A brief recap of the year 2015

Nagaland woke up to the year 2015 with the news of its elected representatives being divided into 2 camps, one group based at Sovima and the other at de Oriental Grand Hotel. As a result, 7 NPF ministers and parliamentary secretaries were suspended and the crisis led to the ultimate showdown of the floor test on February 5. But it didn’t live up to the suspense as all the 59 legislators voted in support of the incumbent Chief Minister. Fast forward, in November the 8 congress legislators were merged into NPF and Nagaland created history by having the first ‘oppositionless’ government. The winter session of NLA as a result was finished in 30 minutes as there were no questions to discuss.  

Exactly a month after the tame floor test, Nagaland was shocked by the lynching incident in Dimapur which made news headline across the world. Neither the problem of illegal immigrants nor the morality angle of the issue could justify the horror of evil which unfolded. It was a testimony that we humans are capable of carrying out the darkest evil deed. It was a shameful incident and a total disgrace for Nagaland in the eyes of the world. The religious image of our Naga society took a severe beating.  

The signing of framework agreement on the 3^rd August between NSCN (IM) and GOI interlocutor gathered much interest among the people. Everybody wanted to know what was being agreed upon. There were speculations amongst the Nagas and anxieties amongst the neighbors but it seemed to be devoid of any major detail. Although any concrete result which will come out of any following peace accord remains in the future, there is concern that so long as negotiations are with only a single group, the solution to the Naga political issue will not be final. The year 2015 saw bloodshed following ending of ceasefire between NSCN (K) and GOI on March 27. It is also the year when NSCN (Reformation) was born. Nagas have been longing for peace and the longing is about to be a year older. 

The above select incidents do not portray Nagaland in a positive light. But all things considered, we ought to be thankful and believe that we have inched forward. One positive thing to take from this year can be that there is increased consciousness of what ought to be. There were lots of protests and these are signs of hope as opposed to resignation to the fate which has befallen us. By protesting, we do not take things for granted; we demand and fight that things should become better. For example, the sorry state of Corruption that we live in is of our making, and so will be the struggle to come out of it. The voice against corruption has been growing louder and louder this year, not least through the initiative of ACAUT. Although people still get away with it, there is reason to hope that practicing corruption is going to become more and more difficult in the years to come. In corruption but also in other areas of our individual and collective lives, we ought to never lose hope but look forward to another year.