L-R: Menuseo Khieya, Vishü Rita Krocha, President, Kohima Press Club, Dr Neisatuo Mero, Minister for Power & Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye, Author, Senior Journalist & Editor, North East Press Service (NEPS) News , Oken Jeet Sandham, and Dr. Neisatuo Mero, MLA during the book launch at Hotel Japfü Kohima on May 15.
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 15
Even as the Naga Peace Talks between the Government of India and the Naga Groups officially concluded on October 31, 2019, Senior Journalist & Editor, North East Press Service (NEPS) News , Oken Jeet Sandham on Friday remarked that, “even after the conclusion of the talks, the outcome has still not been made public.”
“Years have passed. Political circumstances have changed. Governments have changed. Yet, the final settlement continues to remain unresolved', he stated during the launch of his latest book, “The Naga Talks- Deadline, Deadlocks and the Search for a Solution” at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on May 15.
He said that it was this continuing uncertainty, unanswered questions and the long political journey of the peace process that compelled him to write the book while also highlighting that the book is not merely about negotiations and agreements but also about expectations, missed opportunities, political complexities and the continuing search for a solution that is honourable, inclusive and lasting.
Stating that the Naga peace process appears to stand at a difficult and uncertain stage, he asserted that the larger question remains- “whether the journey still has the strength, wisdom, and political will to move forward towards a meaningful destination.”
He also exuded hope that the book would contribute towards greater understanding and deeper reflection on one of the most important political issues in our history.
Addressing the launch, Minister for Power & Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye said that through family relations, Oken Jeet has merged into the Naga society, giving him some sort of emotional attachment in the issues that confront the Nagas.
Above all, he cited the Naga political issue as the most contentious, for which, he added, “we are still struggling to arrive at a destination.”
He also recalled the Memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, and stated that, “we have travelled a journey of 97 years, in search of a very very elusive aspiration, which seems inconclusive, unending, unceasing and still continues.”
In this regard, he said, “in 100 years' time, what awaits us, is anybody's guess”. However pointing to the way things are developing around us, he said that, “there is much hope” despite having missed precious anecdotes, events of the past and recordings as it is being done today, by the learned literary community.
With none among the Nagas in the initial stages of the movement to pen down the precious events which otherwise would have been a documentary proof to assert our points as we pursue our negotiations, he expressed that, “there has been so much blame and counterblames among out people, accusations and in pursuit of our dreams we had to encounter many ugly incidents also.”
In this regard, he further exuded hope that “with education and enlightenment among our people, we will have more truth and authentic records of such documents.” He also stated hope that more writers will venture out into writing from different aspects and about issues confronting the Naga society.
In the meantime, he also remarked that politics and our political aspiration has remained constant but that the society has undergone a lot of changes. He urged that it is time to relook at the entire sequence of events, stop and think, and retrospect where we would like to be.
“It is this generation which will be the people to decide which directions to take and follow. Maybe we are reaching a distinct point where we will have to take a decision for our people”, he added.
In her remarks, Vishü Rita Krocha, President of Kohima Press Club, said that “for anyone who has followed the journalistic landscape of Nagaland over the last few decades, the name Oken Jeet Sandham is synonymous with a deep, persistent, and analytical gaze into the heart of our political journey.”
Stating that the author is not merely an observer but has been a chronicler of our times, she said that, “his writing has consistently provided a window into the complexities of the Naga political issue—often translating dense, high-level negotiations into a narrative that the public can grasp and reflect upon.”
To write about Nagaland politics, she added, “is to navigate a labyrinth of historical nuances, diverse aspirations, and, as the title suggestively points out, frequent “deadlocks.”
Referring to the title of the book as “a powerful summary of our collective history, reflecting the urgency and the often-imposed timelines that have characterized various stages of peace talks, and also capturing the moments of frustration, the stalemates, and the ideological barriers that have tested the patience of generations”, she added that “The Search for a Solution” is the heartbeat of the book, reminding us that despite the obstacles, the pursuit of a lasting and honorable peace remains the ultimate goal.
In an era of rapid information and often “surface-level” reporting, a comprehensive book like this is essential, she noted while elucidating that, “it serves both as a record and a guide offering insights that might help policymakers, scholars, and the youth to better understand the weight of the “Naga solution.”
Highlights of the event included invocation by Arjun Chetri, Deacon, Nepali Baptist Church, Kohima, welcome address by Menuseo Khieya, who also chaired the programme and concluding remarks by Kopelo Krome, a senior journalist.
