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When the time was fully ripe Great Britain decided to give up her Empire-the entire world. They were busy preparing to transfer the power to India and the world lauded the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi and his wisdom.
The Naga delegates went and met Mahatma Gandhi at his Phangi colony in Delhi on July 19, 1947, and told him that Nagas are not going to join the Indian Union because “the Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not part of the Indian Territory.” Moreover, the Naga delegates asked him “Is Might Right?” and Mahatma Gandhi promptly replied, “No, Might is not Right”. Moreover, he said, “If you say that you are not Indians and your country does not belong to Indians then the matter ends there. Nobody will force you to join the Indian Union.”
However Hyder Ali wanted to use force to compel the Nagas to join the Indian Union. Mahatma Gandhi responded and said, Hyder Ali is wrong and if it is so, then I will come to Kohima and ask him to shoot me first. I do not believe in force and India has no right to use force on you, it’s up to you.
Therefore, Naga delegates came back to Nagaland and hosted the Naga flag one day ahead on August 14, 1947, and declared independence to let the world know their stand and sent a cable to the UNO office for the record of the Naga Independence and being an ancient country which was confirmed by the Naga plebiscite- the thumb impression with 99% support on May 16, 1951.
However, the Government of India (GOI) continued to use force and declared war in 1955, and troops were moved to Tuensang Area and then moved to whole Naga inhabited areas. It was purely an invasion, not only that but also they had introduced the “Black Law” and all the unlawful activities were exercised and particularly Arm Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) was promulgated in Naga inhabited areas from 1958. Since then India used force to suppress Naga Political Movement up till today.
In this world, no one has the right to alter a historical event, whatever happened, it happened in God’s own time. Yes, all those sad story details are not desirable to retrospect or narrate; hence it is better to bury them. Everything should be forgiven because we cannot bring back the past. Now, it is high time to do something for the betterment of the future generation. Are we not capable of doing so? Yes, we are capable to do that so let us rise and defeat all the hatred which involved the ancient love and progress for a brighter future and prosperity.
Today, the Naga people are united from all walks of life and moving forward supporting the Naga political settlement which the Naga people had struggled and the solution was kept pending from the last century. We do not ask for an election but we are longing for the final political solution without delay.
Rev. Dr. V. K. Nuh