https://morungexpress.com/tseminyu-to-kohima-a-historic-walk-to-remember
The recent prayer walks within Tseminyu Town and walkathon from Tseminyu to Kohima by citizens of Tseminyu Sub Division and their well wishers were staged as democratic expressions of calling the Government of Nagaland to fulfill its responsibilities of protecting, preserving and promoting its people. However, the question is whether any notable things can come out of these walks and marches.
Walks and marches have made significant contributions towards a just human society. Among boycotts, rides and sit-ins, walks and marches were popular form of non violent civil disobedience during the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the mid 20th century. On August 27, 1963, thousands of participants walked and marched to Washington, DC in demands for civil and economic rights for African Americans. The next day, the iconic “I Have a Dream” was delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr, and the aftermath has become an inclusive and progressive history. In 1965, three marches from Selma to Montgomery (87 km) were staged to express the desire of African American citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in defiance of segregationist repression. These Selma to Montgomery marches later became a landmark in the achievements of Civil Rights Movement and later the US Department of Justice would view the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as the most effective piece of rights legislation even enacted in the country.
Even in our own home turf India, the mass civil disobedience movement against the British India was triggered with the Dandi (Salt) March in 1930. The 1882 Salt Act gave the British a monopoly on the collection and manufacture of salt, levying heavy taxes in the process. This sort of monopolies and exploitations led the Indian National Congress to declare that it was “the inalienable right of the Indian people to have the freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and the necessities of life.” To protest against this salt tax, Mohandas Karamch and Gandhi along with his followers started the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram. The march lasted from March 12, 1930, to April 6, 1930. On April 5, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi along with his followers reached Dandi and there at a seashore he took a lump of salty mud and boiled it, thereby, producing illegal salt. This event led to more acts of similar non violent civil disobedience against the colonial British government.
In the Bible, the greatest event which shaped the faith of Israelites in their God is the exodus event—i.e., their walk to freedom from Egypt to the Promised Land. Despite much opposition from within themselves, Egypt and other foreign nations, Israelites walked. They walked in faith for 40 years and God chose to fulfill their yearnings. They walked around the city walls of Jericho for 13 times in 7 days, and God gave them victory. Peter walked on water because of his audacious faith in his Lord Jesus Christ. In the narratives of the walk to Emmaus, the faith and joy of the two disciples were restored by Jesus although they had walked with him without recognizing him.
The above descriptions show that walks and marches are expressions of serious meditation and longings for fulfillment of faith and hope. They demonstrate living and audacious faith in the Sovereign Creator who is merciful and delivers timely justice. They are democratic symbolism of the desires for inalienable rights, privileges and necessities of life. As a result, they always stir minds and emotions for action whether in support or in opposition. Whatever may be the response, the desires and aspirations for these fundamental values will eventually overrun all oppositions and take its deserving place since they are natural and designed in eternity. Socially, this grand and noble vision is achieved eventually when racist, tribal and political hegemonic and marginalization nuances are surrendered for the sake of justice, equality, security and dignity. These same values and yearnings undergird Naga political movement and aspiration for Tseminyu District too.
Now, the world has heard the plight of the citizens of Tseminyu Sub Division. Nagas have recognized and commend the notable demand for Tseminyu District. The case for Tseminyu District now rest in the power, will and prowess of the Government of Nagaland under the benevolent leadership of the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio. Similar to the marches mentioned earlier, the recent walks and marches must have definitely stirred either supportive empathy or antagonism and now it is only a matter of personal, sensible and kind will!
History has shown us that there are times when the hearts of rulers become hardened towards the same people who had asked for justice and freedom as in the case of the Egyptian Pharaoh and Israelites. The same happened initially with the white segregationist government in the US and the colonial British when the African American and Indians begun their civil rights movements. On the contrary, in the narratives of Queen Esther and Nehemiah, the king’s cup bearer, we see that the Sovereign God can even use gentile rulers to have compassion and support the marginalized people. It was only a matter of heart and will of those in power and the same applies in our case today.
In “Naga Hills: Tseminyu was the fifth Administrative Hq.”, Nagaland Post, October 18, 2021, Nillo Rengma has already highlighted the prominence of Rengma Hills and Tseminyu Bench Court among Nagas which dated back to April 18, 1841, and 1948 respectively. He also underscored the contributions of Tseminyu citizens, Rengmas, in the pursuit and formation of Naga political identity since its genesis. Then citing the cases of seven districts in India which have only one Assembly seat he has strongly stated that there is “no reason” why Tseminyu should not be granted a district status.
God’s plan cannot be overshadowed nor thwarted by any force or entity. If not in our times, it will definitely be in God’s perfect time. In the case of Pharaoh and Israelites, on the tenth plague God had to eventually kill the first born of all Egyptians to move the heart of Pharaoh as it is written “woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees” (Isaiah 10:1). Therefore, if not on the first demonstration, definitely for the tenth or the thirteenth times, or even forty years the aspirations for Tseminyu District will remain. History will tell us in the coming years whether the leadership today turned out to be like a cold hearted Pharaoh or the benefactor Boaz, from whom the royal line of Israelites like king David, king Solomon and Jesus himself was born.
Finally, “blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right” (Psalms 106:3). Towards this end, I implore the benevolent authority of the Chief Minister of Nagaland to will and fulfill the aspirations for Tseminyu District. I plead our leader to join citizens of Tseminyu Sub Division and their well wishers for “a historic walk to remember” and for the well being of the general Nagas by declaring Tseminyu District before the auspicious year of the recently staged historic walkathon winds up.
(this same article has been also published in Nagaland Post, few days apart)
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