naga indigenous religion,

culture, heritage, arts and crafts, customs and customary laws, etc.

A lasting peace must return to Nagaland for perfect and permanent

prosperity.

 

Under the influence of western culture, it has become the fashion to

discard, dishonour and disown our own forefathers and condemn them as

head-hunter, naked, wild, pagan and heathen. But whose forefathers

were not so in pre-Vedic periods? Pre-historic people were nomads,

naked, raw-meat eaters and raw food eaters and very often people were

killed in feudal clashes. This type of human - history is common

throughout the globe. Our forefathers were no exception to this fact.

The same early men evolved Greek Civilisation, Indus Valley

Civilisation and several other civilisations on the earth. Todays'

people are proud of these forefathers because they were also

followers of their own native religion and they were not Christian.

Head-hunting practice in Naga forefathers was not a savagery. It

signifies valour and bravery of our forefathers. In any war, people

were killed. The victorious warrior is honoured for his courage and

valour. He is not condemned as murderer and savage. But in case of

Naga forefathers, some of our misguided people do not identify the

virtues of our forefathers and these misguided people condemn them as

head-hunters. It is a conspiracy hatched by foreign missionaries and

Brithsh Government in connivance with white writers to malign and

undermine glorious Naga history. Is it not true that at the time of

birth of a boy it is a custom in Naga society that elders of the

family and clan visit to newly born baby and bless him to become

brave like a warior? Zeliangrong Heraka Association upholds the

valour and virtues of Naga forefathers and works to popularise it

among the young and old from Naga society. This was the clear and

obvious perception of Zeiiangrong Heraka Movement, which angered

British rulers and foreign Christian missionaries. This was the

reason that they killed Haipou Jadonang on fake murder charge. They

also attempted to eliminate Rani Maa. But with the grace of Lord

Tingwang she could escape unharmed. But hostile elements worked

tirelessly to finish her and neutralise her influence on Naga people

by doing her character assassination.

 

If we wish to save Naga society from doom and downfall we have to

return to our forefathers' root. Westernisation in the name of

modernisation is dangerous.

 

Rani Maa and myself met former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi along with

a Zeliangrong team and submitted a memorandum demanding integration

of Zeliangrong people in one administrative unit. On the advice of

Rajiv Gandhi, Buta Singh, the then Home Minister, assured us to

fulfill our demand of integration and the file in Union Home Ministry

started moving in our favour. But the game was spoiled by the Church

leaders of our own community. Because of opposition by the Church

leaders, the decision was kept in abeyance in Delhi. The Church was

in habit of opposing Rani Ma. This time also they did the same. The

only reason for opposing this achievement was that Rani Ma, N.C.

Zeliang and members of the team were not Christian. They were Heraka.

In fact, Hindu leaders had also supported our demand at that time.

Thus, we lost the golden opportunity due to lack of foresight.

 

In the changed scenario at national and international level the

premier underground organisation is negotiating with Delhi for

integration of Naga inhabitted areas with Nagaland. On behalf of

Zeliangrong Heraka Association Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and on my

own behalf, I send my goodwill and good wishes for the success of on-

going dialogue. I appeal to Government to assess and understand the

ground realities in Naga society and do the needful for lasting peace

and prosperity in Naga area.

 

Because of our association with some national leaders and

organisations and because of our rejection of foreign religion and

culture, a malacious propaganda was made against us. We were accused

of being Hinduised under the influence of Hindu leaders. The accusers

stated that Naga identity would be harmed immensely under Hindu

influence. But now this fear from Hindu influence is cleared because

of the advent of mass media and interaction of Nagas with Hindu

society in rest part of the country. Educated and enlightened Nagas

are aware of world history. They are also aware how several

civilisations, their religions and cultures in countries like Greece,

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh,

Moracco, Thailand and Indonesia, etc are finished by the followers of

Islam. It is also known to them how the religions and cultures of

people of South Africa, native people of USA like Cheroki, Inca, Maya

and Aztec tribes collectively known as Red-Indians and several other

indigenous people of American and European sub-continent including UK

were uprooted, their religious and history books were burnt and their

worship places were demolished by Church.

 

Nagas have been living with Hindu society from centuries and they are

not converted to Hindu Dharma. Rather, Hindus encourage us to

preserve, protect and progress our own indigenous religion.

 

On the contrary, Nagas have been living with Hindu society from

centuries and they are not converted to Hindu Dharma. Rather, Hindus

encourage us to preserve, protect and progress our own indigenous

religion, culture and traditional festivals. Hindus believe in co-

existence, not in survival of die fittest. Today the world is

changed. In 1997, a team of 22 Japanese scholars visited several

places in Nagaland and did video-recording of Naga customs and

traditions. It was a part of their research to revive their ancient

faith and culture. Americans, Britishers and other European Countries

are researching and working hard to revive their forefathers'

religions and cultures. They have identified that lack of

spirituality and destruction of joint family system, have given rise

to major problems at national and international level. The recent

failures of USA in domestic and international conflict managament and

attack of Al-Queda on World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001 have

strengthened the fear of holocaust in the mind of Americans. They

are, therefore, organising Pagan Conferences to revive ancient faith

and culture. The number of Church-goers in western countries are

sizeably diminishing. The Protestant Church and Catholic Church are

looking towards southeast Asian countries particularly India for nuns

and missionaries. Several of Naga missionaries and nuns are working

in America, Britain and other American and European sub-continents.

Catholic Church is mostly dependent on India for Catholic priests and

nuns. This is the reason that all the denominations of Catholic and

Protestant Churches are pouring money to increase their numbers in

India particularly in Northeast reason. The first missionary- St.

Thomas, landed in India almost 2000 years ago but the Christian

population in India is only 2.5 percent. We must protect our religion

and culture from being extinct. Zeliangrong Heraka Association stands

for tills purpose. The Heraka Youth leaders should know the

sacrifices made by lieutenants of Rani's army such as Ramjo, Dekei,

Gumhei of Mbaupungwa, Areliu of Ntuma, Italakpe of Lalong and

Igwangtuing of Peren. This is not the exhaustive collection. The list

goes on and on.

 

It is good that Nagas have today realised the grave dangers to

genuine Naga identity posed by alien forces. The traditional Naga

festivals, which were once condemned by Church, are now being

observed even by Christians with gaity. It is a happy development.

Naga scholars should come forward to collect and compile the customs,

traditions, festivals and customary laws and publish it in book forms

for the use of posterity. While doing so, the collection,

compilation, explanation and narration of different aspects of

festivals, traditions, traditional worships, rites and rituals, etc.

should be original and exactly as per our forefathers' belief and

practice. The explanations and narrations should be free from foreign

influence. Zeliangrong Heraka Association calls upon all enlightened

Naga people to revive Naga religion and culture to protect genuine

Naga Identity. The Heraka youths should serve the society selflessly

in this respect with more commitment.

 

I also call upon the Christian community particularly Church leaders

from Naga society to adopt tolerant perception and attitude towards

indigenous faith and culture. The Church leaders from Nagaland may

think of introducing Naga customs, traditions and way of worship in

Church service. In Kerala Catholic Church and Marthoma Church have

adopted Malayali customs and way of worship in their Church services.

It can also happen in Churches of Nagaland too so that Naga identity

is not eroded.

 

Because of our association with some national leaders and

organisations and because of our rejection of foreign religion and

culture, a malacious propaganda was made against us. We were accused

of being Hinduised.

 

(N.C. Zeliang is the President of Zeliangrong Heraka Association. The

above write-up is based on his address on the occasion of 27th

General Conference of Zeliangrong Heraka Association.)