Many powerful protest songs exist and some of my favorites are the Chicks’ “Travellin’ Soldier,” the Beatles’ “Revolution,” Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and John Lennon’s iconic, “Imagine” to name just a few. It’s almost impossible to single out one, but for me the definitive protest song, without a doubt, is Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Written by Dylan in 1962, it addresses war, peace and equality, all set to a simple, catchy folk melody.
When I first encountered this song, sometime around 2015, it was an immediate and profound connection. It resonated deeply with me as a young man becoming aware of my Naga political identity. The song articulated the feelings I held about being a tribal minority who is powerless and voiceless.
… How many roads must a man walk down.
Before you call him a man?
… Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
My time at Oriental Theological Seminary in India, from 2012 to 2015, was deeply formative. The seminary brought together a diverse student community from across the Naga diaspora – Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and more – representing varied cultural, socio-economic, and educational experiences. Studying under the Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, we were collectively awakened to a Naga political consciousness. This awakening involved a profound appreciation for our Naga identity and culture and an honest and critical observation of the problems plaguing Naga society. For me this transformative period instilled an abiding love and concern for my people and their plight.
There is an answer for the problems of the Nagas. There is hope.
… The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
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