Speech of Scato Swu, ex-President FGN
Dear Fellow Citizens,
Warm Greetings to you all.
It gives me great pleasure to be here amongst you to remember Late Khrisanisa Seyie, the first Kedhage (President) of Federal Government of Nagaland. Khrisanisa and I were colleagues and brothers in arms who lived through the turmoil of time. I remember him fondly and recall the circumstances that prevailed when the first President of the Federal Government of Nagaland was being elected, of which, I was one of the voters. I also dearly remember his virtuous personality. Let me place the following facts before you.
1. March 22, 1956 was the first Naga Republic Day, inaugurated and celebrated at Sendenyu village.
2. The non-existence of modem Election Functionaries in the Naga Federal Parliament had caused the voters to cast their direct vote to elect the first Kedhage (Union President) of Federal Government of Nagaland, by assembling themselves at Sanis village in 1956 on 12th July.
3. On the arrival evening NNC President Phizo made two announcements that:
a) The election of the Kedhage of Federal Government of Nagaland would take place the next day.
b) The candidates must be above 45 years of age.
4. The electoral body nominated Scato Swu for the presidency. NNC President Phizo turned down the nomination on account of age.
5. The electoral body held its second session on the same day and re-nominated Scato Swu. The nomination got turned down again by the NNC President for the same reason. Phizo was absolutely right because Scato Swu was only 32 years of age then.
6. NNC President Phizo handpicked eight elderly people inclusive of himself as electoral body. Khrisanisa Seyie was declared elected. Nobody objected to the election result. The whole assembly congratulated Khrisanisa, the designate President, FGN.
7. It is a joyful witness for an ex-president to speak in honour of his predecessor. We (Khrisanisa and Scato Swu) worked together as colleagues for three years. Khrisanisa was upright and trustworthy in all official matters. To him, the immutable Naga custom, culture, customary law and tradition were more valuable and stronger than the academic education or knowledge. He was the most simple and the most humble of all Presidents of FGN. Corruption was unknown to him. As a Christian he was a true revivalist.
8. In the Naga Federal Parliament there used to be no budget sessions from 1956 to 1967. The yearly house tax of Rs. 5/- per house was the only revenue of FGN. Being checked by the enemies, our daily food supply used to be very irregular, that was why the Naga Soldiers very often went to battlefields on empty stomach which the modern people may not believe.
9. I, as the Kedallo (Union Vice-President) made an official call on President Khrisanisa at Zübza Camp. The camp was reported to be without rations. The meal time came for us. Two Naga Home Guard personnel laid the table with two metal plates each containing small quantity of boiled rice a single red chilly and a pinch of salt. The two caterers said, “Mhapuo rei basa mote (nothing more).” While eating, we remembered that many fellow workers were not having even the kind of food we were given.
10. The message of Khrisanisa is:
Quote: “Udie bu umhozu siata suo.” (Let not our words die ahead of us.)
Khrisanisa was true to his words. “Poverty” and “Fortitude” were his wealth. He left for eternal home leaving nothing behind but Nagaland that he loved.
11. The message of Phizo:
Quote: “Urra uvie.” (Our country is ours)
Is there anyone who is prepared to say our country is not ours only? Disunity alone can make some people say that our country is not only ours.
12. The message of Scato swu:
Quote: “Bullets of India can never kill all the Nagas,
Money of India can kill all the Nagas.”
The Bible says, “Money is the root of all evil.” We ought to be warned of the danger of greed for money. Today, the percentage of money victims is higher than any other classical victims in Nagaland.
13. We are making historical setting by erecting the memorial stone of Khrisanisa Seyie, President FGN, to enable the future to utilize this setting in greater detail. It says:
“The new is within the old concealed,
the old is within the new revealed.”
In fact, it is the moral obligation for Nagaland to do the job. We are deeply indebted to Khonoma Rüffüno who took the responsibility voluntarily on behalf of the Nagas.
14. We salute and pay our homage to all the national leaders and co-workers who sacrificed their all for Nagaland.
15. We appeal to national workers to let peace and tranquillity prevail, that Naga people may feel a sigh of relief.
Kuknalim.
