Khrisanisa Seyie (Seyietsu) was born to Zhaviu Seyie and Diwheü of Khonoma Village in the year 1900. He was the only son out of eight siblings in the family. His early childhood was spent in his native village. He was brought up in an age when the harsh and bitter memories of the attempted British colonial aggression on the villages of the Naga homeland were still fresh. Thus, like many of his contemporaries, he was baptized with the patriotic zeal, vision and aspirations of his people and later on became one of the pioneering leaders in the Naga struggle to protect their freedom and independence. He was a God-fearing man and was known for his staunch integrity. His legacy and wisdom are still admired and cherished. He was always firm in his belief, committed to his ideals and honest not only to himself but to all with whom he was acquainted. He served his beloved nation in various capacities and devoted his whole life for the cause of the Nagas. Accompanied by his trusted colleagues, he walked the length and breadth of our land to bring about better understanding, unification and integration among the Nagas. His efforts contributed much towards the successful mobilization of the people and leading them to focus on their right to self determination. He was one of the Founder members of Khonoma Rüffüno Nagaland. Khrisanisa became the first President of the Naga National Council (NNC) in the Western Angami Region from February 25, 1947 till February, 1953. To tell the Naga story to the outside world, he and his colleagues undertook several trips and met with people from all walks of life. One such memorable event took place on July 19, 1947, when he, as a member of the delegation led by A. Z. Phizo and other pioneers of the Naga Political Movement, also attended the historic meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, spearheading for India’s freedom and Father of Indian Nation. In this meeting, the delegation reiterated the stand of the Nagas that they were a sovereign people, their land under temporary occupation by Britain, following a peace treaty at Mezoma on 27th March 1880, and that when the British left; they wished to revert to this position without joining the Indian Nation. Gandhi, on his part, assured them that the Nagas were free to choose their own political destiny and that under no circumstances would they be forced to join the Indian Union.
Thereafter, to propagate the cause of the Naga struggle and to secure understanding, friendship, peace and the goodwill of the people living in the neighbouring State, he also took part in the Naga Goodwill Mission to Assam from 30th November to 15th December 1953. During this Mission, the members visited places such as Gauhati, Sualkuchi, Shillong, Nowgong, Tezpur, Dekargaon, Bindukuri, Bokakhat, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Tinsukia, and Dibrugarh, meeting opinion makers as well as a broad spectrum of Assamese society. The purpose of the visit was to clarify that the Naga struggle was not anti-India or secessionist. The struggle was to uphold the position that Nagas were a sovereign people and an honourable neighbour of India who were sought to be made a part of India by the British unilaterally.
Khrisanisa was unanimously elected as the first Kedahge (President), Federal Government of Nagaland, in the General Meeting of the NNC held on July 12, 1956 at Sanis, Nagaland. Thus, he served the Naga Nation as the Kedahge at a most crucial period in the political history of the Nagas. During the visits to all the villages across the Naga country, regardless of their sizes, and the interactions he had with all Naga tribes in the capacity of Kedahge, he uttered many a memorable expression in the context of the Naga Political Movement, some of which are loosely translated and reproduced here:
“Nagas are not Indians; their territory is not a part of the Indian Union. It is the legitimate right and bounden duty of the Nagas to maintain, uphold and defend this unique truth at all costs and always.”
“Only if we seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God, we shall become a people and a nation with a promising future. We have been blessed with abundant natural resources. All we need is to inculcate good stewardship over our immense God-given assets. The issue of money is raised quite often; money can be minted by people whereas natural resources cannot be created by man power. ”
“The Lord has enabled us to overcome many a hardship in the process of our Naga struggle and brought us thus far. He shall not let us down even in the days to come, provided we too continue to obey His desires and have faith in Him.”
As a true leader, he was fully convinced that the Naga struggle for upholding their independence can only succeed with the collective might and effort of all the Nagas and this, he emphasized to all of them with untiring passion. Further, he was convinced that if the Nagas were to opt for anything lesser than sovereignty, it would be like throwing a handful of pebbles into a big ocean thereby losing their identity as a distinct people. As a man of principle, he exhibited his courage and strong sense of moral responsibility when he relinquished the prestigious post of Kedahge on 18th February 1959, as soon as he came to know that his family had returned to Kohima from their camp the previous day during the so-called general amnesty, which was wrongly construed by the Indian authorities as an act of surrender by them to the Indian Government. Nevertheless, even while resigning from the post of Kedahge, he boldly declared that he shall never give up his bounden duty towards defending Naga Independence. Thus, undaunted by the many shortcomings and hardships he had to face, Khrisanisa continued rendering his selfless services for the cause of the Nagas in various other capacities.
He devoted his last years to prayer and reflection and took refuge at the Chathe Prayer Centre because he believed his people would be able to take their place in the world only by growing on foundations of moral and spiritual integrity. He breathed his last on 19th July 1979, leaving behind his wife and six children.
Khrisanisa gave his whole life to defend the identity of the Nagas as a distinct and independent people, sacrificing all that was dearest to him so that Nagas may survive as a people and a nation in the changing world. We cherish and honour his memory.
Biseto Keyho
Former Kilo Kilonser,
Kevimerü Savino
Former Secretary,
Federal Government, Nagaland
