Sir, I am clearly not even close to your achievements and status in terms of knowledge and experience but I must say I was intrigued by your piece and the opinions you had shared with regards to the Naga Movement and how invalid it was. I for one appreciate your honest views and your observation based on which you had shared the piece. I am just an average everyday Naga youth of this generation and I have no links to any National groups or any party that speaks or writes for or against the Naga movement. You have compared the Naga Movement to a lot of other events that has happened across the world and you’ve given enough justification on those. Even though those are your honest opinions I must disagree on how “invalid” the Naga Movement actually is and what exactly is the reality.
Kohima and Dimapur alone do not make up Nagaland or the Naga’s Land. It is just 10% of the total population of the Naga inhabitant areas. Racially, traditionally and historically the Naga people are spread across Arunachal, Assam, Manipur and Myanmar. Our people were divided against our will for political domination. The International boundary pillar dividing Nagas of India and Myanmar Nagas was constructed in the year 1970-71, but our people destroyed and pulled down the pillar of division deciding to live as one. When India got independence and the Brit’s were packing up to leave India, under the leadership of AZ Phizo we requested to be left alone (appeal to the Simon Commission). When the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru asked us to come under the constitution of India, we stood our ground wanting to be left alone and denied it, thereafter forceful occupation by India began which involved murders, rapes and all the atrocities you can think of, which according to you is “Invalid”. When we’ve denied the constitution of India and told them to leave us alone and they (India) used their military might to silence the Naga People, that should be enough of a reason for someone to understand why the Naga Freedom movement actually started or whether it’s valid or invalid.
I am not from a Naga Nationalist family and speaking in general we were never taught to hate the Indians or feel any different. We just learned our history, our struggle and we came to a conclusion not influenced by any other party but with our own understanding that the Naga people, our people have been subjugated to forceful occupation and we had suffered a hell lot just like any other nation that was once fighting for Independence. We don’t hate the Indians, No, we just want them to understand we can co-exist as different entities.
Why did America fight for its Independence? Racially the Brits and the Americans are same, they are all “white”, they just have different accent, so why did they fight for independence? They could have merged together and lived happily ever after but that was not the case isn’t it? They fought because they were FREE people, just like my people, the Naga’s, we are free people. It’s something that is built inside the human DNA to be free and no matter what, the desire drives us to work and achieve that goal.
The Integrity of India which you have highlighted to be honest is none of our concern, I really do not see the logic behind asking us to consider the Integrity of India when India is forcefully occupying a land that is not theirs from the first place. The Naga Movement, which you’ve stated as invalid would not have existed if only India didn’t show off her power and occupied the Naga’s land against their wish. To be blunt, it’s not like our People were part of India and one sunny afternoon we decided to part ways from India, that’s not the case, I would have agreed on your “Invalid” statements if it were so. If India is concerned about their integrity or security against China or any other elements then they should come in terms with the Naga people and not show their military might which would definitely backfire and that is what Kaka Iralu was referring to if I am not wrong, bloodshed is never one way. There are so many examples across the world to prove that not a single forceful occupation in the history of mankind survived, each one of them were overthrown. The will of the people is stronger than any force in this world, the freedom of choice to be or not to be is what makes us humans. The 1951 plebiscite was the first time the Naga people irrespective of tribe, traditions came under one banner to show the world we are FREE people, it can be so many things but not “Invalid”. It’s the aspirations of our people that has been silenced and denied for far too long.
“The vast majority of people in Nagaland are comfortable enough under the present laws that they will not risk all of their benefits to gain a separate nation” By “vast Majority” I am guessing you are stating this based on the living standard of the people in Kohima and Dimapur but the actual ground reality is that they are just some handful of people who enjoys that status compared to the overall population and I can guarantee you the Naga Movement is much more than getting into a dilemma of whether to give up on those people comfort or not. Asking us to forsake our right and compare ourselves or try to become like the Afro American Community of the United States is absurd. First of all they were brought to be slaves, rooted out from their homeland considered as less of a human being. As much as their status has improved one cannot possibly compare the Naga people with the Afro American community. The Naga people were never slaves, we were not rooted out of our land and taken to a foreign land, we are demanding the outsiders to leave our land and there is a huge difference.
To sum it all, I could not see any “invalid” reasons as you’ve stressed so much on when it comes to Naga National Movement, maybe it’s the rawness in us or just pure will and aspirations as FREE people. The Naga National Freedom movement stands as one of the world’s oldest Freedom movement and it shall continue to be until the day our voices are heard and we get what we deserve. The 2015 August 3rd peace Accord signed between the Indian Government led by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Naga Political Group is a clear sign that the Indian Government acknowledges the rights of the Naga people and it needs an amicable solution.
Your observation on corruption and greed which has riddled the current Naga society is indeed the reality but it does not matter nor qualify to diminish or challenge the essence of the Naga Movement which stands as genuine as the day it started. For now, our generation will bridge the gap that was created because of the Political division of our people and every day we feel much closer than before.
We know who we are, what was our history and what we want, only time will tell and history will note.
Atsung Imchen
