It is a privilege for me to stand on the podium of Naga Army day celebration. I give my revolutionary salute to the Longvibu and his colleagues and all Naga Army gathered here.
At the very outset, I pay homage to the departed souls of the Naga army martyred for the cause of Nagalim for Christ. They were the ones who stayed the course like the rock when storms of enemies’ attacks came. The storm comes and goes, but the rock stays. The flood comes and goes, but the rock stays. Let us honor them and remember them, who stood like the rock in the times of trials and ordeals and died like the rock.
With the coming of the new year 2018, every one of us has renewed his commitment and decision for the cause. I believe the good Lord will lead all of us through out this blessed year. The Naga Army day is another added blessed day for us to celebrate. With the formation of Naga Army, the Naga people become a force to be reckoned.
Why formation of Naga Army was necessitated? As people, land and God are inseparably interrelated so also the Government, the Army and the Church. They are the component parts of a state. Armies are not robots of the government as supposed by some people, they are also people in uniforms. Nowhere in history do we find a state without armies. Armies are the strong bulwarks of a people. A people without armies is defenseless. Armies are an organized people in uniforms. Before the birth of Naga Army, the Naga people were like a city without walls exposed to the danger of subjugation by any invaders. A cultivator usually builds a fence around his field so that it protects crops and vegetables from animals or any destructive elements.
Naga army is a strong tower of the Naga people. What makes Naga Army strong? What makes it revolutionary? It is the spirit of my people and the spirit of my Lord that make every member of NSCN strong like the rock. If any one of you has those spirits in him he is also the rock.
Know the history of great generals and learn from them. Do you know how Gideon of old destroyed the strong walled city of Jericho? Do you know how David outfought Goliath the giant? Do you know how Naga army under the command of the then Capt. Markson overran the Assam Rifles Post at Oinam? Do you know how ‘Unification Camp’ at Vihokhu was uprooted by Naga army under the command of Lt. Col. Absolom supervised by Maj. Gen. Ramkathing Varah, the then Dy. Longvibu? Do you know how Lt. Gen. Ningkhan, the incumbent Longvibu escaped from the heavily guarded Guwahati Jail by outmaneuvering the enemies? Do you know how he risked his life in breaking the ice in the diplomatic field abroad? It was all through the power of prayer and strong determination.
Hunters know the mind of the animals. Lions know the mind of buffalos. Apart from bravery, lions are organized animals whereas buffalos are not. Know your enemies. Know the mind of your enemies if you want to be successful revolutionary soldiers; know the geography of your enemies if you want to master their territories; know the strength of your enemies if you want to be precise in your attacks on them; know the supply lines of your enemies if you want to clasp them by the neck; know the weaponry of your enemies if you want to outfight them; know the commanders of your enemies if you want to outdo them; know the allies of your enemies if you want an isolated fighting against your enemies; know the enemies of your enemies if you want to strengthen your position; know the mind of your people if you want to be the champion of your people and know the mind of God if you want to be an invincible force.
All NSCN members are faithful political army of the nation. The Naga army is also a political army, not only a military army. I believe every one of you is spiritually and politically inspired and committed. One who is totally dedicated to a divine cause and fights for it with conviction, speaks for it with conviction and works for it with conviction is a Nazirite. Every Nazirite is a revolutionary, but every revolutionary is not necessarily a Nazirite. I don’t think that all Naga army are Nazirites. A soldier or a member of NSCN becomes a Nazirite only by conviction, commitment and total dedication to the cause, not by mere enrolment. Therefore, every Naga Army should strive to become a Nazirite. I strongly believe that the Nagas will never perish so long as they have a hundred Nazirites or even ten.
The Naga people have been longing for a political agreement with the government of India on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of rights. The historic Framework Agreement is the first Indo-Naga political agreement that opens up an era of a new relationship between the two peoples. The Framework Agreement is the legacy of both NSCN and GoI. We must value it and protect it at all costs. It speaks about the universal principle of democracy that sovereignty of a people lies in the people themselves and that the sovereignty of the Nagas is with the Naga people. It speaks about the recognition of sovereignty of the Nagas, identity of the Nagas, unique history of the Nagas and the land of the Nagas. However, in order to arrive at an amicable and acceptable solution for both the parties it was mutually agreed upon that the Indians and the Nagas will co-exist as two entities and share sovereign power between the two entities. Rest assured that this agreement will protect the future of the Nagas.
Naga army is a fighting force in times of confrontation, but it is also a protective as well as a productive force in the time of peace. You must value and protect what you have made or achieved as a man keeps his precious things in a strong room. This solution is precious for the Naga people because they have invested their times, energy, money, labor and lives for it for decades. Therefore, we are duty bound to guard it eternally. ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.’
I salute all the Naga army! Our people are proud of you. In spite of repeated attempts, the enemies could not subjugate the Nagas because of your loyalty to the cause with firm commitment. I salute all those of you who clung on to the national principle even if many fellow workers ran away from the field betraying the cause, the people and the Lord to join forces with the enemies. You are Nazirites of the Nagas today. I hope you will still be the Nazirites of the Nagas tomorrow. The Naga people will ever adore you, the Nazirites of the Nagas. Future belongs to you. Thank you.
