History says that when Nagas came to settle in the land in which they now live there was no one. Since then Nagas have always ‘owned’ the land. With the advent of British things changed.During the zenith of Jadonang’s civil disobedient movement in 1929 in Naga Hills, the Naga Club submitted a historical Memorandum to the Simon Commission in Kohima, in which the Naga Club demanded for excluding them from the proposed ‘Reformed Scheme’ of India and to leave them alone like they were before. When British they left India after 1947 Nagas were is in pretty much disarray, let alone being left alone for self-determination. At present the Nagas have been placed under different administrative units. Most Nagas are in Nagaland. But there is a good number in Manipur and Myanmar too. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also house Nagas.
In 1952 India sent its military might to crush the Nagas public demand. Things became so bad in 1954. With the passing of time crack developed among the Naga leaders. In 1956 T.Sakhrie was murdered for having cooperation with the Indian union and anti-NNC activities. Unfortunately, this sort of killing of political opponent has been a matter of reality till recently.
Today Nagas are divided over whether to remain in the Indian union or secede. Politician like S C Jamir, who is the governor of Maharashtra, would prefer to remain as part of Indian union whereas Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN, would prefer otherwise. Both of them think that they are doing what they do for the welfare of the Nagas. Though there is difference of opinion on the matter, I don’t think any single Naga have doubts about the fact that Nagas have the right to be outside of the Indian union. The question, however, is what good will the right bring to us if we are granted this right.
Since this Naga problem is as old as present India itself, I think it’s important for Indian civil society to realise that Nagas will never accept the present situation. Even if one party agrees the other party will never agree. India will continue to bleed if the political issue is left unadressed. However, I believe that if the Nagas, at least those who are in India, are brought under one administrative unit, the secessionists would also be willing to lay down their arms. This does not mean that all Nagas migrate to Nagaland. It rather means that the land in which Nagas have been living for ages merge with the present Nagaland.
I am not sure if this analogy would capture the sentiment of the Nagas. What would Malayalees in general feel if Palakkad is to be included in Tamil Nadu? Or what would Tamilians in general feel if Kanyakumari is included in Kerala? And what would people living in the particular districts feel if there was such a transaction? I don’t understand why this should be hard for Government of India or government of Manipur or Assam or Arunachal Pradesh to understand or bring some feasible solution.
To my Naga brothers and sisters, I would also urge that Sadar Hills be given allowed to be formed, may be with some redrawal of boundaries or give and take between villages. After all, the earth is the Lord’s (Ps 24:1). Even if Nagas came to settle first, as Christian charity, let Kukis also be given land to build homes and prosper.
In 1952 India sent its military might to crush the Nagas public demand. Things became so bad in 1954. With the passing of time crack developed among the Naga leaders. In 1956 T.Sakhrie was murdered for having cooperation with the Indian union and anti-NNC activities. Unfortunately, this sort of killing of political opponent has been a matter of reality till recently.
Today Nagas are divided over whether to remain in the Indian union or secede. Politician like S C Jamir, who is the governor of Maharashtra, would prefer to remain as part of Indian union whereas Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN, would prefer otherwise. Both of them think that they are doing what they do for the welfare of the Nagas. Though there is difference of opinion on the matter, I don’t think any single Naga have doubts about the fact that Nagas have the right to be outside of the Indian union. The question, however, is what good will the right bring to us if we are granted this right.
Since this Naga problem is as old as present India itself, I think it’s important for Indian civil society to realise that Nagas will never accept the present situation. Even if one party agrees the other party will never agree. India will continue to bleed if the political issue is left unadressed. However, I believe that if the Nagas, at least those who are in India, are brought under one administrative unit, the secessionists would also be willing to lay down their arms. This does not mean that all Nagas migrate to Nagaland. It rather means that the land in which Nagas have been living for ages merge with the present Nagaland.
I am not sure if this analogy would capture the sentiment of the Nagas. What would Malayalees in general feel if Palakkad is to be included in Tamil Nadu? Or what would Tamilians in general feel if Kanyakumari is included in Kerala? And what would people living in the particular districts feel if there was such a transaction? I don’t understand why this should be hard for Government of India or government of Manipur or Assam or Arunachal Pradesh to understand or bring some feasible solution.
To my Naga brothers and sisters, I would also urge that Sadar Hills be given allowed to be formed, may be with some redrawal of boundaries or give and take between villages. After all, the earth is the Lord’s (Ps 24:1). Even if Nagas came to settle first, as Christian charity, let Kukis also be given land to build homes and prosper.
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