Nillo Rengma
Dimapur
In the beginning of 1945, CR Pawsey, the then Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills district, Kohima, advised the Nagas to have unity among themselves and to form a Naga council. Accordingly, Naga leaders including Government servants met in April 1945 at Kohima and formed the Naga Hills District Tribal Council (NHDTC) with the following office bearers:-
President - Mayangnokcha Ao; Vice-President - Nchemo Lotha; General Secretary - T Sakhrie Angami ; Joint Secretary - P Sentsi Rengma; and Treasurer - Ruzhukhrie Angami.
Whenha Rengma, as the President of Rengma Tribal Council, represented the Rengmas and attended an all Naga tribes meeting held at Kohima Government High School on 10th June 1946, where the meeting passed a resolution that "all Nagas should come under one platform to fight for Naga common cause". NHDTC held its second meeting at Wokha on 19th June 1946 and changed its nomenclature to Naga National Council (NNC) with the following office bearers:-
President - T. Aliba Ao; Vice President- Nchemo Lotha; General Secretary- T Sakhrie Angami; Joint Secretary- P Sentsi Rengma; and Treasurer- Ruzhukhrie Angami.
In this meeting Whenha was elected as one of the Executive Members of NNC. He was an arch supporter of AZ Phizo – who became the President of NNC in December 1950 – and they became great friends, working together for the Naga independence movement.
In 1954, JB Jasokie sent a message to Whenha that Phizo could no longer stay in Angami area because of heavy Indian army operation. Whenha after learning this went up to Kohima with Gwanyu Thong and met Phizo at the residence of Kevichusa and brought him down to Phenshunyu (Rengma area), Whenha’s village.
On their way to Rengma area, they spent the night in the house of Zhadielie Angami at Nerhema village who was a teacher. Mezuo Angami and Kazhumo Angami had escorted Phizo and party up to Nerhema. Next morning, Zhadielie gave them Rs 20/- and they started their journey towards Rengma area. They passed through an Indian army check-gate at Chiechama disguised as deaf persons. They spent another night at Nnolo Tep's residence at Terogunyu. On 3rd July 1954, they reached Phenshunyu village.
After reaching Phenshunyu, Phizo, as the President of NNC started functioning his office from a rock-cave which was refurbished by Phenshunyu village youths as directed by Whenha. Phizo stayed in different camps in Phenshunyu area till he left for the UK in 1956.
While Phizo was running his NNC office in Rengma area, Whenha asked two local blacksmiths namely Shwenilo Kent and Tsuto Khing of T Zisunyu village to make a majestic dao with the word "NAGALAND" to be inscribed on the dao which they did accordingly.
After making the dao, Phizo alongwith Whenha, Nnolo Tep, Hophega Rengma, Zuheto Sema and Ivulho Sema undertook a “Goodwill Mission" to un-administered areas (free Naga areas) and Phizo, as President of NNC, presented the “Nagaland” engraved dao to Thungdi Chang who later became Chief of Naga Home Guard. Again, Phizo and Whenha alongwith Lozukhu Sema, Ivulho Sema, and Teka Ao, etc., took a second trip to free Naga areas in September 1955 and from there they worked out to form the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN).
Phizo, Whenha and other leaders chalked out the programme to declare the formation of FGN by hoisting the Naga national flag at Chiethu (present proposed Airport site), east of Chiechema. While construction of camp and arrangements were going on at Chiethu, informers informed the Indian army about the preparation and attacked the camp. They killed one captain and two sepoys of the Naga army. After this their programme to hoist the Naga national flag at Chiethu failed.
Hoisting Of Naga National Flag
However, Whenha and Rengma NNC workers found a safe place for hoisting the Naga national flag in Rengma area at PARASHEN, in Phenshunyu- Sendenyu area. Phizo gave instruction that the Naga national flag would be of rainbow colour and asked the Sendenyu Women Society (NNC women wing) to weave it as instructed. The women society namely Lathong Kemp, Khongale Kent, Keshenle Thong and Rusonyu Semp helped each other and wove it exactly as instructed and gave it to the President of NNC for hoisting.
The NNC workers and the public held a general meeting on 22nd March 1956 at Parashen, Rengma area, under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo and his most trusted colleague, Whenha Rengma, and there they declared 22nd March as “Naga Republic Day” by hoisting the first Naga national flag.
Unfurling of the flag
The Naga national flag was unfurled after the reading of Bible verses by three prominent leaders. Khriesanisa Angami read from Mathew 6.33," But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these thing shall be added unto you."
Kruzhalie Angami read from Romans 8.33, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
Whenha read from Romans 10:18, "But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world"
After the reading of these Bible verses, all the congregation said, "Praise the Lord" three times, and then Phizo asked Thungdi to unfurl the Naga national flag. Accordingly, the first Naga national flag was unfurled by Thungdi, Chief of the Naga Home Guard, on 22nd March 1956 at Parashen, Rengma territory.
NNC meeting at Sanis
After the hoisting of the flag, NNC held its general meeting at Sanis (Lotha village) on 13th July 1956, and about 4000 delegates attended the meeting. In this meeting, the post of Kilonser Chairman was created and Whenha who was holding the office of the President, Federal Government of Nagaland, became Kilonser Chairman after relinquishing the office of Kedahge (President) to Khriesanisa Angami.
The meeting also resolved that Phizo should take up the Naga political issue with UNO, and further decided to send Phizo abroad for the Naga cause. In pursuance of the resolution passed at Sanis meeting, Whenha as Kilonser Chairman, FGN, issued passport/credentials to Phizo, Khondao Yanthan and Imkong Ao to go abroad.
Phizo's farewell service
Whenha arranged the farewell service of Phizo at Phensunyu Baptist Church on 13th August 1956. Nzathong Kent, Pastor of PBC was the leader of the service and he read out John 14.14, “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."
Phenshunyu Women Society (NNC women wing) presented Phizo with a Rengma shawl, Anonthsu – the one worn by highest Feast of Merit host, which in common Naga tradition is also bestowed on men of high honour. In his farewell speech he told the congregation that he was going abroad to approach the UNO and leaders of foreign countries to extend their support to the Naga independence movement. In his speech Phizo also said that he was going to preserve the shawl (during his sojourn in foreign lands) and come back wearing the same shawl.
On the same day after the farewell service, Whenha escorted Phizo & party to Rumesinyu (Rengma Village). At Rumesinyu, before the departure for foreign lands, Phizo and Whenha took an oath to remain faithful to each other and to discharge their national duties throughout their lives wherever they might be. An oath was administered to them by Tesinbu Rengma, High court member.
Phizo started his foreign mission from Rumesinyu in August 1956. Whenha, Kilonser Chairman, detailed P Sentsi Rengma, Shweyhunlo Kent, Tsatheo Lotha, Zakievilie Angami, Imtimeren Ao and Kedoneisa Angami to further escort Phizo and party to the border of East Pakistan via Zeliang area.
The FGN re-designated Kilonser Chairman as Ato kilonser in 1958 and Whenha, who was holding the post of Kilonser Chairman, became the first Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) of Federal Government of Nagaland in 1958. While he was holding the post of Ato kilonser, he was captured at Phenshunyu in April 1964 by Indian security forces. He was imprisoned at Kohima and later on released unconditionally on 13th March 1966.
Whenha was a founder-member of NNC in 1946, and he took active part in the Naga plebiscite of 1951. He became President, FGN when NNC held its meeting at Terhotsuse in Chakhesang area on 4th February 1956; and within a few months at the Sanis meeting held on 13th July 1956, he relinquished the office of Kedahge (President) and became Kilonser Chairman. In 1958, he became the first Ato kilonser, FGN.
Therefore, Whenha was the first President as well as the first Ato Kilonser of the FGN. He dedicated his whole life for the cause of the Nagas and died a patriot.
(Any spelling error or historical inaccuracies is inadvertent)
