Perhaps, I am one of the senior most surviving Naga National workers at present. I am a Naga first, but I don’t forget that I am representing the Lotha (Kyong) tribe in the national movement. By reading my press write up people may think that I am writing it through tribal chauvinism. But not at all. We have to project the plight and position of the people we are representing. It is our entrusted responsibility.
If we count our movement from 1929, it is a struggle of more than eight decades now. Thousands of Naga lives has been sacrificed already. Properties worth billions of dollars had been lost. Many had been maimed and many had become widows and orphans. In such cases, Lothas had made no less sacrifices and made no less contributions in the Naga National Movement. Lothas are a major tribe among the Nagas. But every strata of governance or administration Lothas are ignored or sidelined whether over ground or underground. Why, because Lothas generally are not aggressive, but accommodative and law abiding people. Again, why because Lothas are immediate neighbours of the Assamese who were more advanced than the Nagas in general. Previously, there was a close social intercourse between the Lothas and the advanced Assamese people. In this way, the Lothas became a little enlightened. Still Lothas are more enlightened mentally, though economically most backward tribe among the nagas. But our (Lothas) fully democratic mindset, our amicabilities, and co-oprative nature became our weaknesses.
Lothas are also a signatory of the Naga memorandum submitted to the British Simon commission in 1929. The NNC was formed from wokha of Lotha country at the beginning of 1946. The Federal Government of Nagaland was formed at Sanis, also Lotha country in the summer of 1956, where Kriesaneisa Angami was elected as president, Gweha Rengma was elected prime minister (Kedage & Ato Kilonser respectively) an installation and dedication prayer was made by then a young Lotha Christian leader who is still a live. The installation and dedication prayer of the NNC in 1946 also made by one Lotha Christian pioneer who had passed away. In the present context some Nationalists began to think that there should be a common Naga platform of the Naga general public to work for unity and reconciliation among the Nagas and to give logistic support to the Naga freedom movement. Accordingly, the formation of the present Naga Hoho was mooted from Wokha.
During the NNC time, when organized armed existence against the Indian aggression started in 1956, Lothas were also a leading fighting force among the Nagas. During the time Late, Yanbamo Lotha was the adjutent General of Naga home Guards ( latter Naga Army). And Late, Yikhyingo Kikon, was the first speaker of Tatar Hoho under whose guidance Naga common terms (words) were coined out which we presently use. Like wise Lothas had rendered a lot of contributions towards the movement for freedom.
Besides, in the history of Naga freedom movement, Lothas as a whole had not so far committed any political plunder, of course, there were some cases of individual or group surrender s. There were no serious political commissions and omissions of the Lothas.
Therefore, any political leaders and high authorities in any group or party among the Nagas ignoring and belitting the Lothas is very unfortunate. If Nagas want a unique Nagalim or Nagaland, Nagas should not push back the Lothas to the wall to think otherwise, I am writing this facts out of my deep love of Nagalim and wellbeing of the Nagas.
Sd/-
( A..Z. Jami )
Senior Naga National Worker
