Our elders tell us of a time when the
Naga national movement was not just a cause — it was a shared conviction,
sustained by the people’s unwavering faith. Villagers gave their last grain,
their hard-earned money, and their livestock — not out of fear, but out of
devotion. There was no coercion, no demand — only a sacred bond between the
people and the movement.
But where do
we stand today?
That sacred bond has been broken. The
very people who once offered their last grain in support now live in fear,
resentment, and exhaustion. The Naga people are fed up — fed up with illegal
taxation, intimidation, extortion, and corruption. Factions that were meant to
stand as pillars of our struggle have become weights dragging us down. Instead
of inspiring faith, they instil fear. Instead of fostering unity, they breed
division. Instead of dignity, they bring disgrace.
Is this the
future our ancestors fought for? Is this what our children should inherit?
If two lines run perfectly parallel, no
matter how far they extend, they will never meet nor drift apart—like the rails
of a train track. But if there is even the slightest deflection, no matter how
negligible, the difference may seem unnoticeable at first. Over time, however,
the gap will widen until the lines are worlds apart. And when train tracks
diverge, they do not simply drift; they derail.
This is the reality
of the Naga people today
There was a time when we were closer
than ever to becoming a united nation. But somewhere in our past, a slight
deviation occurred. It did not begin as betrayal but as ideological differences
among our leaders—differences that should have been resolved through dialogue
but instead became permanent rifts, exploited by adversaries and deepened by
distrust. This misalignment reached a breaking point with the infamous Shillong
Accord of 1975. What was once a single track toward sovereignty fractured into
many, each faction convinced that its path was the true one.
At first, the divisions seemed
manageable. But as years passed, personal ambitions, external interference, and
deep-seated distrust widened the gap. If we do not correct this deflection now,
future generations will inherit not a legacy of sovereignty, but one of endless
fragmentation. A train running off-course can still be brought back before
disaster strikes—but only if action is taken in time.
To the 28
Factions of National Workers
The world is watching, and what was
once a movement of pride has become a symbol of disunity. If even one of you
claims to fight for the Naga people, then ask yourself—how does division serve
them?
True warriors do not fight among
themselves while their homeland suffers. True leaders do not seek power, but
unity. If unity is truly our goal, then let us begin by seeking common
ground—not for personal gain, but for the dignity of our people.
Leadership is not about commanding
followers but about bringing adversaries together for a greater cause. If we
cannot find common ground today, there may come a time when there is no ground
left to stand on. Let us rise above past wounds, ideological disputes, and
personal differences. Let history remember that when the time came, Naga leaders
chose unity over division, dignity over disgrace, and courage over fear.
To Civil
Society
We cannot expect our leaders to unite
if we, the people, remain divided. The spirit of the Naga movement was built on
collective strength, not individual interests. A movement without the people’s
backing is a structure without a foundation.
If we demand unity from our leaders,
let us first embody it ourselves. No tribe, no village, no political group can
claim to stand alone. If we wish to heal our nation, let us begin by healing
our own divisions.
Let civil society take the lead in
hosting public discussions, mediation efforts, and grassroots initiatives that
bridge divides. Let us create spaces where trust can be rebuilt, where
misunderstandings can be addressed, and where a new generation of Nagas can see
that unity is not a distant dream, but a living reality. History will not
remember our wealth, our politics, or our temporary victories. It will remember
whether we stood united when our people needed us most.
I am but an ordinary layman. But as a
Naga and as a father, I refuse to accept that division is our destiny. I dream
of a future where our children walk on a path paved with unity, not division.
We are at a crossroads. Let us not be
the generation that allowed the road to split further. Let us be the generation
that found our way back to one.
