The Nagas: God's people?

It was in early 90’s when I first heard that Nagas are God chosen people after Israel. I was young then and I just believed what I was told. Growing up in an environment where ethnic factionalism determines the outcome of politics and social life, to hear such ‘prophetic utterances’ from ‘extremely spiritual people’ was very much assuring. After all when the enemies of the Nagas: Meeteis, Kukis and Indians, have us all surrounded on all sides, to be assured that because we are God’s people He will deliver us all gave us hope even in times of terrible situation.

Somehow the idea that Nagas are God’s people seem to be still very much alive even today. Almost all Nagas are Christians, and therefore it seems reasonable to many people that we occupy a special place in God’s heart. This understanding is very common among those who are in the villages; and it is there even among well educated ones living in towns.

For sometime now I have questioned the source of this prophetic utterances. Whatever be the source, I am absolutely sure that the message is not from the God of the Bible. I am convinced about it because there is nowhere in the Bible that says God loves the Nagas more than the Kukis or Meeteis or Indians. Nor can we derive any such message from reading the Bible, unless we distort the biblical message. Though Nagas (in general!) do not like Meeteis, that does not mean God loves Meeteis less. God of the Bible, in fact, loves us all equally.

To believe that God loves Nagas more because God has chosen the people as second Israel is to have a distorted view of who God is. After all God does not do partiality. And having a distorted view of God is bad. It is also bad because elevating oneself that way results in looking down on the other communities. Finally, it is bad because seeing oneself that way prevents oneself from coming nearer to God by way of repentance.

It is important that Nagas try to construct its own identity as God’s children. Nevertheless, Nagas should not privilege themselves over others (or rather we Nagas should not privilege ourselves over others). Such moves will break God’s heart from whom we Nagas as well as others have been deriving identity.