The Indo-Naga conflict of nearly six decades arrived at peaceful negotiation between the Govt. of India (GOI) and the NSCN (IM) – Nagalim when ceasefire agreement to start political negotiation was signed on 1st August 1997. Nothing of significance happened till 2002 when the Prime Minister of India, Mr. AtalBihari Vajpayee declared recognition of the “unique history and situation of the Nagas”. It is in tune and better understanding of the truth declared to the world about the Nagas which also made Mr. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India, to admit that “Naga issue is political and should be solved through political negotiation” which ensued in the ceasefire agreement. After more than a hundred round of political negotiations in the past 18 years, the NSCN (IM) and the GOI have entered into a historic agreement on 3rd August 2015. It is obvious that both the entities have worked extra mile to thrash out the differences and their mutual interests against the qualm over the Indo-Naga peace and political negotiations and signing of the document in presence of the Prime Minister of India and the Naga Leaders. It clearly marked the success of political process through dialogue and not through coercion or military means through bloody armed confrontation that had marred the protracted problem for much too long.Nagas are aware that in the past successive governments at the Centre either failed to understand the problem or had not taken it seriously mostly due to the double dealing and deliberate delay tactics staged by intelligence agencies and bureaucrats in the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is interesting and perhaps providential guidance that prompted P.M.’s Office to boldly take up the political initiative directly instead of entrusting the MHA in the interest and security of the nation. The Naga leaders have also shown enormous patience, perseverance and commitment to end the conflict by holding on to the ceasefire/peace dearly all through these years despite criticisms and brick bats, which clearly demonstrated their resolve to have definite political settlement through democratic norms and means and thereby deflected and defeated the designs and machineries of various intelligence agencies and divisive forces at work from different quarters. Although the nature of contents are still not available to the public, logically one can presume that the Prime Minister Modi’s outpouring of his feelings, understanding of the Indo-Naga issues, deep feelings of empathy and his assurance about restoring the ‘pride and prestige’ of the Naga people rings genuinely and truly a gesture of good will to pave the way – define new relationships of ‘shared sovereignty’. What is evident in the text of the speeches of Prime Minister and Muivah during the Signing Ceremony of the Accord, unmistakably augurs positive outcome.
The recent unmistakable overtures opens the way for the final settlement where the Naga peoples future will be done in consultation of the Nagas as it involves their future. What is needed now is to strengthen all the civil bodies, the church, student organisation and individuals alike to contribute their mite-lend a helping hand for the smooth transitional arrangement for a new beginning. Confidence building measures among the different Naga communities, bodies and with the neighbouring states is an imperative need at this moment. It is also crucial for the negotiators to take the people along with full confidence in times of laying the foundation for common future.
Judging on the reactions and impatience of the NGO’s, State Government and individuals within Nagaland and the neighbouring state government’s demand for disclosure of the contents of the Indo-Naga Accord/Agreement, one fail to understand how unfortunate and unprepared Nagas are – ‘suspicious of betrayal and sell out’ betrays the trust and support extended to the NSCN (IM) by the Naga public. It would be a mockery if ‘shared sovereignty’ is not translatedinto action in reality. However, it would be most ungracious, unethical and uncharitable to doubt the relentless and untiring efforts of the collective leadership bargaining for the best possible deal for the Nagas, under the given circumstances.
In contemporary world dynamics of independence, irrespective of size, divergence in culture, religion etc., one need not be too critical and self-analytical on whatever is already well established in the present Indo-Naga political process when the GOI has already recognized the uniqueness of the Naga history which is crystal clear and it implies the recognition of the fact and that is ‘rectification of the historical injustice as a fair means of honorable settlement’. Therein lies what restoring the ‘pride and prestige’ of the Naga people, P.M. Modi talked about – short of adding ‘we are sorry’ for the past deeds.
The arbitrary division of Naga people and their ancestral land/territory, presently placed as an extended colonial arrangement need to be rectified as part of the political settlement. It is understandable that the NE States, after many decades of colonial conditioned political system and dominance, any political and geographical changes may bring fear and anxiety, but it must be made clear to them that the Naga political settlement will not impinge on any of the ancestral lands of the neighbouring states nor in their social and political lives. However, it is an opportune moment for the Nagas to be loud and clear to declare in unison for unity and be united as one people, to determine their own future in the land that is their ancestral heritage on which they hold ownership till date irrespective of several political arrangements they have gone through, without their knowledge and consent.
The Naga political movement based on unique feature and foundation of Nagas as one nation, sounded the clarion call for ‘one people, one territory and one government – governed by its people’. Therefore, if the present political settlement is not grounded on political and historical bases having been candidly recognized by the GOI on ‘Naga’ issue as ‘political problems and the uniqueness of Naga history’ under which the entire process is on, it would be a grave mistake and would come to naught.
Therefore, the belligerent attitude and response of the governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur even without knowing the contents of the Accord is jaundiced, obnoxious and incongruous which does not bode well, and it should be firmly and soundly dealt with by the GOI based on the constitutional provisions for readjustment of administrative control considering territorial and linguistic divisions. The fact that the ‘Nagalim’ constitute a contiguous and homogenous geographical area inhabited by the Nagas from time immemorial must come under the recognized political and administrative set up. The authenticity or genuineness of the Naga territories/ancestral lands can be substantiated, by written records, oral traditions and songs transmitted from generation to generation, when need arises.
Whatever may be the contents of the agreement, it will certainly have a wide ramification not only in the political dynamics of the region but also in the wider academic discourses, the failure and success of modern democratic process and particularly the emerging India, in the eyes of the world will be keenly watched the world over, who are focused and deeply curious of its outcome.
Be that as it may, the present agreement must sustain the efforts of both the entities and hope that it would not be a repetition of neither the 9 point agreement of Sir Akbar Hydari and the Nagas which was discourteously discarded due to the belligerent attitude and patronizing diplomacy, underestimating the indomitable spirit of independence on the part of the Nagas; nor the fiasco of the first Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1964 which ended in a debacle after six round of talks.
In view of the changing global scenario, if we have to keep up with the rest of the political developments, it is worthwhile to reflect on the opportunity that Naga people have in the past, missed Sir Coupland’s Plan to carve out Naga territory for Crown Colony (which was at that point of time, the best opportunity) if one analyzeit from a realistic point of view. However, it is not a regret over ‘spilled milk’ (for Nagas rejected it at that time). Rather, it is a blessing that the destiny of the Nagas is entwined with India on equal terms of genuine ‘shared sovereignty’.
