Kezha Angami
Kedahge, Federal Government of Nagaland
With great honour and respect, I take the time to deliver my speech as Kedahge on this auspicious occasion for the Nagas.
Seventy years ago, the Naga National Council (NNC), under the Presidentship of AZ Phizo, in consultation and understanding with the “Government of the Peoples Sovereign Republic of Free Nagaland (GPSRFN)” and all other Regional leaders convened a meeting on this day—the 22nd of March, 1956 at Parashen in Rengma Region.
That day the Naga National flag was officially hoisted by Thungti Chang, the Naga Yehzabo—the Constitution was adopted and came into force, and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was established. Thus, the Naga Republic was born.
The announcement of the Naga Government (later rechristened the Federal Government of Nagaland) signed and issued by Thungti Chang, Chief of Home Guard, Government of Nagaland read:
“Nagas declared Naga Government today, the Twenty Second March, 1956. The FREE NAGAS and the Naga National Council held continued sessions during the last three months and approved the NAGA CONSTITUTION. Nagaland is a People’s Sovereign Republic. This has been so from time immemorial. There shall be one Parliament with a strength of one hundred TATARS (Parliament Members).
The President will be elected by the people who must have completed 40 years of age; and the Cabinet will consist of 15 Kilonsers (Administrative Elders or High Ministers). The Executive of the present Naga Government are Nagas belong to FREE NAGA FAMILY... In the ceremonial service the nation took these words from the Bible and read by:
1. Thungti Chang — Psalm 33:13, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord — the people who he has chosen as his heritage”.
2. AZ Phizo — Zechariah 4:6, ‘Then he said to me, this is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of the hosts’.
3. Khrisaneisa Seyietsu — Romans 10:18, “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed, they have; for their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of world”.
4. Kruzhalie Peseyie — Romans 8:33, ‘Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who Justifies’.
5. Whenha Kepen — Matthew 6:3, ‘But seek first his Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well’.”
The NNC communique, “Dated Oking 23 March, 1956” reads:
“The Nagas have formed own Naga YEHZABO THE CONSTITUTION. It has gone through third reading and approved with by the Naga National Council and the Nagas of FREE NAGALAND which territory is now being referred to by the Indian Government as ‘TUENSANG DIVISION’. The Naga Government began functioning on the Twenty Second March 1956 taking control of all the Administration of the country and those that have not yet been completed have been ordered to close down. It will not take long. Naga Government is born out of BLOOD and FIRE. It came into existence through such sufferings, sorrow and death... The present Naga Government is headed by Kilonser Hongkhin and Thungti, Chief of Home Guard. Both are Free Nagas. They are practical men and had the distinction of being from a family of Free Men since the beginning of time.”
In the presence of the following national leaders as witnessed—AZ Phizo, Imkongmeren, Khriesaneisa Seyietsu, Whenha Kepen, Lakhimong Yim, Hongkhin, Thungti Chang, Ivulho Sema, Neilhounyü Angami, Tolhoupu Sema, Yongkong Ao, Tsathieo Lotha, Khaming Khiamniungan, Chuba Chang, Kruzhalie Peseyie, Longphang Chang—the formation of the Government of Nagaland under NNC merged the independent Free Nagaland and the ‘administered Naga-Hills’ into a unified, single independent political entity. Thereby in effect, for all intents and purposes known as Nagaland. Nagaland—a solidified nation, with a flag, the Yezhabo and the Federal Government was thus, Officially Proclaimed.
Today, on this occasion, Nagas remember and pay our highest respect to the pioneering leadership of the “Government of the Peoples Sovereign Republic of Free Nagaland”—Thungti Chang, Lakhimong Yim, Litsaba Sangtam, Tsilise Sangtam, Hongkhin, Khoni, Lokokmong, Meshe, Pangba, Posha, Pomong, Sakobomong, Setongchu, Shonnymong, Shamnyak, Tomukam, Ungobok, Yemba, Yamba and others. The people and the leaders, not only welcomed when Phizo and his team first set their footprints in Tuensang, the Free Naga Territory, in the winter of 1952, but took upon themselves the vision of NNC and extended the political mandate of Free-Naga Territory to all Nagaland.
We honour the sacred Covenant and Declaration of our forefathers and leaders. Let no men and external forces play mischief.
As it was, the Naga Government Formation and flag hoisting in 1956 was originally scheduled at Chiephou, the village-republic of Chiechama in Angami Region. Angami Region was already crawling with Indian Armed Forces and informants. When preparation was underway, the Indian Armed Forces attacked Chiechama. In the ensuing fight, Capt. Rovito Peseyie died a martyr on March 18th, 1956. Two Naga youth recovering the body of the Captain for honourable burial were also killed.
At that point of time in history, Phizo and NNC functionaries had moved camp to Rengma Region when it was made impossible for Naga leaders to function national activities in Angami Region because of the prevailing extreme hostile environment.
The village-republic of Phenshüngyu and Sendenyu in Rengma Region stepped-up and took on the responsibility to host the Ceremony, fully knowing the repercussion of the military might will be swift and brutal. The weight of history on Phenshüngyu and Sendenyu as the shared custodian of Parashen—the place where the Naga flag was hoisted, the Yehzabo came into force, hence, the declaration of the Republic of Nagaland took place, is massive. But Parashen is no longer a geographical place for Phenshtingyu and Sendenyu alone. Its association with the Republic Declaration has made it a place of national importance—inseparable and inalienable from the Naga history and for the nation—just like the historical places of Taknyu, Huker, Longtok, Hoshepu, Sanis, Wokha, Chedema, Khensa, Sakraba, Longmisa and many more. These places are our living testimony and symbol of our resistance, ingenuity, courage, suffering and triumph.
Thereafter, in the NNC General Meeting at Sanis in Lotha Region on July 12, 1956, as mandated by the Naga Yezhabo, Khriesanisa Seyietsu took oath as the first Kedahge; Scato Swu as the Kedallo, Whenha Kepen as the Chairman of the Kilonsers (later rechristened Ato Kilonser). Thungti Chang continued as the Chief of the Naga Home Guard and Yangkey Patton as the Federal Chaplain pronounced the dedicatory prayer. The Occasion was witnessed by more than 2000 Nagas. The process of the forming of the Federal Government of Nagaland established in March 22 at Parashen was thus completed at Sanis.
The Preamble of the Yehzabo reads, “We, the people of Nagaland solemnly acknowledging that the sovereignty over the earth and the entire universe belongs to Almighty God alone and the authority of the people to be exercised on the territory a sacred trust from God, who sustained our forefathers, the national workers and our people through the years of trail...”
Furthermore, Part 1 Article 4 states, “Each village is a republic within its own territory having full authority over its own affairs including land, community, organization, social, culture, religion, customs and practices”.
Yes, Nagas are a free people. We are a nation. We are a republic. And the legitimatization of the declaration of our Independence and Sovereignty is rooted in the foundation of the village-republic, instituted across different region in the Naga country since time immemorial. These Naga national character are undeniable, irrefutable and indisputable. The continuity of our village-republic mandated us to protect the rightful claim over our land, our political institutions and organize the Nagas as a people and a nation. In God’s time, NNC was founded in February 2, 1946 and became the political umbrella and institution for the Naga village-republics to come together as a Naga nation and remain sovereign.
We appeal to all the democratic-loving citizens around the world, beseeching your solidarity and support in our struggle to protect our age-old ancient independent institution and existence as declared on the 14 August 1947, which was ratified in the National Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 and the declaration of our Republic and the establishment of the FGN on the 22 March 1956. The heart and soul of NNC are the village-republics. Therefore, the foundation, strength and living force of FGN are the village-republics spread across sub-regions and regions in the land of our forefather and ancestors—we call Nagaland.
Our founding fathers and pioneering leaders, at the core of our Yezhabo inscribed the principles of the republic—where the supreme and ultimate authority resides with the people, democratic federalism—where region holds power and representatives are chosen respecting our democratic and political processes.
But today, Nagas are in a state of confusion. We must thoughtfully ask—why have we reduced ourselves to this state of affairs? It is easy to shift responsibility and blame everyone but ourselves.
We take this occasion, to humbly acknowledge where we have faltered, accept the need to reflect on our limitations and failings and correct ourselves. We can claim our rightful place in history and become the living force to serve and lead like our founding fathers, when we start taking responsibilities, wake from our slumber and act against our apathy, closed mindset, indifference and infighting.
On my part, I pledge to listen, and seek common ground and work side by side to heal wounds of division.
NNC and FGN belong to the Nagas. And the Naga public must ensure that NNC and FGN functionaries are accountable not only to the vision but their actions towards that vision for the nation.
History is very clear, big talk from the comfort of our homes have never liberated a nation. We must and we will move out of our homes and camps. We must and we will reach out to the people in the villages, in the towns and to the world with our mission.
Let us be reminded, we cannot attain and fulfil the Covenant of our vision by becoming subservient to forces that does not align with our vision and values.
“No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).” No one can serve God and mammon. Mammon lies, steals, destroys and eventually kills. Let no Naga—big or small, young or old, become the cautionary Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup.
The Bible says, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26”. God created nations, tribes and tongues.
For that fundamental reason, Nagas are not Indians. And Indians are also not Nagas. Nagas and Indians are different in every respect—ethnically, racially, linguistically, religiously, culturally, socially and historically. Even our food habits which is shaped and closely intertwined to our cultural patterns, traditions, religion and belief system is different.
Politically and physically—the records and events of history are very clear. Nagas never consented to be part of the construct of the Indian Union at any point of time. This is a historical fact.
We abhor the blatant aggression and occupation of our land and our country. What we have today is the occupation of Nagaland by the Indian State. The creation of Nagaland state is a puppet state.
This arrangement is unacceptable. At best, it can only be temporary. The design of the puppet state is an act of contempt and insult to the countless lives who have sacrificed and given their lives when India armed forces invaded Nagaland. Vande Mataram is alien to Nagaland. Politicians of the puppet state who wishes to rationalise otherwise and pay their allegiance, can do so elsewhere. But it cannot be in Nagaland.
Indian Army camps and cantonment should be removed and leave Nagaland. The presence of Indian Armed Forces that killed and tortured Nagas is a desecration to our Naga soul and soil. The atrocities committed by the Indian Armed Forces against the Nagas is a crime against humanity. India must own up, acknowledge and apologise for their action.
There is a Naga maxim—“Power and strength is measured not by machete, but the strength and bigness of the heart.” Nagaland and India must exist as friendly neighbours on the principles of mutual respect, common concerns, shared interests, and shared humanity. This is our desire, our dream, and our vision.
Today, the task before us is to strengthen the village-republic across region and develop a system that will give a collective force of resilience, sustainability, unity and understanding towards the vision of our founding fathers. And together we will explore ways and strengthen our age-old political institution of our village-republic as a dynamic consolidated force. This is our way forward.
I continue to appeal for the support and participation of all the village-republics in every region as the NNC and Federal Government collects and documents in phase-wise, the atrocities committed upon the village-republics and Nagas by external armed forces in our country. We will also remember the lives of individuals who selflessly and voluntarily gave their resources, who gave their life-long years of inimitable services to serve the people and the nation, and who made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives for the national cause. Let us take this as a Naga national undertaking of collective memory, remembering and recording.
With the continuing support of the people, NNC and the Federal Government will not only preserve but carry on the living history and make the foundation of the Naga Republic a living reality. We reiterate our unwavering stand on the founding NNC principles under one institution with one vision. Nagas will continue our struggle for dignity and freedom through democratic and peaceful means.
We remain committed to the NNC official position that was declared in its January 10th, 1949 General Meeting under the Presidentship of Visar Angami, of ‘non-violence in approach’, in our National journey come what may.
We fully acknowledge that God is guiding us in the making of our history. God holds the destiny of our nation. But we are painfully aware that the future of Nagaland will be shaped by adhering to the Christian values that underlines our republic, the sacrifices we make, and the choices and the actions we take. Our mental, moral, and spiritual bankruptcy will become afresh and grow, when our love and service for God and the nation triumphs over the mammon.
Let all Naga renew with vigour our commitment to the service of our people, our land and our nation.
God Bless our Republic. God Bless Nagaland.
Kuknalim
