Nagas are not Indian, says Prof A Lanu Ao
Source: The Sangai Express
Sadar Hills, August 09 2016:
"Nagas are neither Indian nor
Burmese and neither the
territory of the Nagas was or is
ever a part of Indian territories,"
asserted Prof A Lanu Ao, Dept
of Sociology, Nagaland
University.
Prof A Lanu Ao was
speaking as a resource person
during the observation of In-
ternational Day of the
World's Indigenous Peoples
today at Thangal General
Memorial Ecological Park,
Senapati.
Jointly organized by
United Naga Council, Naga
Women's Union, Naga Peo-
ples' Movement for Human
Rights (South) and All Naga
Students' Association,
Manipur under the theme,
"Indigenous Peoples' Right to
Education", Senapati today
observed and celebrated the
International Day of the
World's Indigenous Peoples.
The Nagaland University
Professor asserted that the
Nagas are not Indians by re-
ligion, history and culture.
He said that the land of the
Nagas is threatened while
they have been forcefully
marginalized.
"Every Naga living in
Manipur, Arunachal, Assam
and within the so called
Nagaland must say that they
are one while having one
cause, one story and a com-
mon culture, identity and they
should come forward to fight
for the indigenous Naga peo-
ples' rights", the Professor
added.
He further said that the
Nagas are living in their own
land and the resources are in-
herited from their great
ancestors not from others and
nobody can challenge the
rights of the Nagas.
UNC president Gaidon
Kamei stated "apart from
many other languages Hindi
and Meetei Mayek are made
compulsory subjects while
many of our local languages
have not reached the class-
room.
We are taught the
history of civilization and
empire from other parts of
Indian sub-continent but how
much of our history is taught
to the young students.
"I am not saying that learn-
ing languages and history of
others is necessarily bad but
the fact that our own lan-
guages and history are ig-
nored is indicative of the
discrimination and
marginalization of our peo-
ple," the UNC president said.
The event was participated
by various Nagas civil bodies
including tribes Hohos, con-
stituents units of UNC,
NWU, ANSAM, South East
Asia Ho Hoi Social and Cul-
ture Centre, apart from
Advocate LB Namo, member
of Concerned Senior Citizen
Forum (CSCF),
Mokokchung, Nagaland and
Temjen Tzudur, member
CSCF as well as other Naga
leaders.
Presentation of cultural
items, folk songs and lighting
of sacred fire apart from serv-
ing indigenous food after the
event marked the occasion.