70 years of great injustice eye witnesses of Naga freedom struggle

Rev Dr V K Nuh

In the last few weeks, many thinkers have tried to understand the complex situation of the Indo-Naga Political Issue kept pending for last 85 years. When Kiren Rijiju, Home Minister incharge of Northeast India gave a statement “We have nothing to do with S.S. Khaplang for Naga issue”. Next day explosive situations followed at Tamlu in Mon district then at Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh and also at Chandel district in Manipur which turned out to be an ugly scene in history. It is very unfortunate that leaders miscalculated historical facts. It is now 85 years since Naga people’s struggle for freedom started with both side India and Naga paying heavy price. I believe Government of India does not expect Nagas will give up their determination.

Naga people were the last who fell into the British Empire that is why British rule 70 years had a shortest stay in Nagaland in the entire Asian Continent. Naga people fought Britishers for 48 years beginning from 1830. It was February 20th 1851 at Kikruma, the bloodiest battle was fought, consequently then Governor General of British Empire Lord Dalhousie at Calcutta adopted the policy of no interference to Naga Sovereignty. But still, disturbances continued under the British Administration in the erstwhile Assam by the Nagas. Then Khonoma battle was the last battle with Britishers and finally Nagas fell under the British Empire in 1880.

When time came, Great Britain had decided to give up her empire. During transition period for power transfer, Naga leaders then submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, then Naga National Council (NNC) follow up a Memorandum and gave several representations to then Prime Ministers of Great Britain Mr. Clement Attlee and Mr. Winston Churchill not to throw away Nagas to the ocean of Indian politics. However, they did not consider that it was important. Had Naga people helped Japanese people during Second World War at Kohima, Britishers would have been defeated at Kohima, featured as one of the bloodiest battle during WWII. Great Britain betrayed Naga people, therefore British Journalist Mike Wooldridge reported in BBC on 10th October 1997, “The forgotten war in Nagaland” saying “If you are from Great Britain you will be asked by some with great courtesy and to convey to the Queen a request that she should apologize for Britain letting Nagas down”. During the process, the time for transfer of power came; Naga delegates led by A.Z. Phizo met Mahatma Gandhi at Bhangi Colony in Delhi. Mahatma Gandhi clearly understood Naga People’s right. He said, “Nobody will force you to join Union of India, so if you want Independence why do you have wait for 15th August?”  Thereby, Naga People came back home and hoisted Naga National Flag on 14th August 1947 one day ahead of India’s Independence and sent cable message to UNO office saying keep on your record that Nagas became Independence.

After that Naga delegates led by A.Z. Phizo met Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on 12th March 1951 at Guwahati. But Instead of diplomacy, Nehru shouted at the delegates saying “Whether heaven fall or India goes into pieces and blood run red in the Country, whether I am here or anyone else, Nagas will not be allowed to be independent”. The Naga delegates were humiliated. Thus NNC under the Leadership of Mr. A.Z. Phizo launched a Voluntary Plebiscite that was inaugurated on 16th March, 1952 with two gates, one Indian gate and another was the Naga gate to prove Naga peoples mandate for independence, no one entered Indian gate. The result of Voluntary Plebiscite was 99.99% fingerprints (weight of 80lb) was given to the Government of India saying that Nagas will not join the Indian Union. Therefore, Foreign Affair Ministry called a Conference to work out strategy to destroy Naga Political Movement. In the meeting, Lt. General Wadalia said, it is enough for one battalion of army to suppress any kind of movement, which the Nagas or anybody else could initiate. However, even before the ink had dried on the paper, two regiment division and 35 battalion of Assam Rifle with Assam police was required and troops moved in to Tuensang Area and war had started in October 1954(‘My year with Nehru’ by B.N. Mullick). Situation turned nightmarish, it was an uncivilized war with Naga people, and they treated an inhuman being. One can’t imagine how much military expenditure was involved in the last 60 years. It was not political issue but invasion to Naga country. Then formally Federal Government of Nagaland was declared on 22nd March 1956. Later, Jawarharlal Nehru realized the rights of Naga people and their determination and capability. He gave full-fledged Statehood with special status to tame Naga people. But again he found it was a wrong move, because situations became from bad to worse once again. At last he agreed for Ceasefire between Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) and Government of India (GoI) for talks.

In  1946 the Indian constituent Assembly constituted a sub-committee for the North East India region with following persons as its members Gopnath Bordaloi Chairman N.V. Thakar, B.N. Rao, Ranadajoi Secretary, Rev. Nichols Roy, T. Aliba Imti and two co-opted members Pu Khantewu and Pu Sprawunga, when sub-committee meet at Shillong over joining the India Union.T. Aliba Imti who was then president of NNC refused to signed and walk away. He said, “We Naga people cannot sign our name to be under India. We do not agree with it and we resigned”. He also told the committee I cannot return to my people as a traitor.

Earlier June 28, 1947 the Governor of Assam Sir Akbar Hydari and Premer Bardoloi came to Kohima and met the representatives of principal Naga Tribes at Kohima, had drown up a Nine Points Agreement and signed between the NNC and government of India, which they conceded the Nagas rights which they already had under the excluded Area Act of Administration their own land and taxation etc. the Nine point Agreement was as follows: “The Governor of Assam as the agent of the Government of India Union will have special responsibility for period of Ten years to ensure the due observed of this agreement, at the end of this period the Naga National Council be asked whether they require the above agreement to be extended  for further period or New Agreement regarding the future of the Naga people arrive it”. (My year with Nehru by B.N. Mullick)

In the first Indian Republic election, Nagas boycotted the election and send back empty ballot boxes to Shillong.

In view of seriousness of the situation, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) held a Convention at Wokha on February 2-4, 1964. There a resolution was passed to bring about a peaceful settlement between the GoI and the FGN. As a result, Peace Mission was formed with Mr. B.P. Chaliha, then the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan veteran freedom fighter and Rev. Michael Scott famous Missionary to South Africa from England. They came forward and took up their responsibilities sincerely and made many contacts with both sides. Through their sincere efforts, they received positive response from the Federal Government of Nagaland, and they met at Sakraba in Phek District on 24th May 1964 in resulting an agreeable principle to which Government of India gave consent. Thus, cease-fire between the two Governments was secured and an agreement was brought out and declared on midnight September 6, 1964.Then the first talk began at Chedema Camp on 6th October, 1964 led by Gundivia Foreign Secretary Government of India but FGN delegates refused Mr. P. Shilu Ao then Chief Minister of Nagaland to attend the meeting. At last he was allowed to attend the meeting as an Indian delegate. Six Round of Talks were conducted at the highest level with Mrs. Indira Gandhi then the Prime Minister of India, unfortunately talks came to a deadlock. Again, in September 1, 1972 Oppressive and Repressive Policy Act of Indian Parliament Act No. 37 of 1967 was imposed. Heavy Army operations commenced and situations became from bad to worse. Tens of thousands were killed and surrendered and thus under duress, Shillong Accord was signed. With the passage of time, a counter Government was established as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in 31st January 1980 in Eastern Nagaland, now Myanmar.

Again Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mr. Thankin U. Nu then the Prime minister of Burma came to Kohima on 28th March 1953 anxious to meet the public but Local Administrator misguided and Nagas were not allowed to give any memorandum without the knowledge of the Prime Minister.Therefore, Naga People stood up and dispersed yelling in the presence of the two Prime Ministers. Jawaharlal Nehru felt so much humiliated, both of them went back to Imphal and flew to Sinkaling HKhamti and agreed to divide the Nagas without the knowledge of Naga People. Till 1937, Burma was in India during British rule, and then became independent in 1948 and Burma was no longer with India. By 1935, half Naga area was declared Excluded Area and still half of Nagas land was nobody’s land, neither under British nor Burma or India and they were called as free Nagas. When Burma was about to get independence, they called all ethnic groups for ten days for a consultative meeting at Panglong in 1947 as to what form of Government they will form for National Government of Burma. Naga people were also invited but people refused to be with Burma Union. They simply say we will be with Naga brothers and sisters. Myanmar National Convention Covenant adopted on 10th march 1979 at Thaton Karen state. The Covenant has 31 Articles and the Convention was called Myanmar because that is the Ancient name of Burma. The Article 13, the Naga are invited to join as a Federating state and the missionary of the convention will be deputed to meet their Nation Leaders but Naga refuse to join the Federating Covenant. Therefore they formed Naga National Revolutionary, and then turned to Eastern Naga National Councils’. Khaplang was President and again emerged to Naga National Council by 1978 at Nokpa. Then A.Z. Phizo was President, S.S. Khaplang was Vice-President and Th. Muivah was General Secretary. It is obvious that Naga Political issue cannot be final with peace meal. It is an inspiration of the people not by accident. Naga People believe that by race and by nature, people have distinct identity, culture, costumes and religion since time immemorial.

The question is what right India has to hang on in the land of the Nagas letting blood run red in the country for the last 70 years? Nagas have made three Cease-fire Agreements with India. Peace talks for the last 18 years between GoI and NSCN (IM) lingered on with more than 100 times round of talks but no indication for any positive solution from the Indian Government. An observer Simranjit Singh, then President of Siromani Akali Dal, Amritsar remarked, “India with its might won’t carry on the talks but happy to tire out Naga Leaders or win over with money or promises of power within the current Indian System that has been the policy in the hinder. India with all political dissent, if a Naga leader holds with their demands, the only alternative would be to go back to bush”.

We have witnessed the fact that if there be violence and provocations, a leader would talk but if there is non-violence they would remain quite. It is hypocrisy of a leader in the country who preaches non-violence and practice violence. Indian leaders are aware of the fate of North East India’s struggle but instead of engaging to talk of problem, they use force to suppress people’s right. If the trend continues to go further, India will lose entire North East Indian region which is surrounded by 98% international borders with just 25KM linked with the rest of the country. The Chicken neck of 25km Chumbi valley can easily be cut off from main land. It will be useless to talk about Look-East Policy if Indian policy of dealing with Myanmar does not change. And until and unless Myanmar becomes a democratic government, India’s Democracy would be a mockery in the eyes of the world. Any peace talk must be based on historical facts and an inclusive policy taken on account of all shades of people’s opinion and all Political groups who fight for the cause of people’s movement.

It is interesting to note that R.N. Ravi’s statement, “We do not like to repeat the same mistakes in the past seems more interesting that they have political will to address political issue between GOI and Naga people with inclusive policy and seeking public opinion”.

At the same time the general masses are seriously watching what the present state government partyless will play their role in this crucial time of history. For the last 50 years we have seen all political parties and successive state Government promises in their Manifestoes in every election assuring that if they come to power, the Naga political settlement will be their first priority but all became Crocodile tears.

May the great Lord Judge who is right and who is wrong!