As we celebrate the 69th anniversary of Naga Republic Day, we remember our visionary and pioneering leaders who laid the foundation of our Naga nationhood
I bring you greetings in the name of Almighty God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. On this historic and auspicious occasion of Naga Republic
Day, I thank our Almighty God for his continuous blessing, guidance, sustenance
and protection.
As we celebrate the 69th anniversary of Naga Republic Day,
we remember our visionary and pioneering leaders who laid the foundation of our
Naga nationhood; I salute and pay homage to the thousands of martyrs through
whose sacrificial acts, our pride and dignity as a nation has withstood the
test of time.
Today, it is important to reminisce that there was a time
when monarchy was deified, believing that the king was the vicar of God. The
concept of the Divine Right of King was indoctrinated in the minds of the
subjects for centuries. In due course of time, the tradition of perpetual rule
of dynasty by Divine Right took a paradigm shift as human mind developed
through education and search for the better alternative began taking roots.
Thus, Republic was born.
The Nagas too were living in independent village states
based on the ideals of democracy and ruled by the council of elders, chief or a
king. But the existence of the village states was threatened by the British
colonial force, who in their wake brought with them atrocities, forceful labour
and taxation and thereafter by the Indian and Burmese aggressors.
The withdrawal of the British imperial power from the
sub-continent in 1947 brought no respite for the Naga people. Without the
consent of the Naga people, the departing British imperial agent divided our
land into two newly independent states of India and Burma (Myanmar).
The Indian state launched a massive military campaign
against the Nagas, thereby thousands of common people, village chiefs, elders,
religious leaders were indiscriminately tortured, maimed, imprisoned or killed.
Villages, houses, granaries and places of worship was desecrated and burned
down and destroyed. Yet, the Nagas were determined to defend their common
future with one voice and one mind. With a view to resist and confront the
aggressors the necessity to have a national government; hence, the formation of
Naga Federal Government on 22nd March 1956.
During the course of our right to self determination, the
dynamics of geopolitics has left a deep and lasting impact within the Naga
family, some which could still be salvaged while others never to be undone
except to be judged by history and posterity. What started as one dream and one
goal during the initial period appeared to have fragmented over a period of
decades. Instead of fighting the adversary we wasted precious time fighting
within the family, wherein settling petty personal scores became the trend.
Reckoning the past mistakes of one or the other will give us no consolation but
would rather create deeper chasm and further rift.
Today, it is evident for all to see that unless the Naga
family come together and iron out our differences, the dream of Naga nationhood
will disappear like a mirage in the desert. The evils of ism inherent in us
that only make us build walls should be done away with, and be replaced by
building bridges.
I urge all the Naga Political Groups to honour and respect
the Covenant of Reconciliation and maintain non-violence in letter and spirit
for a shared future as one family.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to various civil societies,
churches and prayer groups for consistent prayers and constructive efforts
towards lasting peace and appeal for more prayers for true unity and
reconciliation among the fractured Naga political groups.
Once again, I acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions
of all the patriots gone before us and those still with us in the course of our
political journey and towards the Naga national cause which is so dear to all
Nagas.
