As we celebrate Environment Day, let’s plant new Visionary Leaders

By – Dr. Aniruddha Babar,
Dept of Political Science, Tetso College, Nagaland
WHILE I was struggling to read “Fennegans Wake”, written by James Joyce my hand grabbed mobile, opened Instagram, started checking stories and out of nowhere an Insta story appeared which caught my attention. There was a dark background against which something was written, I started reading- it was a beautiful quote-”As we celebrate Environment Day, let’s plant new visionary leaders”. This story was reeled by my disciple and friendHolonto S Zhimomi, who is currently serving as a President of National Student’s Union of India (Zunheboto).
IMMEDIATELY my mind went back intomy early days at Tetso College. I met Holontofor the first time. I was his Professor. We spent some good time together discussing practical realities of the politics of Nagaland. We then had a small group consist ofHolonto, Ghukha, Hito and Myself in our Political Science Honours Class. The bonding was possible because of our common interest in Nagaland Politics and Constitutional Law. The best thing about these three guys was they all were super progressive in thoughts and very much critical and opinionated about everything that happens in state of Nagaland and India. Ghukha had a contemplative, thoughtful nature (he would write in local newspapers) whereas Holonto was thoughtful but bit aggressive and action oriented whereas Hito was silent, soft spoken, sophisticated guy.The general Canteen discussion would always revolve around Indo-Naga Political Talks, Tribalism, Constitutional Rights, Human Rights, Criminal Justice System, Art 32, Art 226, Art. 371(A),Constitutional Remedies so on and so forth. However, the focal point of our discussion was always the ‘Leadership Crisis’ in Nagaland.
Holontowas at the forefront articulating his theories about an ideal leader and governance. I recall, we collectively formed a consensual understanding about the solution to bring out Nagaland from the socio-economic-political crisis that has been haunting every strata of society. The solution that we envisioned conceptualized a model of ‘Leadership’ which gave us answers to help solve the current leadership crisis that visibly evidently marred by corruption, tribalism, nepotism, short sightedness, self-interests, petty politics etc. We then collectively understood and agreed upon a fact that Nagaland has no dearth of leaders. We have leaders everywhere. We have leaders in Family, we have leaders in Clan, We have leaders in Tribes, We have leaders in Church; ALSO we have student union leaders- leaders have been flooding and mushrooming in every corner of Nagaland. Hence, having leaders is never a problem in our society and the state. The Leadership crisis exist in Nagaland because our state produced herds of leaders after leaders, however it absolutely FAILED to produce even a single ‘STATESMAN’.
Moreover, to quoteMosaSangtam who would often say, “The Nagas Needs a Statesman like DrAmbedkar”. He often used to make this statement probably not just because of his natural attraction to the Scholarship of Dr. BabasahebAmbedkar but because of an organic ‘Global Appeal’ in his Leadership. Despite born in Untouchable Caste, Ambedkar was never a leader of hiscommunity alone but sacrificed life to construct the nation of the people.Ambedkar never played a petty, revenge politics nor did he ever played selfish tactics to give benefit to his own community. DrAmbedkar was a global leader with a global vision, so the Nagas need someone like him-a Statesman-free from Tribal identity, with an open minded approach, progressive thought process, unconditional & absolute commitment to the principles of Democracy & Rule of Law, desire to construct new, modern Nagaland and strong ability to contribute to the growth and success story of India. Mosa would teach us.
All these thoughts gathered in my mind as I kept focusing on the quote of Holonto-”As we celebrate Environment Day, let’s plant new visionary leaders”. At the outset, we have to understand one thing very clearly that leaders are not born independent of societal influence-the leaders will be nothing but the extension and reflection of the conscience of society in which they are born. However, the state of nature of the mind of such organic leadership is something that needs to be focused upon. Here I really want to put forth the example of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. As a leader of the nation he remained steadfast to the final goals of his mission that was to construct a new India, to establish the Rule of Law in Indian society, to stitch an unbreakablesocio-political fabric of liberal democratic principles, and achieve Justice-Social, Economic and Political for ALL. As what Mosawould often emphasized, even me, I fail to see any other model of leadership except that of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, suitable and applicable for the state of Nagaland.
However, there is a rider to the arguments. A leader, howsoever visionary, will not be able to bring transformation in the society unless and until society is willing to facilitate and channelize his vision. The PEOPLE is the soul of any democracy. It is not just the leaders and the statesmen, but also the PEOPLE that bring transformation in the society. For Dr. Ambedkar, “the people” was not a homogeneous category that glowed with the rosy hue of righteousness but a large complex of sets and sub-sets of groups and societies that gradually evolved over the period of time with a strange sense of ‘social binaries’ and ego of ‘superiority over others’.
As a statesman and Architect of modern India Dr.Ambedkar’s main concern was to legalize “Constitutional Morality” over the traditional, social/cultural morality of the caste system as he feared if the traditional structure of Indian society is not put under strict legal scrutiny there is a high possibility that its undercurrents would imprison depressed classes for eternity in the ages to come in Independent India. Speaking in the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1948, he said, “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realize that our people have yet to learn it. Democracy in India is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.”
As a student of Law, Political Science and Sociology I find relevance of DrAmbedkar’s observations to the present day situation in Nagaland where tribes evolved independently in watertight compartments in the form of Village Republics as unique political, social and economic units. Their social evolution characterized by gradual and systematic development of their own unique set of customs and traditions. One tribe does not understand the spoken language of other tribe. In such a social endosmosis generations of the Nagas grew and experienced various cultural, political, economic and social upheavals at various crossroads in the historical timeline of their journey as distinct people. As time passes, with the embrace of Christianity modern values entered our society, however, the change did not remain confined with the transformation of the moral fabric of the Naga society but further extended to the political matrix as well.
The whole idea of political leadership as we can see in Nagaland have evolved from the root of organic power dynamics in former Village Republics. This is the reason that the politics in Nagaland, even today is characterized by clannism and tribalism with strong patrilineal influences. With the arrival of Christianity, Naga society have made great progress. We have become modern. With the pace of globalization, the direction of our life also changed. International brands arrived in Nagaland. With the arrival of Internet, Korean culture arrived too. The ‘K’ Pop, ‘K’ Fashion and ‘Oppa&Unnie’ sentiments have now become an integral part of our life here. Everything that is modern, cosmopolitan and international in nature has been well appreciated, accepted, adopted and made integral part of the modern Naga society.
However,at the outset it may well have to be observed that the idea of modern liberal democracy and political governance through public participation seems yet to achieve its full potential in our “materially modern but politically ignorant” society.The simple meaning of my observation is- people in our Naga society are yet to learn to become serious about their active participation in the political life. It is not just the leaders who have narrow vision limited to their clan or tribe or individual selfish interests, but it is the people too who have equally narrow vision and selfish interests, who are concerned more about social roots and the ‘material strength’of the candidate they are supporting and voting for.
When people do not understand the meaning of “One Man, One Vote and One Value”, they do not understand the meaning of government and the governance.The Right to Vote is the greatest right that exist in the liberal democratic system, however, to understand the value and importance of it proper political education becomes necessary for the common masses. Naga society have to come out of the sentiments and out rightly condemn the petty nepotistic ideas of ‘Father, Mother, Uncle, Aunty, Brother, Sister, Moilaga relative Minister asetoh’etc in political context. As Ambedkar says, “Political Power is the Master Key” which I believe can change the destiny of a common man, the people and the nation at one go. Supporting a so called ‘OUR OWN’candidate with an intention to get Government job, a Bike or a Car, or few hundred/thousands/lacs of Rupees, Bottles of Liquor or some petty, foolish favor is a sign of ignorance and political illiteracy. This is how wrong candidates are getting elected and the right once are being kicked off even before they start their political journey.
Leadership Crisis in Nagaland is painful reality of today. Even though we can theorize number of models of leadership and imitate great leaders and statesmen, ultimately it is the people who have to support and elect the right candidate. My Father often used to say, “Not to get discouraged by evil people and unfavorable circumstances, remember, the world has always been run by handful of right peopleat right places-strive to be one of them”. I refuse to believe that our state has dearth of good people, right people, but we need to make them sit at the right places so that they can serve us with all their might, potential,integrity and vision. Nagaland need statesmen with vision and free spirit. A prisoner of Past and Future can never be a Leader and Statesman. One who‘Rule’ over the present can only become a leader. A leader must learn to ride over the tides of time of the present and come out victorious to build the future.
Is there a hope for Nagaland? The people will have to see to it. If they want to dwell in the asylum of ‘suffering’ they can continue to do what they have been doing. Cars, Bikes, backdoor appointments, Money, Liquor, petty favors- everything is available- people can choose to grab them and go back happily to their home. However, if we have some self-respect, concern for the present and vision for the future we must participate in political life with open eyes and active conscience.
MY PEOPLE AND STATESMEN LET US UNITE TO BUILD “NEW NAGALAND” TOGETHER. KUKNALIM!