Let us ponder and search our hearts if we can still have such conviction as our martyrs had and such sacrificial values of courage and love for our own people and our beloved country, Nagaland.
Ladies and gentlemen, my dear countrymen, I am privileged to be standing before you once again on this solemn Naga National Martyrs' Day, this day the 18th of October, 2026. It is a God given privilege to once again honour and remember our patriots who have given their lives for our nation.
As we remember our patriots who have been martyred I am reminded of the day our first martyr Zasibito Nagi the first to be martyred on this day in 1952 by the invading forces of India on our sovereign country. He may have been the first but he was not alone as his brave country men and women followed him giving their lives on the altar of our God given nation. Today, let us remember their bravery and sacrifice and question ourselves if we can live a life worthy of honour as our Martyrs'. In their death they have honoured our nation. No man or woman can make such great a sacrifice without conviction and courage. Yes, it was their unwavering conviction and courage but most of all it was the love of their nation, its people who were their brothers and sisters.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13) and as such, today, while we remember and honour their sacrifice I urge you, my countrymen, to emulate such love for one another so that when such a time as theirs come our way we will not be found wanting and our beloved country will be grateful.
On this solemn occasion let us ponder and search our hearts if we can still have such conviction as our martyrs had and such sacrificial values of courage and love for our own people and our beloved country, Nagaland. Such conviction, courage and love made us one nation, indivisible under God and no force on earth can break such a bond.
May the sacrifices of our martyrs not be in vain. May their conviction and values of courage and love continually flow in our hearts and nurture our country, Nagaland.
Long live the memory of the martyrs.
Kezha Angami is the Kedahge of the Federal Government of Nagaland.