Address of Gen. (Retd.) Viyalie Metha, Kedahge, FGN on Naga Independence Day

My dear countrymen,     

Greetings to you all on celebration of our Independence Day. I thankfully acknowledge Thenyizumi village, Chakhesang Region for enthusiastically hosting this historical day of our Nation today at the local ground. Three score and eighteen years ago, on this day the 14th of August in 1947, we declared our Independence as colonialism was drawing to a close. By this very declaration, we have become a sovereign nation to live and to decide our own future.  

As we went ahead to mind our own business as a sovereign nation, our neighbouring country India invaded our country with her armed might in 1955 and continues her illegal occupation till date. In spite of this, we continue to survive and exist as a nation. However, mere survival and existence doesn't promise a vibrant future. The younger generation is the future of our nation and it is the duty of every Naga to begin creating a ground and atmosphere for our nation to have a thriving and vibrant future. To create such a future as a sovereign nation our constitutional rights and duties are of utmost importance as citizens and to ensure the rights and duties of each citizen constitutional order must be implemented. This is the very character of a sovereign nation that under such constitutional order its citizens are secure and their freedom as individuals are guaranteed. Thus we as a nation must move towards our own future as enshrined in our Yehzabo. 

We have come thus far, as a sovereign nation, in spite of all hurdles and sufferings and many a brave soldier and civilian, both men and women, have given their lives in our nation's defence. Today, we remember their supreme sacrifice and honour them. We must not forget our past lest we drown in irrelevant narratives and ideologies unfit for our nation's future. The sacrifices of our forebears must rekindle the patriotic fervour of the Nagas to rise as one nation and people under God. Our situation as a nation defending itself against occupation is not an easy one but the spirit of patriotism borne of our God-given sense of nationhood should not be undermined by our petty difference of opinions.

The legitimacy and legal foundation of our sovereignty as a nation lies in the historical continuity of the mandated Naga National Council and the Federal Government of Nagaland. Therefore, whether we have political differences or personal dislikes of one another does not matter when we are gathered in one mandated national platform and institution that has its foundation in historical continuity with a legal basis bound by mandate.

Our declaration of Independence is not without ratification or the people's mandate for it was ratified by the Naga voluntary Plebiscite of 1951 in which 99.9% wished to remain independent as we had been all along. Therefore, to keep alive this very historic milestone, this year on 16th of May 2025, we celebrated our 75th Naga voluntary Plebiscite Day organised by the Naga Plebiscite Commission.

On this note I would like to thank the chairman of the Commission and his colleagues for their tireless effort in the grand and successful conduct of the celebration of the 75th Naga Plebiscite Day. I would also like to thank the Khiamniungan cultural troupe who gave a special performance, reminding us of their undying loyalty to the nation. It is on such occasions that we are brought together as one and it is my belief that we are here again today to celebrate our Independence Day as one people and nation under God.

In conclusion, I take this opportunity to state that we must henceforth, move ahead by forging a oneness of national principle, integrity, values and character as Nagas. It should be as strong as iron and steel forged in the strongest of heat and hammered by the heaviest of hammers.

May God continue to bless us with the strength, ability and discernment to value our God-given uniqueness as a sovereign nation.

KUKNALIM.