New Delhi, June 29: Rich tributes were paid to Isak Chishi Swu, chairman of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), in a condolence service held at Nagaland House here today.
National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval laid a wreath on the coffin of the 87-year-old Naga insurgent leader, who died yesterday following multi-organ failure at a private hospital in South Delhi where he was undergoing treatment for almost a year.
The condolence service began with traditional salute to the departed leader by young Naga girls and boys dressed in complete traditional attire.
His family members and several people belonging to the Naga community and well wishers in the city, including government dignitaries, attended the service.
Top leaders, including the NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and Nagaland MP Neiphiu Rio and other dignitaries spoke at the occasion and paid rich tributes to Swu. Muivah said, “You all know Isak Chishi Swu but I think I know the best. We have been together for the last 52 years. Mr. Isak tried to understand me always. I try to understand him always and we honour and commit to the national cause. His faith in God is unquestionable. We were united first in the name of the Lord. We did not misunderstand each other in any issue or any matter.”
He said, “Indian leaders are becoming rational and they are coming forward. It is the finest oppourtunity to understand the Indian leaders. Indians are prepared to understand the reality of the Nagas. Now Nagas also should not fail to understand them. We cannot go on blaming the Indian leaders it is time for us to understand who the Indian leaders.”
Rio said Swu sacrificed everything and stood for the Naga freedom, Naga political movement which is now recognised by GOI owes much to his great leadership.
“We thank him for his contribution and sacrifices, We salute him for his commitment to the cause of Nagas, we respect him for being a messenger of peace, we admire him for his guidance through the most difficult and challenging times in our Naga history. His life, his vision his sweat and tears will be remembered. He is one of the tallest Naga personality, his name will go down to the history of the Nagas and will be recorded in the letters of gold", stated Rio.
“Let us recommit ourselves to the legacy he has left behind, let us forgive and forget our past mistakes and come together and pursue for peace.”
A representative from Sumi community shared the condolence and thanked all and not only to mourn the loss of the great leader but to celebrate the great leader like.
“Isak Chishi Swu has not inspired young and old but every Naga. We Sumi community thank God for the privilege as Isak Chishi Swu was from us and we were led by him for the past century.”
R N Ravi, the Interlocutor of the current Indo-Naga peace talk speaking on the occasion stated that “Isak Swu is deeply religious and a man with full of prayers who loved peace”. Sensing the apprehension on the minds of the people on the death of the NSCN chairman with the final settlement yet to be reached he further added. “Nagas must win, if they win we all win. Isak knew what was best for the people. The signing of the accord was a landmark achievement. The dreams he has started should be accomplished and we cannot fail his dreams.”
Similar words on the importance of the talks were echoed by Swaraj Kushal the 1st interlocutor, “Solution to insurgency problems are not prepared in microwave ovens but they do not have to wait in deep freezers either”. He further added “I feel we should have negotiated with Mr. Phizo, when he came to meet P.M Moraji Desai in London we should have opened the dialogue, instead we shut the door on him, that was the mistake." He also mentioned that the talks are loosing time and cautioned “If we are late we may end up being too late”.
Eminent Human Rights Activist & Lawyer, Nandita Haksar, Eminent Journalist Bharat Bhushan and Northeast Sun Executive Editor Deepak Dewan also spoke on the occasion.
