Thomas, NNC Member
On this very day Nov. 11, 41 years ago the Shillong was signed and itis now a history. For the signing of the Shillong Accord, the Government of India (GoI) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) leaders had different purposes in those days. On the part of the GoI, they wanted to have the Nagas surrendered under the pressure of Military might while on the part of the FGN, they wanted to save the Nation and its political institutions from complete capitulation.As in those days Nagaland was heavily rounded up by the Indian Army and the Naga nation reached at its brink of doom.
In such time the FGN leaders have no option to talk with the GoI for a solution. But they decided to save the Naga nationalism by playing politics with Indian bureaucrats. In this regard, Eno Kevi Yallay and Eno Ramyo firmly believed that they could play politics with the Indian bureaucrats without binding themselves to any surrender of the Naga national rights. They knew that during a period like the declaration of National emergency, the Rule of Law is suspended and no agreement or accord could be valid.(National emergency was declared in June 1975 by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India). In view of this, they boldly nodded to the Nagaland Peace Council (NPC) leaders for peace talk with the GoI. Their pure intention was not for surrendering the nation but from such critical situation to pave the way for saving the Naga nation diplomatically.
The events of the Shillong Accord on November 11, 1975 is briefly summarized here below following the details given by Eno Temjen Ao, the last surviving member of the delegation as well as others when they were still alive.
When the Naga representatives were shown the Shillong Accord document, they were all shocked and at a loss as to what to say because the terms of the accord were too serious in implications. After a long pin drop silence, Keviyalie (younger brother of Phizo) asked the Indian leaders to please allow them to take the document back to their colleagues at Chiedema Peace Camp and discuss it before signing it. The immediate reply from Governor L.P. Singh was that such a thing cannot be allowed. They were instead told that in case they refused to sign, they can go back to the jungles and the Indian Army would resume their suspended operations. After another long silence, Keviyalie asked again: “How then shall we sign it?” Pat, came the reply from the Governor: “Of course, as representatives of the NNC and FGN. Then Keviyallie’s next asked: Does this mean that you have withdrawn the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act that has branded the NNC, FGN and the Naga army as Unlawful associations? Do you mean to say that your legally instituted Indian Government is ready to have an agreement with an unlawful association?
After a few moments of silence, the Governor and Rammuny, his advisor walked out of the room and went into another room and closed the door. After some embarrassing minutes, as Rammuny and the Governor came out of the room, Dr. Aram, the Chairman of the Nagaland Peace Centre suggested; “What about letting them sign as Underground Representatives?” To this suggestion, both Ramuny and the Governor agreed and said: Yes let them sign it like that.
Realizing that the NNC and FGN were not implicated in the accord, Keviyallie whispered in Angami, “Sign chiiwareiviho” It’s OK to sign it. So they signed it with their respective signatures without any portfolios attached! Next, the Governor asked his Secretary to come and add the words “Underground Representatives” under their names.
All these things did not happen due to human weakness and error or due to the power and wisdom of Nagas. One can only say that the hand of God was in the whole incident protecting the Nagas from political doom. God was in all the details so that the Accord became null and void in itself and the Naga nation was saved as the FGN leaders wanted to do. This is now in the national historical records that the FGN leaders could restore peace in Nagaland once again without political commitment to accept the Constitutionof India, and save many periled lives. I am honoring them as heroes of the Naga nation.
It is now a history and therefore by telling lies, killings or condemning it as capitulation, no one can change or alter what God has done to save the Naga nation.
