In Solidarity

This is in response to the editorial “Naga Women Fight Back” (EPW, 21 January 2017). There is need for serious introspection, debate and reflection within the greater Naga Hoho tribes and amongst all other communities in India as to whether it is right to use “customary law” as an excuse to deprive women of their due political rights and representation. I have seen within our own community how in the name of tradition gender roles are assigned: girls cook in the kitchen and boys go out to play and the like that creates a pro-boy and patriarchal mindset right from young. This then becomes a part of the so-called tradition and gets encoded into the cultural DNA, resulting in gender discrimination and inequality for women. I salute and support the brave Naga women fraternity and all those with them in their fight for justice and hope one day they will succeed in breaking the age-old barriers and show the path to the rest of the world.

Geeta Chakma
Comment on Website