Speech of Gen (Retd) Viyalie Metha, Kedahge, FGN on the 62nd Republic Day of Nagaland

Fellow Countrymen,
On this auspicious day of our 62th Republic Day, I give thanks to the almighty God for sustaining our nation till today.

Coming to the message today, throughout the world, Republic days have meant different changes for different countries. For some countries like England, France, Italy and many Middle East countries etc, Republic Days have meant transition from ancient Monarchies to modern Republics. For other countries like Iraq or Uganda, it had meant transition from Dictatorial rule to democratic rule. As for our immediate neighbor India, Myanmar and Pakistan, it had meant transition from thousands of years under Kingly rule only to be ruled again under Colonial rule for over another two hundred years and finally to modern republics with the adoptions of new Constitutions. However, in passing, we cannot, but note that the Constitutions of these three neighbor countries have no connection with their ancient Monarchical past of Kingly rule. In a sense, these countries were uprooted from their ancient past and replanted into an alien structure of European and Western democracies.

But in the case of Nagaland’s Republic Day, our story of transition from a past village democratic republic to a modern National Democratic Republic stands unique and unrivaled by any other nations in the entire history of the world. I make this humble assertion because most other countries in the world have developed from some tribal savage pasts or an oppressive Monarchical rule into modern republic states. But in the unique case of Nagaland, as stated earlier, we simply transited from ancient village democratic Republics into a modern national Democratic Republic. In this transition, unlike our neighbors India or Burma, we also simply adopted a homely and familiar Yehzabo (Constitution) which was rooted in our ancient democratic customs and laws.

In the transition of modern republics from tribal and monarchical pasts to modern Republics, some few tribal Chiefs or Royal families have ruled entire nations. But in the case of Nagaland, in all her ancient history, no Tribal Lords or Kings had ever ruled over Naga society. In fact, throughout the entire length of her history, it was all the time a rule of the purest form of democracy where everyone was equal to everyone else. And it was from this foundation of “Pure Democracy” that the Naga Yehzabo was drafted and adopted on January 14, 1956. Subsequently on March 22, 1956, a Democratic Federal Republic called the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was proclaimed at Parashen in the Rengma region of Nagaland. This same FGN entered into an international Ceasefire Agreement with India on September 6, 1964.

At this juncture, I would also like all Nagas to take note of the stupendous strides and developments that were achieved in Naga history within a very short period under the able leadership of A.Z. Phizo and his colleagues. In the ancient past, Nagas had always existed as a separate stock of people with their own customs and culture. But with the passage of time and modern political developments, the Naga Club was started in 1921 as a social club and not a political institution. When a time came for the Nagas to assert their national rights, the Naga Club represented the Nagas and submitted the first Naga national memorandum to the British Simon Commission on January 10, 1929 at Kohima.

Then on 2nd February 1946, the Naga National Council (NNC) was formed by the general mandate of the Naga people as the first Naga political institution. Immediately after its formation, the farsighted NNC leaders submitted 6 memorandums to the departing British Government and 10 memorandums to the incoming Indian Government before the transfer of Power took place on August 15 1947. These memorandums had clearly stated all the historical, political and national facts of the Naga nation and also the independent stand that the nation had proclaimed. The NNC leaders next declared Naga independence on 14 August 1947, and followed up that event with the conduct of the Naga national Plebiscite on May 16, 1951. The NNC further established the Naga Supreme Court on July 4, 1954, and as mentioned earlier, adopted the Yehzabo of Nagaland on January 14, 1956 and established the Federal Republic of Nagaland on March 22, 1956.

Such strides and leaps from a state of nascent nationhood into full institutionalized nationhood was achieved in such short a time, only because our national affairs were guided by knowledgeable leaders who were men of courage committed to the nation’s welfare and future. The entire period of these rapid changes took them only 27 years (1929-1956) -or more precisely in NNC terms, only 10 years to accomplish! (1946-1956). On the other hand, in the case of India, though the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, it took that Congress 65 years to achieve their Republic day only on January 26, 1950. In fact, many other nations in the world too, had taken hundreds of years to transform themselves from a nascent state into an institutionalized state.

Today as we celebrate our 62st Republic Day, all Nagas must remember the pioneer leaders of the NNC and salute their splendid services rendered to the nation. The entire nation must remember that it was these patriotic leaders who laid down the foundation of our nationhood.

On this auspicious day, the nation also must remember the events that followed the inauguration of the Federal Republic of Nagaland in 1956. But due to heavy Indian military operations and attack of the planned site, the venue was hurriedly changed to Parashen in the Rengma region and inaugurated there.

Although the burning of villages in Nagaland had started in the Tuensang Division at Huker as early as April 18, 1955, the mass burning of villages all over Nagaland was unleashed as soon as our Naga Republic Day was inaugurated on March 22, 1956. In this mass burning of villages and forced dispersions into the jungles, hundreds of thousands of Nagas perished from bullets, starvation and diseases between 1956 and 1957 alone. In the end, more than 645 Naga villages were burnt to ashes. The fields of these villages also could not be cultivated for years due to the relentless army operations in their lands.

But in spite of all the trials and sufferings that our nation had undergone in all the past years, God on his part has faithfully preserved our republic which was in the first place dedicated to His name and glory on the 22nd March 1956.

If the present generation would however betray all the sacrifices and achievements that our pioneering fathers have established and instead surrender our republic to another country, then this generation will have to live the rest of their lives in shame and infamy.

God almighty, who is the giver of our nationality and our country forbid that such a tragedy should ever overtake our nation. On the contrary, may our republic, dedicated with the commitment of Nagaland for Christ and established with the blood of so many martyrs finally become a beacon of light for Asia and even the whole world.

Long live- The Federal Republic of Nagaland.
KUKNALIM