Nagas were sovereign nation and enjoying their true democracy and republican system of government but this was threatened by the territorial annexation policy of British Rule in India in pursuance of this British annexation policy the British sent a number of punitive expectation to Nagas territory during the middle and last of 19th century AD. For the first time the Nagas constitute a union non as Naga Club, Shri. T Aliba Imti as its President in October 1918. The desire of the Nagas to live as a separate nation is deserved and to proclaim this truth to the whole would found its passed their this Club on 10/01/1929. This Club submit memorandum to the statutory commission led by Sir. John Simon as its Chairman with Mr. Clemend Atlee, MP and Mr. E Codegan as a member visited Kohima. In pursuance of this memorandum the whole Naga areas were left as Naga Hills excluded area. Having presented the aspiration and given support to the sovereignty of the Nagas in formal function hoisted the Naga flag on 14/08/1947 at Mission Compound Kohima.
The name of the Naga Club was changed into Naga Nation Council (NNC), Shri. A.Z. Phizo occupied this August office on December 1950 as its fourth president. Prior to the Indian Independence in 1947 A.Z. Phizo headed a Naga delegation to meet Mahatma Gandhi the father of the Indian Nation in his Bangi Colony House in Delhi to retirement the stand that the Nagas were sovereign people under British occupation and that when British left, they wished to revert to this position without joining the Indian Union,. Mahatma Gandhi assure them that the Nagas were free to choose their political destiny and that under no circumstance would they be forced to join Indian Union. The Government of India refused to recognize the Naga Independent alleging that the whole of the Naga territory under British occupation would be under Indian dominion. In 1950 the Indian Constituent assembly invited the Nagas to join the Indian Union but it was rejected out-rightly by the Nagas and conducted a plebiscite on 16th May 1951 through out Naga territories and voted to 99.9% in favour of Naga sovereign Independent. This plebiscite result was sent to both the President and Prime Minister of India and then the Secretary General of United Nation Organisation (UNO). May 16th every commemorated as a red letter day of all the Nagas. A day for remembering the Historic plebiscite day and paying respect to our great leaders who had courageously lead and participated in this sacred event. It was on this day that we reaffirmed our pledge through historic Naga plebiscite. Declaring to the world that voluntarily we have resolved to be a nation, to be governed by ourselved.
It was under the fourth President Shri. A.Z. Phizo that this plebiscite conducted. At the same time on cannot ignore the decisive declaration of the Naga Independent on 14/08/1947 from British Occupied Naga territories under the pioneering leadership of NNC through eminent Former President such as Aliba Imti. This declaration of Naga Independent on 14th August 1947 followed by the 16th May 1951 plebiscite and the Republic Day 22nd March 1956 laid the foundation of our nation and this uniqueness is known to the world. The Government of India taking the advantage of the non-violent attitude of Nagas, they forcibly conducted the first and second General election in 1952 and 1957 whereas the Nagas boycotted both the General elections. This led to invade Nagas territories beginning from 1954 and sent large contingent of Army to fight against the unarmed Nagas. The first innocent Naga public killed by the Indian Army at Lakuti Village and operation and killing of innocent public speared out all over Naga territories on 24th March 1955 in Huker Village Yemchungru. People killed three armed Sepoys. On desperation Indian Army burned down the Tsashiry Village and Huker Village. The invaders did not event spare burning the houses and greeneries. The Yemchungru Volunteers opened camp name Longtok at Hopu Village. From 26th April to 7th May 1961 cannon shell fired from Kuthur Village to Longtok Camp. Likewise they could not conquer the Naga territory by arm confrontation.
The Government of India on the pursuit of political strategy convinced some Naga opportunist to sign the sixteen points agreement by which agreement carved out some portion of Naga territory, the present so called Nagaland State in 1963. However, this was rejected between the Indian Government and the Federal Government of Nagaland in the initiative of NBCC to pave the way for talked yet ended in a dead lock in 1966 since then the NNC is holding only the gold chain broken this is golden opportunity for the Nagas to come to a common platform for the talk for sovereignty.
Kiumakum Yim
Vice President, NNC
