Lhilokronu (LK Naga)
Kami village, Phek
I am just a public of Nagaland but I was born as Naga by blood. I have a little knowledge of the Naga history. I am not a senior citizen, but I am forty-three years old youth. I read a few Naga history books written by Naga scholars. I learned many stories from them about our facts stories of our forefathers of what they had sacrificed for you and me.
Sir, I regretted when I was listening to your speeches at Parliament and recent press conferences. Being a true leader, please, do not deny the truth; otherwise, history will blame you forever. Every history cannot change because it is an action done by the past. History is not a word, but it is past actions. Therefore, history cannot change now and then.
Sir, I will show you a few important dates and years of how our Naga leaders initiated self-determination, independence/freedom, and sovereignty.
1. The Naga labor corps returned home from the ww1 from there they learned how to defend the Nation. Therefore, in 1918, they formed the “Naga Club”. After a few years gap the ‘Naga Club’ submitted a memorandum to the British Government through Simon when he visited Kohima in 1929 called the “Simon Commission”. This was the foundation of the Nagas for self-determination.
2. In 1946, the Naga leaders formed called ‘Naga National Council’. Later, on 14th August 1947 declared independence just one day ahead of India gaining independence. Both the British and Indian governments offered for interim government to Naga National leaders but all these offers were rejected because their demand was only self-determination.
3. After India gained independence look down the Naga issue. Therefore, in 1951, the Nagas took a plebiscite to show their strength to India as well as the world for self-determination.
4. In 1953, the prime ministers of India and Burma, Jawaharlal Nehru and U Nu reached Kohima and had a meeting at Kohima local ground. Whereas, before the meeting started the D.C of Naga Hills district announced no Nagas would not be allowed to speak for sovereignty/freedom. Moreover, no memorandum would not allowed to be submitted. By this announcement, the thousands of Naga delegations sneak away one by one. Only a few people were left in the meeting. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime minister of India, was so angry because he was so embarrassed and left Manipur's side with his head down. After he reached Delhi, he said, “Nagas were not allowed independence if even heaven falls, even blood runs like a river.”
5. In the later parts of 1954, the occupational forces reached Naga inhabited areas and started burning houses and destroying properties. Naga villagers went out to the jungle because nothing was left in the village all properties were burned to ashes. They lived in the jungle for many years, many died due to starvation, and many died due to the epidemic diseases but did not surrender. Therefore, in the early parts of 1956 occupational forces started torturing, killing, raping, etc. The situation was so tense, randomly beating and killing; therefore, the Naga leaders formed the Government “Federal Government of Nagaland” to defend our rights.
6. In 1957 the ‘Naga People’s Convention’ was formed. Later, in 1960, the NPC and GOI made an agreement called the “16 points agreement”. This agreement is accepted by the Indian constitution and to living under the Indian union. In 1963, the statehood was inaugurated; this was the biggest betrayal agreement of the Naga.
7. In 1964, Naga and India made the international ceasefire agreement with the initiative of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, and peace came to Nagaland. But the Naga National workers unceasingly went to friendly countries to procure weapons. Therefore, the Government of India abrogated the ceasefire agreement in 1972. The occupational forces started torturing, killing, raping, etc, worse than before. The prime minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, declared a national emergency and declared an unlawful Activities Prevention Acton Naga inhabited areas. The operation was so difficult to escape the Naga National workers. They operated all the jungles, even not leaving two stone bounding. Therefore, most of the Naga National workers were surrendered, but few Naga National workers “do or die” were not surrendered.
8. In 1975, the GoI and a few left Naga National workers signed a “Shillong Accord” at Shillong with the initiative of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. Many Nagas are still confused about the ‘Shillong Accord’ and think that this is a surrender agreement and a betrayal agreement. This is a wrong concept because this is not a surrender and betrayal agreement but saving Nagas when they are completely defeated. We all know what agreement points have been written in the accord. If this agreement is ratified or approved that means it completely surrender. But this agreement is not ratify both GOI and Federal Government of Nagaland. This agreement died when the Naga underground representatives brought back the decision of the Naga National emergency meeting held at Dihoma village to GOI. L.P Singh, the then Governor, angrily said that ‘this is an unacceptable decision.’ From there, the ‘Shillong Accord’ agreement was rigid till today. Even one word GOI speaks about the agreement till today. The GOI never charged the Naga for this agreement signed. So, from here we can understand this ‘Shillong accord’ was an invalid document.
I, therefore, request our MP to look at the Naga historical background again. What you advocating today is not the mandate of the people. The Naga’s mandate is only self-determination or freedom. Our predecessors were not sacrificed to live under the Indian Union but to live independently. If Naga accepted what you have spoken in the parliament then all the sacrifices were in vain. If Naga did not stand on their sacrifice, I do believe they might ask for their blood cost from you and me.
The history is too long and cannot be analyzed all in space.
