My Days As A Hindi Teacher In Nagaland And After By Jagdamba Mall
"Shala Deshwali, mari dise, ami ke mari dise. Ami na chhadibo. Nak-sak sab
bhangai dibo, Chatani banai dibo." said a student who was roaring and staring
at to scare me. Fellow students caught hold of him. Some of them stood beside
me to protect in case he jumped over me. The boy abused further, "Shala bhat
bisharibo nimite Nagaland aahise, jene tene naukari pahise aaroo itya phutani
hoise. Naga khan ke maribole shuru korise."
Other students were trying their level best to calm him down and for not using
abusive languages. But the more he was being persuaded the more he was getting
furious. He was getting excited. A great commotion occurred in class VIII. I
was shocked, stunned and frightened and I could not understand what to do,
whet-her to leave the class and report the matter to the Headmistress or to
remain there, I could not make out. But even though I wanted to come out to
save the face, I could not because I was already surrounded by the students not
to prevent me from going out but to protect me in case those angry students or
any of his friends attacked me. A disturbing moment occurred. Teachers and
students from nearby classes came out to see what had happened. Soon, the
Headmistress Khrielenuo Terhuja was informed that a student had caught Mall by
the collar and dashed him off, while taking Hindi class in class VIII. She
rushed on the first floor of the building where the incident
took place. The students gave her passage and she reached to me. On seeing my
Headmistress who really loved me, I could not control my emotions and I sobbed.
Ganga -Yamuna flowed down my eyes. She enquired the cause of commotion but I
was speechless. The students narrated the incident. The Headmistress spoke in
Angami dialect and chided the furious student. She caught hold of my hand and
took me to Headmistresss Office room.
That was the incident that occurred when I had used a mild stick below the knee
of an Angami student while teaching Hindi in Class VIII in Christian English
School, Dimapur in early 1977. Headmistress consoled me and said, "Mall, you
are new in Nagaland, you are not aware of feelings of Naga society. The Naga
students are not much interested in Hindi. Moreover, the marks obtained in
Hindi examination do not affect their results; therefore, try to become very
practical and tactful. You should have tolerance, patience, perseverance and
endurance". Terhuja continued, "Nagas are not inclined to learn Hindi due to
social commotion in Nagaland. Therefore you cannot force Naga children to learn
Hindi. Try to motivate them. Make Hindi classes very interesting and enjoyable.
Attract children to your own personality. Give more attention to those who
really wish to learn Hindi. Try wisely to control the students so that they do
not make noise; so that they do not cause disturbance to
nearby classes".
When I asked as to how the habitual offender girl or boy students should be
controlled she said, "Never be very harsh to them, and also never use any
stick. If it is beyond your control, bring it to my notice. Ill see to it." I
was with Headmistress for about half an hour and by the time I came out of the
office room my eyes were dried.
In the recess, my colleagues -Jacob, Joseph, Ku. Angel, Rukunuo, Meken Sangma
and others came to me to know the cause of the commotion. I was trying to pose
as not much-distressed and was trying to bring a forced smile on my face. But I
miserably failed to do so. I was much humiliated beyond my imagination. I was
more hurt when most of my colleagues found fault in me for using that mild
stick on the lower leg of that boy who was throwing chalks on girl students,
making unpleasant noise, cutting vulgar jokes with girls and amongst his
friends and disturbing other students who were complaining to me to check him
from causing indiscipline in the class. He very often taunted and ridiculed me.
Headmistress rebuked him several times but he was not mending his habits.
Senior teachers had similar complaint against him. My close colleagues advised
me, "Dont get beaten in pursuit of becoming an ideal teacher. In return of
your sincere Hindi teaching, you would one day get your nose
broken and nobody would come forward to protect you or to plead for you. Nagas
would point an accusing finger only on you. They would try to find fault only
with you. If you want to survive in Nagaland, try to understand Naga psyche."
With heavy heart I met my Hindi Education Officer, IP Singh who was then
stationed at full - Nagarjan in Dimapur. I narrated the story. He said that I
should be very cautious while dealing with Naga students to avoid any trouble.
By this time I had developed close acquaintance with Prof. B.B. Kumar of Kohima
Science College, Dr. KK Sharma of NEHU Campus Kohima, Dr. Kishore Yadav of
Nagaland Secretariat and MJ Risbud who was later promoted as Chief Engineer PWD
Nagaland. I had many Naga men and women as my close friends and well-wishers.
What I found common in the advices of my Naga and non-Naga friends and
well-wishers is that I should not be over-enthusiastic and over-sincere in
Hindi teaching in Nagaland. They advised me to go slow in pace with the pulse
of Naga society.
I could not just ignore the advices of great people like Prof. BB Kumar, Dr. KK
Yadav who had served Nagas in different capacities throughout the prime age of
their lives. They held social upheaval responsible for developing such mind-set
in a section of Naga society. They also held New Delhi responsible for not
paying requisite attention to what was happening in Nagaland which was
hindering the all-round development of Nagas.
Though the incident was very depressing for me before I met these people, it
became an opportunity to know more and more about Nagas thereafter. I purchased
one after the other most of the books written on Nagas by Indian and British
authors. I read them as much as it was felt necessary to know Nagas. I visited
the Naga villages around Dimapur and Kohima. I visited all the district
including Mon and Tuensang. Though I am a total vegetarian and absolute no to
liquor or local drinks, I was eating in Naga families and sleeping in Naga
houses. It was a pleasant surprise for me. The treatment I received from Nagas
in Kohima and Dimapur was entirely different from what I was showered at by
Naga families in traditional Naga villages. The more I explored the more I
found rare virtues in Naga society barring very few under the influence of
insurgency. I found many underground Naga youths very talented and refined
person but due to compelling circumstances they were in underground
camps.
Since most of the Nagas were Christian and Christianity and underground
movements were so amalgamated that at least for me it was difficult to
understand this amalgam. It was difficult to decipher and discern the
Christianity and underground movement. The voices expressed by underground
leaders and Church leaders appeared corroborative in different words and
fashion. A Bible was presented to me in the school which was just lying in a
comer of my rented room at Burma Camp. But when situation demanded I picked up
that Bible, cleaned it properly and kept it beside Gita, Ramayan and Mahabharat
in my library. I read Bible thoroughly. I read critical writings and
explanations of Bible written by Indian church leaders - Nagas and non-Nagas
and also by foreign missionaries.
Thorough assimilation with Nagas of urban and rural areas, study of Bible and
Christianity and study of customs, traditions and indigenous faith of Naga
society enlightened me (i) that Nagas are our blood brothers and they should
not be held responsible for what they are doing today and for what underground
Nagas are demanding today. (ii) that criminal neglect of Nagas by Hindu society
is the cause of discontents in Nagaland. Because of this neglect some
disruptive forces have taken undue advantage. (iii) that the underground
movement was not properly handled. Harassment of innocent Naga villagers by
security forces was an unpardonable offence on some occasions.
This enlightenment quietened my anger and some short of attachment for Naga
society - underground or overground, Christian or non-Christian with no
reservation for anybody, developed in my mind. Later only after few months I
called that boy and said, "Sorry, I should not have used stick on your leg. I
was wrong. Dont worry now. I am not unhappy on you." The boy was simply
speechless. He looked down. After a minute he looked into my eyes and said,
"Sorry Sir" and went away.
Little more after two years of my service as Hindi Teacher in Christian English
School, Church Road, Dimapur I resigned and joined as an auditor in Accountant
Generals Office Kohima not for any other reason but for better service
prospect. I involved myself in many service-oriented activities in Kohima.
Because of my additional Hindi qualification - Rashtra Bhasha Ratna, I was
appointed part-time Hindi teacher in A.G. Office in 1980 to teach Hindi to all
non-Hindi speaking Central Govt. employees stationed at Kohima.
I have witnessed several ups and down in Naga society occurred during last more
than 25 years in the State. The positive changes occurring today in all section
of Naga society are really a matter of satisfaction. The hostility between
Na-gas and non-Nagas is considerably decreased. The hostility against Hindi is
mostly disappeared. Nagas today wish to learn Hindi. The elder generation of
Nagas rather regret for not learning Hindi and today every Naga wants that his
or her children are not deprived of Hindi learning. The hostility between
different underground factions still persists. But this is a temporary phase.
With passage of time, the wounds will be healed up. Hostility will disappear.
And soon, a harmonious and peaceful Naga society will emerge. I dream for that
ideal Naga society where there will not be any bloodshed, any hatred and
hostility and ultimately there will be peace, prosperity and mutual trust
everywhere. (Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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http://www.manipuronline.com/opinions/December%202002/teacherinNagaland30_3.htm
]
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