The Naga Political Struggle
- Part 3 -

Dr Lokendra Arambam *

State of Nagaland, India with districts and their HQ :: Pix - Wikipedia/Wikigringo

Rani Gaidinlieu struggled for Zeliangroung unity through peaceful consultations with the Indian national leaders, and her personal relationship with the Nehru family, and the support of Zeliangroung intellectuals both in the governmental establishments in Nagaland and Manipur helped her pursue the dream of Zeliangroung unity without much fanfare and without much disturbance in the public sphere in Manipur till her death in 1993.

The post Phizo Naga National workers perhaps had a sort of love and hate relationship with the Zeliangroung people, the dynamics of which the valley people of Manipur did not have a single idea for a long time.

As for the people of Mao and Tangkhuls in the northern and eastern hills of Manipur the story was different. Immediate contiguity of geography and closer connectivity with the centres of Naga struggle influenced the formation of the Naga National League under the leadership of the first graduate of the Mao people A. Daiho.

Impressed by the 9 point agreement signed by the Governor of Assam Sir Akbar Hydari (who died in Manipur) with the NNC in 1947, Daiho led the non-co-operation movement against the state of Manipur and boycotted the Manipur elections of 1948.

The general environment of the idea of the right of the secession which attracted global political movements in the decolonization periods after the Second World War also emboldened the Naga awakening in Manipur. Daiho, as one of the elites of his people, and in close connection with the Naga leaders in Kohima, along with subtle relationship with the erstwhile western masters in periodic consultations was deeply impressed with the universal political values of the right of peoples to experiment with newly formed polities for 10 years, with the right of secession in tow.

The no House-tax campaign however was suppressed by the new state of Manipur utilizing the colonial method of forcible repression, with the help of the Assam Rifles, which had been inherited by the Dominion of India from the British masters. Three young Mao youths were sacrificed. Prof. Gangmumei Kamei wrote that the Naga National League died a natural death.

The agitators were imprisoned at Dum Dum Central Jail. A. Daiho, after release from jail was made a member of the Advisory Council of the Chief Commissioner after Manipur's Merger with India. N. Modoli, the Secretary of the NNL entered into the service of the Government of Manipur.

One must be aware that the Pan-Naga discourse interpreted the intense incident as having been deeply influenced by Naga national awakening for Naga solidarity and desire for Nagas to live under one administrative roof. But one is surprised that Daiho too willingly became a member of the Advisory Council to the Chief Commissioner, and N. Modoli, Secretary of the League, accommodated in the Manipur administration.

It is also to be verified that not a single Naga village in Manipur participated in the Naga plebiscite of 1951. Actual participation of the Mao people was reported to have been led by one Beshikho Chaumai (spelling uncertain) who joined the NNC ranks in 1955.

As for the Tangkhul people, various openings in the new India's constitutional structure, and opening of avenues of recognition and service for Manipur seem to have been considered by the elite leaders of the Tangkhul community. Through age-old relationship through blood and tradition of amity, leaders like Major R. Khathing, Miksha R. Shimray, Thisam Luikham, R. Suisa, Ngalangjar Ragui etc. were reported to have contributed to the unfolding mixed scenario of accommodation and development.

It was perhaps in the sixties when the war between the Indian state and the Naga people became severe and violence and oppression became a daily feature of Naga experience, that volunteers from the hill areas of Manipur participated more ardently in the Naga cause. Leaders like R. Suisa and Rishang Keishing entered the constitutional politics of India, while Th. Muivah was learnt to have joined in the late sixties and soon rose in the ranks of NNC.

A civil society body known as the Manipur Naga Council was formed in 1956, merging with the NNC in 1957. Angam Anal, and Z. Ramyo went underground. Z. Ramyo a handsome football player we saw often at the Imphal pologround was reported to be more capable than Muivah, and his unfortunate death in a car accident in the United States had cut short his contribution to the Naga cause, even though he was one of the signatories of the Shillong Accord of 1975.

We are as yet to be informed fully of the participation of the Tangkhul community and their contribution to the Naga Independence movement. In fact the people in the plains of Manipur would be happier to side with Baba Khaplang's statement that the 'Tangkhuls are not Nagas, that they are elder brothers of the Meeteis'. There are plenty of each community's folklore which are yet to be explored and investigated for their very meanings and values in search of proper history of decolonization.

I need not say more of the critical issues when the movement for Naga Independence became a discourse which became a bone of contention with the neighbouring communities of Manipur. The discourse has yet to be peacefully addressed if alternative aspirations are seeking recognition and legitimacy at the same time.

Problems of the first peoples of the Northeast seem to have had a common experience of the over-recurring colonial experience, recycled through hegemonic penetration of ambitious powers refusing to acknowledge conflict under international humanitarian laws and values. I hope the Research Centre under the supervision of Rev. V.K. Nuh and his distinguished colleagues would discover deeper spiritual meanings in the course of their mission. A fuller, more intimate biography of A Zapu Phizo would surely emerge from the efforts of this precious venture.

I, on behalf of our people in Manipur, and my colleagues here on this august gathering, wish the Naga Archives & Research Centre success through God's grace and we stand to extend support and co-operation to this noble task!


(This is the text of Dr Lokendra Arambam's speech at the inauguration of the Naga Archives & Research Centre, Dimapur, Nagaland on November 7, 2015)

Concluded..