Ashikho Pfuzhe
Pughoboto | April 13
A little Sumi ancestral village under Pughoboto sub-division in Zunheboto district which has twice risen from the ashes still clings to the hope that one of its sons who left the village many moons ago would return with good tidings.
Elders of Chishilimi, the native village of NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu, hold on to their faith that just like “Kushe the prophet” delivered them from animism, so would his son Isak deliver Nagas from “foreign” occupation.
Ninety one-year-old Jehovi who had witnessed the complete burning down of his village twice in 1957 and 1959 by the Indian Army during the height of the Naga movement is one such person.
“We are very clear in our belief that God has destined Isak to liberate us. We pray daily for Isak, his colleagues and all Naga national workers. We also pray that God will grant us some more time so that we can behold the day of deliverance,” said Jehovi.
Reminiscing on the early days, the nonagenarian said, “He (Isak) was a different person even from childhood. We use to go to the field together. He was always very active and loved singing too.”
Jehovi said the turning point in Isak’s life came in 1959 when the village was razed down the second time.
“In that year, all our houses including granaries were burnt down by Indian Army. Isak who had come back to the village just after studies (graduation) pleaded with the soldiers not to burn the village church, but in vain. It was in that year Isak left the village and joined the Naga movement”, the old man said.
Asked if he still misses his friend of yesteryears, Jehovi’s eyes misted over as he blurted out “why won’t we miss him. Even after all these years we always pray that he will finally return to talk, eat and laugh with us. As for us, we only wait for we are too old to go and meet him.”
Isak who left the village 53 years ago came once on a flying visit to his village in 1971 (then in the undivided NNC/FGN) during the golden jubilee celebration of Chishilimi Baptist Church.
Isak’s younger brother Yeshito Chishi Swu, a retired school teacher and social worker, also shared the same optimism.
“I trust and firmly believe that Naga solution will come before my brother’s (Isak) death. He will not die before that. My brother always said that God will look after him and open a path for Nagas,” said Yeshito, who also served as Sema region secretary of the Federal Government of Nagaland from 1955-63.
“Isak followed my Father’s footsteps as he never gives up looking to the Lord for strength and wisdom. But whenever we meet, naturally we talk about Naga politics”, he said.
Their late father Kushe Chishi Swu was one of the first Christian converts among the Sumis, one who had walked miles in Sumi country to spread the message of the God who delivered the Israelites.
On Kushe’s grave just at the courtyard of the village Baptist church is a simple tombstone engraved with the words “Chosen vessel for the Sema land.”
Chishilimi village council chairman, Heito Achumi, said many villagers especially the younger generation have not seen “Ashu” (grandfather) Isak but only heard of him and his long, long fight to free his people.
Perched on a mountain some 28 km from Pughoboto town, Chishilimi with 90-odd households at present is one among the 4-5 Sumi ancestral villages from where the Sumis migrated to other regions.
Before the waves of migration, the proud village had about 700-800 households.
