Naga Students’ Federation celebrates 77th Naga Independence Day

KOHIMA — President of Tenyimi People’s Organisation (TPO) and advocate Timikha Koza on Monday expressed frustration over the delay in Naga political solution, claiming that the government of India (GoI) is waiting for the Naga leaders negotiating with the Centre to “die”, in the hope that the young generation will eventually forget the cause.

He was addressing the 77th Naga Independence Day organised by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) at the Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima.

Negotiations on the Indo-Naga political issue have been going on for years but it hasn’t concluded, he lamented, adding that the GoI has been extending it with one excuse or the other.

“They (GOI) have been waiting. Their intention is very dirty. They want our Naga leaders who are negotiating with them to die so that we the young people will forget because we have grown in our comfort zone, our history will be forgotten. So, the young Nagas will not remember,” said Timikha while terming it as India’s “policy”.

However, he said nobody can change the unique political history of the Nagas which is in the record. 

‘Our leaders never signed the accession document to be with the Indian union when the British left India. It’s a fact. Nobody can deny it. Because of that, till today, our history is unique. Our struggle is unique,’ he said, adding that Nagas were the only people that did not sign the accession document.

Maintaining that Nagas are peace-loving people, he called upon the people to unite, work together and continue to celebrate the legacy of their forefathers.

NSF President Kegwayhun Tep lamented that ‘what began as a mass Naga movement has today lost impetus in the pandemics of division, vested interests, groupism and divisive tribal polity’.

“The consciousness of our people has been mired into the divisive politics of the external forces, and though our leaders are well aware of this great adversary, we are unwilling to free ourselves from the shackles of this induced slumber.

“Within a short span of years, the adversary has managed to erase history, the costly journey of the Naga struggle and the many tribes of the Naga homeland which transcends shadow lines and artificial boundaries designed to keep the Naga family apart from the memory of today’s younger generation while we were engulfed in the many years of bloody feuds among ourselves,” he said. 

‘The NSF, as conscious keepers of the younger generation, calls for peace and unity among the various groups and entities. The path to a harmonious future lies not just in political negotiations, but also in building bridges of trust and understanding among all stakeholders,’ he added.

Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) President Chingmak Chang said the eastern Nagas have always been part of the Naga struggle and still are. Asserting that Nagas have the same obligation for a common goal, he challenged the student bodies and leaders to appeal to the political parties to celebrate the 78th Naga Independence Day at one place where all the Naga political groups share the same podium.

He also urged everyone to bury their differences and come together as Nagas in order to move forward. ‘Unless that is done, Nagas will not go very far,’ he added.

Also speaking at the event, president of Eastern Naga Students’ Association (ENSA) Atimiu Makwry lamented that the people of the eastern region (Nagas in Myanmar) could not celebrate the Naga Independence Day due to the present political situation in the country, saying that something is amiss with celebrating ‘such a historic moment’.

Maintaining that Nagas are being categorised as east and west, the east under Myanmar and west under India geographically, he urged the people ‘not to divide Nagas and point at ourselves as southern, northern or western but learn to live as Nagas, as one people’.

‘One of the major setbacks in the struggle for a unified homeland for Nagas is division and factionalism among the national workers. This is not only detrimental to the struggle but also a huge burden on the public, marking the confusion and embarrassment to the younger generation,’ he said.

While appreciating their sacrifices and contribution to the national cause, the public also has the responsibility to guide the movement when it is going astray from the cause, he added.

Sochuingam Kashung, social and cultural secretary of All Naga Students’ Association Manipur, said that Nagas are bound by their culture, language, religion, traditions, history and aspirations. So, the decision on how to exercise sovereign rights with the Naga flag, constitution and integration should be left to the people.

The event was also marked by a two-wheeler rally from the NSF Oking to the Naga Solidarity Park.

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