Y Awomi
Dimapur
The Naga Labour Corps worked under very harsh, dangerous and unequal conditions.
They were non-combatant labourers sent to France during World War I, where they supported military operations while facing cold, disease, enemy fire, long hours, and restrictive colonial treatment.
Daily work activities:
Their tasks were physically demanding and often close to the front lines :-
- Digging and repairing trenches, filling shell holes, and maintaining roads.
- Unloading ships and military supplies, handling cargo, and assisting with transport.
- Salvaging damaged guns, ammunition, shells, boots, and other material from battlefields.
- Construction and salvage work, often for long hours with little rest
The British also exploited their image. Some accounts say the British used traditional Naga dress and weapons to create fear among German forces and portrayed Nagas through colonial stereotypes of “savagery.”
They were serving a foreign power’s interests. The war was primarily a European imperial conflict. Nagas participated courageously, but they did not join it to defend an independent Naga nation or freely chosen national cause.
Nagas should not take excessive pride in having served in the Labour Corps because their service must be understood honestly and humbly. They may rightly feel respect and gratitude for the men who endured a difficult overseas journey, served in dangerous conditions, and helped create contact among different Naga groups. Their return contributed to the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, which later played an important role in the development of Naga political identity.
Therefore, the proper lesson is: honour their courage, remember their sacrifice, and learn from the unity they developed—but do not boast blindly about service that also occurred under colonial recruitment and exploitation.
