Society impaled

Ao Senden the apex body of the Aos including the Ao Watsü Mungdang, the apex women body, Ao Kaketshir Telongjem, the apex Ao students body and Ungma Senso Telongjem, have unequivocally condemned the malicious character assassination on veteran Naga leader Dr S.C.Jamir by a social media group under an assumed name in facebook(Meta) by questioning his genealogy and also denigrating the moral character of Ao women by referring them as promiscuous. The Ao CSOs have reiterated that Dr Jamir as being one of the founding fathers of Nagaland state alongwith several tribe representatives and the sole surviving signatory of the 16 Point Memorandum in 1960. The CSOs have also highlighted his vast experience in both politics and statecraft as five-time chief minister of Nagaland (1980, 1982–1986, 1989–90 and 1993–2003) and governor of Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha(2004-2013). These speak volumes about his contributions to both Nagaland and the nation. Further, the Ao CSOs have also condemned the highly inflammable and malicious inference to Ao women as being promiscuous. This represents a deplorable attack on the dignity and unity of the Naga family. It is shameful that certain individuals would stoop so low as to cast such vile aspersions, and even more cowardly, attempt to distance themselves from accountability by citing a colonial-era racist remark. This deflection not only fails to justify the insult but that the imputation also revives the very prejudices that have long been rejected as remnants of an oppressive colonial past. By repeating these derogatory assertions over the entire community, the offenders are perpetuating a slur against the entire Naga family and dishonouring the rich heritage of Nagaland’s tribal society. Furthermore, the attack on the women of Nagaland is far more than an isolated insult; it is an affront to the honour and unity of the Naga people as a whole. When an entire community is defamed in such a deeply harmful and baseless manner, it sows seeds of division and suspicion, threatening to sever the spirit of fraternity that has been nurtured to bind all Naga tribes together, irrespective of distance or disagreement. Such offensive remarks undermine the values of respect and integrity that form the foundation of the Naga community. In Nagaland, such utterances are unheard of since they are alien to Naga culture, where mutual respect and pride in their identity hold them together as family. In particular, the Ao Watsu had recalled how the women had faced untold sufferings such as mass rape of old and even girls besides being subjected to inhuman torture and killing of family members at the hands of Indian police and security forces. Thus, the targeting of the women in this case is especially egregious, as it attacks the very heart of Naga society- the mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives. By humiliating them without cause, these remarks challenge the dignity of the entire women’s community in the state and clearly attempts to shame those who are central to society in Nagaland. Such slanderous language can only be made by those who are against the Naga family which needs to be condemned by all who stand for unity and respect. In rejecting all these derogatory remarks, society in Nagaland must voice out to reaffirm their solidarity and commitment to preserve the dignity of the Naga family. Justice will be done not only to a community but to the Naga family after the cyber cell is able to expose, identify and book to those responsible.