Naga Solidarity Walk ends at Senapati town with unity call
Choice facing the Nagas today is too real and clear to ignore: Prof Rosemary
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Senapati, July 29 2022: In a historic gather ing, thousands of Nagas from across borders came together to unite under the theme 'One People, One Destiny', having walked for two days from Nagaland's Kohima city to Senapati district.

On reaching Senapati, more than 5000 participants took part in the rally joining from different locations.

Solidarity messages from ENSA, All Naga Catholic Federation, Naga Christian Forum, Manipur, Tenyimi Women's Organisation, Di-mapur, Rengma Naga People's Council, Haflong, Assam, Naga Women's Union, ANSAM, Naga Mothers' Association, NSF and UNC were also read out during the programme.

Nagas in large number, young and old, most of them in their traditional attires, walked for two days exhibiting their oneness to tell the world that their destiny is just one.

Organised by Global Naga Forum (GNF), Nagas from different walks of life walked for over hundred kilometres under the theme and banner: "Naga Solidarity Walk; One People, One Destiny".

They were greeted with cheers, drinking water, food and banners carrying encouraging words.

They held a night at Maram where an evening gathering programme was organised.

From there, the 'walkers' proceeded for Senapati early this morning and reached the destination around noop where a mammoth programme was organised.

A leader representing Nagas in Myanmar, while delivering a solidarity speech, stated that he stood and participated in the 'walk' "where Naga organisations and Naga people talked about one people and one nation" .

He also said that it was a celebration in breaking regional ideologies and barriers.

The Naga leader from Myanmar then appealed to the rest of the Nagas not to forget the hardship faced by the Nagas in Myanmar.

He also said that the unique Naga history and culture will be incomplete if the Nagas in Myanmar are excluded from the Naga political settlement and opined that such a settlement will be a blunder.

In her speech, Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu, co-conve-nor of Global Naga Forum, said that they have started a journey for Naga unity, a walk for a better future together as One People in an undivided ancestral homeland.

Prof Rosemary also said that it was a walk for lasting peace and shared prosperity, without exceptions, throughout the Naga homeland, which, even today, lies divided in two countries - four states in India and a province in Myanmar.

"This we know is a gross violation of our human and indigenous peoples' rights," the GNF leader added.

Prof Rosemary then said that the Naga Solidarity Walk may be described as a community celebration: Celebration of our beautiful and bountiful Homeland which has given birth to and nurtured generations of a free, brave, and generous people; and who in turn have produced the colourful and vibrant festivals and rich cultures that Nagas are known for in many parts of the world.

Walking together these two days from Kohima to Senapati, across Angami, Mao, Maram and Poumai territories, "was a way for us to emphasize the threat to our survival as a people, and therefore the need to reclaim, sustain, and grow our precious Naga heritage.

It would be a real shame for Nagas of this generation to lose it all" .

She also stated that the choice facing the Nagas today is too real and clear to ignore.

"So every Naga must ask oneself this question: Am I for the survival of the Nagas as a people with a precious salvageable heritage? Or with the small vested interest groups in Naga society whose main preoccupations are power and wealth?" she asked.

The GNF leader then said that the choice lies with each of the Nagas and with all of Nagas as a people.

"Let me then restate what the Solidarity Walk is about in three short points: First, it is a Walk for peace and transformative change," she also said.

"Second, let's be clear about one thing.

The Naga Solidarity Walk is not against other people; it is not anti-Indian or anti-Myanmarese.

"It is pro-Naga rights of self-determination and for peace in our homeland," Prof Rosemary said.

"Third, we hope this positive community-based action will grow into a burgeoning journey for a brighter future for all Nagas.

We invite every Naga to proudly exercise your right to walk in your God-given homeland, no matter what anyone may say to the contrary," she added.

According to Prof Rosemary, vested interest career politicians and groups may ask why Naga Solidarity Walk now.

"First, we won't be walking for Naga Solidarity if we were united.

The Naga family is breaking apart from the stress put on us for too long from outside and from within," She stated.

According to her, physically separated from one another and politically divided, the Naga family is drifting farther apart and beginning to deny their own peoplehood.

"We are forgetting our common destiny.

We desperately need to heal ourselves from the wounds and offenses We have inflicted on one another.

It is true, the past doesn't die; it continues to live in us.

But we know the present is alive in us too, even more so, in the here and now.

But Nagas are abusing ourselves and destroying the present that belongs to all of us together," Prof Rosemary added.

Prof Rose then said, "You can keep denying the fact, but the fact is Nagas are a people with a shared history, therefore a shared destiny".

The second reason for the Naga Solidarity Walk is to honour the Naga ancestors by walking in their footsteps.

"Our Naga ancestors from multiple language and cultural families walked the length and breadth of their respective territories for hundreds of years, if not millennia," she said.

"Then European colonialism and modernity arrived in these parts.

And with that, colonial Britain and postcolonial India and Burma split up the Naga homeland for control of our lands and ancestors," she also pointed out.

Since then, thousands of Naga patriots have sacrificed their lives for Naga people-hood, and generations of their families have suffered and experienced irreparable disadvantage and harm, she mentioned.

"We must honour their memory and turn their sacrifices into something beautiful, useful and admirable.

May the Naga Solidarity Walk we set in motion yesterday and today contribute richly to a successful journey of Naga peoplehood in a thriving, undivided ancestral Homeland, " the GNF leader concluded her speech.

Lauding the brave walkers who dared the sun, rain, mud and dust along the way, Naga People's Organisation (NPO) president Solomon Arow stated that the historic walk is to prove that Nagas are one by blood and have only one destiny.

"Walkers, you are our hope, torch-bearers, pillars and hope of the Nagas.

We respect and love you and so welcome you to Senapati once again.

Your footprints become the remarkable landmark in the Naga history, your sweats, tears, strength, and courage brought the Nagas closer today as brothers and sisters and have overcome the artificial barriers," said Arow.

Giving the public statement about the walk, Naga Solidarity Walk convenor Vichiituolie Mere stated that post-colonial India and Burma continued to impose colonial rule over Naga's land and their ancestors till date which is a gross violation of Human and Indigenous People's Rights.

The gathering also witnessed a theme song on the Naga Solidarity walk by Padma Shri Guru Rewben Mashangva, which was composed by Dr Visier Sanyu, president of the Overseas Nagas Association and adviser to GNF.

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