Dr. N. Kezienuo
Jail Colony, Kohima
When we think over about the core demand of the memorandum submitted to Simon Commission in 1929 namely “We should not be thrust to the mercy of other people who could never be subjected but to leave us alone to determine ourselves as in ancient times”, we first appreciated it but on relooking at it, we know that politically matured mentality of Britishers cannot agree to leave Nagas alone free without any administrative control from a Government because of their head hunting culture. They decided to exclude Naga Areas from India in the British India Reformed act of 1935. There was a vision to make Naga excluded area and Hongkong to be retained as the CROWN COLONY and Robert Reid, a British Governor, Assam (1836 – 1842) was entrusted to make the map of Naga inhabited areas. Robert Reid knew that the first Naga ancestor was Nanga (who lived with Choo (China or Chin) Kutchan as brotherhood. Nanga’s son was Alaphra, Alaphra’s son was Majora and Majora’s sons were Kapan, Dhai, Myanm and Tizü and Tizü again named his son as Nanga again (This is the legendary story of my tribe Kuzhami). Robert Reid found Nanga genealogy was spread in all the areas he had included in his map. Jawaharlal Nehru on 19th August, 1946, described the proposed British Colony of Couplan Plan as “The Tribal Areas are defined as being those long Frontiers of India which neither part of India nor Burma nor of Indian States nor of any Foreign Powder”. But the British after the 2nd World War went away completely exhausted and as there is no sea route (except by Aeroplanes) to come to Naga Excluded Area, they could not implement Couplan Plan and they had to leave the Excluded Naga Hills as a district in Assam, though it has been declared Excluded Area in the British India Reformed Acts of 1935.
Nagas (NNC) and Governor Hydari made 9 point Agreement in June 1947. At that time Phizo was in Nagaland and though he had not yet become NNC leader, he led some Naga delegates to meet Nehru and Gandhi in July, 1947. As they had informed Mahatma Gandhi that the Naga Independent Day was declared on 14th August 1947, one day a head of India. Phizo became NNC President in 1950. It is said that Nehru offered him political cheque, Assam Governor, Chief Minister of Assam, a Minister in the Indian Government and “anything everything” through a Central Minister (Shri. Prakasa) but Phizo refused all. He realize how India want to swallow us and on 16th May 1951 Naga National Plebiscite was conducted and the result was sent to Nehru. In 1952, Nehru once again offered him to be the President of India but Phizo refused. Nehru was then determined to use brute military force to subjugate the Nagas. It was said that PM Atal Behari Vajpaiya had, said that Pandit Nehru’s compelling reasons to take the steps BK Nehru years later was “a grave mistake”.
When Nagas could organize Naga Federal Army and declare Naga Republic Day on 22nd March, 1956 and fought with the Indian Military brute force who started invading war in Nagaland since 1954. Starting from Yempang Village in Tuensang area killing all adult population. After several years of unjust war of aggression against Naga people, Nagaland full-fledged State was created with 16 points Agreement & 371 A as perhaps a stratagem to break the backbone of the Naga struggle. Indeed Nagas are not fighting for a State Government but the creation of the full-fledged State of Nagaland was definitely a “step by step driven process of evolution” which is indeed considered to be better than a revolutionary process (Mazie Nakhro). It is true that during the past 50 years the face of Nagaland is completely changed compared to the fifties (S.C. Jamir).
Indeed today Nagas have learnt after almost 70 years of costly struggle that India just cannot discuss sovereignty as understood by the Nagas. No Prime Minister of India can risk discussing re cognition of Naga Sovereignty with any Naga Group as the NSCM (IM) and the NPG have found out again (Niketu Iralu) I am inspired and this is what I wanted to say “let us pray for a settlement which leaves out sovereignty, separate flag and separate constitution to be discussed in the future after say 10 year interim period like in Hyderi Agreement vide No. 9”.
As a matter of fact, the current socio political environment are faourable for both sides to secure a fair deal. This is indeed real opportunity to advance and order step of Naga political evolution. The process of social and political evolution among the people of Nagaland has been going on for many decades already although sometimes that evolution takes more of a regressive path. Naga people now have come to a near total dependence on the Government of India with no shame of begging for anything and everything from India. Corruption has become a way of life – a fashion.
We need to emerge to a brand new dispensation from the present culture of dependency, corruption and shamelessness. We have yet to developed sense of humanity and Naga fraternity in our society. We cannot indeed regard the grant of a full-fledged Nagaland State as the bedrock of the Naga Society but at any cost we cannot say to India “leave us alone” nor can we fully surrender our Naga Flag or Constitution at this stage. What is the safest or the preferred way of achieving an acceptable and honourable negotiated settlement to both parties. According to Mazie Nakhro it is in the once again offering India another opportunity of a ten (10) years period to provide tutelage in Statecraft as in the Naga-Akbar Hydari accord of 1947”.
Lastly, I wish to reproduce the words of Mr. Iralu namely the last para No. 8 or the concluding para in his write up August 14 – The importance of History in Nagaland Post dated 26.08.2019 with a request that our people will relook at the dawn of political agreement.
“The process of the Naga struggle, “underground” and “other ground” has been very badly damaged by us as discussed earlier. The process must be healed and restored. It will mean stopping the unethical, irresponsible, arbitrary ways we so easily adopt to “solve” our problems like becoming rich so quickly even by the “Underground fighters” or achieve questionable advantaged for ourselves in so many ways ignoring the terrible consequences that always follow. There is real fear the present situation can easily collapse and go out of control again – what will that mean for us, our volatile region and North West Myanmar eventually?
Even at this late hour if our leaders will read the signs, listen to God and one another, they will be shown what is right to save us. They will be surprised by the response they will get. Lead us to God’s superior plan for us all, not to your temptations and our suicide. This is, the needed statesmanship – destiny’s call to you”.
