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The site outside Naga Club building where the centenery monolith was proposed to be put up.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 22 (EMN): The edgy situation between the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the newly revived Naga Club—involving assertions and questions concerning the erstwhile Naga Club which was formed in 1918, and the erection of a monolith at the Naga Club building site which is presently occupied by the NSF—took on a new turn as some concerned senior citizens intervened to broker peace.
It has been learnt that a group of concerned senior citizens held a meeting with representatives of both the organisations on the evening of Nov. 21 at a hotel in Kohima asserting that they could not treat lightly the profound unhappiness and apprehension felt by the public over the consequences bound to follow if the differences between the two organisations are left unresolved.
“We understand and respect the positions the two sides have taken and firmly defended, based on their respective perceptions of the issue. We believe it is not beyond the combined wisdom and statesmanship of the leaders of both sides to evolve what will be right, honourable and satisfactory to the NC and NSF in the best interest of all the Naga people to hold together the legacy of unity.
“Naga Club must not be exclusive but inclusive of all Nagas without borders. As such the Naga Club with the present erection of the monolith is required to undertake all future developments taking the Naga public, especially the NSF, a major stakeholder, into confidence always,” the group wrote to the two organisations.
When contacted, the NSF was of the view that the appeal of the senior citizens was “reasonable and acceptable.”
The federation issued a press statement to this effect, stating, “We acknowledge and convey our gratefulness to the meeting of the elders/senior leaders of our Naga society on 21st Nov. 2018 at de Oriental Grand, Kohima to discuss and arrive to a logical conclusion in regard to the impasse between Naga Club and NSF.
“The NSF will honour and shall abide to the public declaration made by the elders/senior leaders as we firmly believe that it was done with the best of all intentions and to strengthen unity and understanding among our people,” it added.
Meanwhile, a member of the new Naga Club said they had decided to erect the centenary monolith at a site in Jotsoma in order to avoid further confrontations. He informed that although the club was yet to sit and discuss over it, many members have already expressed that they would rather go for the alternative site which was already marked by the Jotsoma village as a Naga martyrs’ cemetery, on the way to Puliebadze.
There were also talks that the venue of the Naga Club centenary year celebration by the freshly revived Naga Club which was scheduled to be held at Khuochiezie Ground in Kohima on Nov. 29 would be shifted to Jotsoma.
However, most of the members whom
spoke to, could not corroborate this as they said they were yet to sit over the matter officially. They stated that though the monolith could be shifted to the alternative site, the main celebratory programme was likely to be held at the Khuochiezie Ground as planned and expressed hope that good sense should prevail.
The erstwhile Naga Club is widely known for its historic Naga Hills memorandum to the then British Statutory Commission in 1929 for safeguarding the rights of the Naga people. The memorandum is considered to be the first written record that establishes Nagas as one people, and their political position.
