I send my warmest greetings to our people on the occasion of the 61st Anniversary (1951-2012) of the historic Naga Voluntary Plebiscite on 16 May.
From the outset , the Naga National Council (NNC) purpose always has been to uphold ancestors’ legacy of freedom, and in conformity with tradition, hand down to coming generations. So in the aftermath of the Second World War, Naga representatives decided to set up NNC in 1946 to meet impending momentous changes in the world. At that juncture, the few educated Naga people were at best ambivalent to an uncharted political future and our nascent country was totally unfamiliar with political imperative, let alone the need of central authority. If the Naga representatives led by A Z Phizo were not ready to act at the right time we know there can be no Nagaland today.
In the first instance, our Naga representatives under the title of NNC, declared to the world via cable to the United Nations Organisation that Nagaland will stay independent on 14 August 1947, a day ahead of British India was granted its’ independence. However, because of persistent hostile propaganda from newly independent Union of India following the assassination of the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, NNC announced to the world and invited foreign observers to witness the will of Naga people by means of a Naga Voluntary Plebiscite to be held on 16 May 1951.
I could vividly recall at first hand our leader A Z Phizo indefatigable preparation for the 1951 historic Naga Plebiscite held under the aegis of NNC that overwhelmingly (99.9%) opted in favour of a single national identity and reaffirmed Nagaland independence formally declared in 1947. Against all the odds, the unprecedented zeal of our traditional Village Elders, Women Organisation, the Naga Youth Movement and Volunteers played a crucial part in the success of Naga consensus that laid the corner stone of modern Nagaland.
Post-1951 Naga Plebiscite, heretofore independent Naga communities far from a cohesive federation reached an unassailable consensus to be a Nation, immutably entrusted with NNC. Thereupon, NNC President reached out the then Free Nagas in the East and the two sides formally reached agreement to merge duly enshrined in the First Naga Yehzabo (Constitution) that vested full legal authority on the establishment of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) in 1956.
While NNC was in the process of fulfilling international norms of a nation-state, shockingly, in total disregard to Nagaland sovereignty, the newly independent Government of India (GoI) ordered the Indian army invasion of Nagaland in 1954. Ever since, the unremitting massive Indian occupation army militarised tyranny in Nagaland to date paralysed normalcy by any standard that remains the unresolved challenge of our time. The question is what glory for India to trample over the freedom of a small country like Nagaland? Naga nation will never forget that in defending freedom many thousands Naga patriots sacrificed their lives and over 100,000 civilians, including women, children and senior citizens lost their lives at the hands of the brutal Indian army.
The world has radically changed towards peaceful understanding and justice over the past sixty years in contrast to India’s anachronistic neo-colonialism ambition against Nagaland. Nagaland and India never shared a common history so how can Nagaland demand independence from India? Clearly, there is no ground for India to claim Nagaland. The recent Indian Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh statement referring to Nagaland, “Whatever is possible will be possible even after 100 years but whatever is not possible will not be possible even after 100 years” is absolutely absurd. As modern India is far from 100 years, obviously the Indian Prime Minister cannot be serious in saying that; whereas, the Naga people are mindful of their 180 years (1832-2012) history of unbroken foreign resistance to this day. Our resilient people despite silent sufferings and hardships due to enemy evil designs are in Nagaland, not in a fictitious country.
Some of our people are naturally concerned with what is perceived as an interminable war and others curious about the state of play. Let us be very clear, Delhi blatant undiplomatic dalliance with non-state Naga dissident groups in recent years ostensibly as a “peace process” towards a “final settlement” couldn’t conceal India’s wistful thinking. Much to our people dismay certain roundly cursed parasitic group fantasise GoI in desperation to save face has no option other than circumvent NNC and FGN to reach a “final settlement” with a willing party to legitimise Indian occupation of Nagaland. Regardless of what Delhi next steps, what matter is NNC has Naga consensus.
Our enduring Naga nation has confounded the fast changing world until recently indifferent. Today as we look at what is happening around the world, everywhere people yearn for fre edom. As we trust in God, our time will surely come in God’s own time. Meanwhile, NNC welcome recent political changes in Myanmar and keenly look forward to friendly understanding on much needed peace in the region and beyond.
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo
President , NNC
