Brief Speech of Ruovihulie Angami on Behalf of the Angami Public Organisation

I thank the respected Chairman of this program, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier and his colleagues of the FNR and the representatives from 29 Naga Regions from the Naga inhabited areas present here today.

I take this privilege being entrusted to me by the officials of APO representatives present here to share my/our views of APO, communicated to me just last night by Mr. Niketu Iralu who could not be present here this morning in this gathering due to his transportation problems. But as per our sitting last night and his telephonic talk to me this morning and also my conviction that I should share something about the views of the Angamis (APO) to all, as given a chance to speak alongwith the APO representatives, sitting here together as its representatives.

Our/my first thanks go to the FNR for bringing peace, unity and understanding to the Nagas with brotherly relationship within our Naga family and the Naga National workers/groups in particular. Once the fratricidal killings became common and there was no chance of communicating with each other amongst the factions for so long, but now such things could be made possible through the prayers and best wishes of the Naga people, being spearheaded by the FNR since 2008 till today. And we, the APO, are very grateful to the FNR in taking up another venture to bring even the Naga Public representatives from the East-West-North-South and elsewhere of the Naga family to come together and show our solidarity to the world that there is a People known as the Nagas, exist in this part of the world from time immemorial and continue thus far. And to this occasion, the ‘Naga Day’, the 10th Jan. 2018 as already decided in the first meeting of the FNR on 13th Oct. 2017, I, on behalf of the APO shall give the views of the Angamis in this august house in this manner.

As we all know that the Nagas have three undivided principles in our political aspirations, right from the beginning of our struggle for self-determination as an indigenous People and Nation in South East Asiatic Region, basing on the Naga Memorandum, submitted to the then British Simon Commission on the 10th Jan 1929 by the Naga Club; the Naga Independence Day Declaration to the outside world on the 14th August 1947; and the Naga Plebiscite conducted on the 16th May, 1951 by the NNC in confirmation of the first two events already laid down by our forefathers with their farsighted visions for the generations to come.

Yes, we have been told that this Naga Political Memorandum was drafted by Late Mr. Ruzhukhrie Sekhose, one the first Naga graduates (whom I personally met in several occasions in the 1980s) signed by 20 members on behalf of all the Nagas including the youngest child born the previous night; and so also the other two events i.e. 14th August 1947 and the 16th May, 1951 conducted by the NNC. And in spite of the present differences of views, nomenclature in the organizations and leadership crises, differences of approaches in our political struggle for recognition at the international level even in the days to come, that we are one in mind and stance. And if Jan. 10 2018 shall be observed/celebrated as ‘Naga Day’ with a mammoth gathering here in Kohima or a small gathering elsewhere of our Naga areas, in extending our brotherly ties and emotional integration as we feel quite appropriate and befitting to our present local situation. We can even extend our goodwill missions/approaches to our neighbouring States and Nations for a peaceful co-existence without hurting their feelings which also would be appreciated by all our Naga National workers and their groups whom we have been in touch all these days.

It is true that the Naga Club and its Memorandum submitted on the 10th Jan. 1929; Naga Independence Day Declaration on 14th August 1947 and the Naga Political Referendum conducted on the 16th May 1951, are the common properties of the Naga people which no one can deny; but since these milestones of events took place in the Angami Region/Jurisdiction and by taking the views on the principles of these three events as common property and especially the 10th Jan. 2010 as the Naga Day (the day being the beginning and registering of our Naga National Political Rights, the Angamis under the umbrella of APO shall give our best co-operation to the FNR and to the occasion for the success of the program by extending all our possible assistance for the successful celebration of this Dignified Day of the Nagas.

This significant day, like the birthday of a child, falling on the 10th Jan. 2018, to mark the exodus of the Naga National Movement, there is no question of deferring the date to suit our own convenience or waiting another sitting for approval of the House for such celebration, which may bring more complicated issues or less representatives on the would-be gathering in the next sitting for the said approval with voice vote. We better give our support to the FNR initiatives of observing the Day as the ‘Naga Day’ and let every representative present here today, may kindly take the message back home to mobilize their respective regions for a good participation in this coveted ‘Naga Day’ program.

We wish the best success of the program being organised by the FNR, see you all on the 10th Jan 2018, wish to see you all representatives to be present on that day, till then bye-bye.

“Wish you all happy and safe journey back home”
Kuknalim

Note: Based on this speech and the opinions/views expressed on that day, the 14th Oct. 2017, we are gathering here today to mark the occasion for which I heartily welcome and salute you all to this same holy ground where the Nagas walked out enmass when the Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and U Nu of Myanmar (the erstwhile Burma) refused to listen to the Naga aspiration in 1953.

And to mark this occasion,
(1) a Pipal tree has been planted just in front of the Naga Club Building (present Naga Students’ Federations Office) and shall be preserved to signify the growth of Naga Family and its National Movement for a rightful place in the chronology in world history. Let us keep this Naga Club Building and its premises as a Centre of Excellence and Think-Tank Political Nerve Institution, by maintaining its sanctity.
(2) Flow Chart of the Naga National Movement/The tree of the Naga National Movement in chronological order are being displayed here in front of the Play Ground Rostrum and at the Naga Club Building vicinity for the Naga people of all ages to read and note.
(3) A Documentary as Reference Books i) The Naga National Rights & Movement from Naga Memorandum 10th Jan. 1929 to 1993 publications ii) A Souvenir to mark the 50th year of NNC and 51st year of Declaration of Naga Independence, 1996 publication (iii) An introduction to the Origin and Migration of the Nagas by Gen. Mo-u Gwizan, 1993 publication (iv) A brief account of Naga National Movement, 2018 publication, shall be made available on sale shortly, at the Heritage Publisher’s Bookstores and other reputed Bookstalls in Nagaland.
(4) Album of the Naga National Leaders and events of the day
(5) Final (corrected) copy of Naga Memorandum to the British Simon Commission, the 10th Jan. 1929.
(6) Any Naga citizen opposing this Naga Day Occasion and the related Naga National documents shall be noted as against our Naga common aspiration.

(This speech was delivered at the meeting in Rhododendron Hall Chumukedima, organised by FNR on Oct. 14, 2017)