In January 2009, my wife was about five months pregnant with my first and so far only child. During this time I had been in contact with one prominent gynecologist here in Kohima and another one down there in Zion hospital, Dimapur. What surprised me was that both these two doctors independently predicted that my wife’s expected date of delivery was 16th May 2009.
When I told my father about this prediction given independently by the two doctors, my father simply replied that 16th May is an important and historic day for the Nagas. Upon hearing this I did not even ask my father how and why 16th May is an important day for the Nagas even though I was not aware of 16th May having any special relevance for the Naga people.
Thereafter, for days and for weeks I kept asking myself ‘what is so special about 16th May?’ and ‘why and how is 16th May a significant day for the Naga people?’
Finally it dawned on me that 16th May is a significant and historic day for the Naga people because of two reasons.
1) Firstly, 16th May happens to be the birthday of Dr. A.Z. Phizo – the man we call the father of our Naga nation. I came to know that Phizo was born on 16th May 1904 and I recalled that Phizo was most instrumental in creating strong waves of political consciousness among the Nagas about 5-7 decades ago.
2) Secondly, 16th May is also a significant and historic day for the Nagas because it was on this day in 1951 that the famous and historic Naga plebiscite was held wherein 99.9 % of the Naga population voted for total independence and sovereignty.
Now, we all know that the famous Naga plebiscite of 1951 was held under the initiative and leadership of Zapuphizo. Therefore, I wonder whether it was just a coincidence that this historic plebiscite was held on Phizo’s birthday or was there something more to it.
Phizo did everything possible on his part to make India and the world understand that the Nagas had always lived an independent and un-interfered life since time immemorial and he devoted his entire life towards making the Naga people an independent and sovereign nation recognized by the modern world. And for his contributions he is fondly called as the ‘Father of the Naga Nation’.
Now, let us have a thought on how our Indian counterparts honor their ‘Father of the Nation’. On every 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti), the President and the Prime Minister of India along with many other dignitaries go to the Gandhi Samadhi (Gandhi’s grave) in New Delhi and pay their respects to this great soul. Similarly, ever since Mahatma Gandhi was gunned down by Nathuram Godse at Birla House, New Delhi on 30th January 1948, this day (30th January 1948) has also become a historic and an unforgettable day for millions of Indians. Even today, on every 30th January, many programs and activities are held through out India in remembrance of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
As mentioned, Phizo was born on 16th May 1904 and he passed away in London on 30th April 1990. Except for a program which was held in 2004 to commemorate his birth centenary, as of now I am not aware of any program or activity being conducted by anyone either on 16th May or 30th April in remembrance of Zapuphizo. We call him ‘the Father of the Nation’ but nobody seems to remember him even on his birthday. Yes, it is sad but true that even on 16th May and 30th April, Phizo’s grave situated near the entrance of the new secretariat complex wears a deserted look.
In early May 1990 also, when the plane carrying Phizo’s coffin landed at the Dimapur airport, his supporters declared that from then onwards the Dimapur airport would be called as Phizo airport. But even today, 21 years later, the Dimapur airport is still known as Dimapur airport and not as Phizo airport. Besides being the birthday of Phizo, 16th May was also the day in 1951 when the Nagas declared in one voice once and for all that they were a separate nation and people and that they had nothing to do with the new independent India. This declaration was made by means of the plebiscite conducted on this day. I believe that 16th May is worth remembering and cherishing by every Naga even for this simple fact that such a decisive event took place on this day in 1951.
Now, let me wind up this discussion by mentioning how the great Indian leaders honored one of their greatest political events. India’s history tells us that the Indian national flag was first hoisted at Lahore on 26th January 1929, i.e., 18 years before India’s independence. When India was about to become independent, a constituent assembly was set up to frame a new constitution for the new country. This constituent assembly under the presidentship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad completed its work in about three years time and the new constitution of independent India was adopted on 26th November 1949. The new constitution having been adopted on 26th November 1949, it could have been enforced on any day soon after. However, the Indian leaders decided to enforce independent India’s new constitution on 26th January 1950 to signify and symbolize the fact that the Indian national flag was first hoisted at Lahore on 26th January 1929. Since then India celebrates its Republic Day every year on 26th January. Having known this, I would say that India really knows how to honor and cherish its big days.
Finally, coming back to the prediction of the doctors, since both the two doctors independently predicted that my wife’s expected date of delivery was 16th May 2009, I became quite convinced that I would become a father on this day. However, contrary to the predictions of the doctors, my child or rather my daughter was born, not on 16th May 2009, but eleven days later on 27th May 2009. And since that day, 27th May has also become a historic and important day for me and my family just as 16th May is for the Naga people.
When I told my father about this prediction given independently by the two doctors, my father simply replied that 16th May is an important and historic day for the Nagas. Upon hearing this I did not even ask my father how and why 16th May is an important day for the Nagas even though I was not aware of 16th May having any special relevance for the Naga people.
Thereafter, for days and for weeks I kept asking myself ‘what is so special about 16th May?’ and ‘why and how is 16th May a significant day for the Naga people?’
Finally it dawned on me that 16th May is a significant and historic day for the Naga people because of two reasons.
1) Firstly, 16th May happens to be the birthday of Dr. A.Z. Phizo – the man we call the father of our Naga nation. I came to know that Phizo was born on 16th May 1904 and I recalled that Phizo was most instrumental in creating strong waves of political consciousness among the Nagas about 5-7 decades ago.
2) Secondly, 16th May is also a significant and historic day for the Nagas because it was on this day in 1951 that the famous and historic Naga plebiscite was held wherein 99.9 % of the Naga population voted for total independence and sovereignty.
Now, we all know that the famous Naga plebiscite of 1951 was held under the initiative and leadership of Zapuphizo. Therefore, I wonder whether it was just a coincidence that this historic plebiscite was held on Phizo’s birthday or was there something more to it.
Phizo did everything possible on his part to make India and the world understand that the Nagas had always lived an independent and un-interfered life since time immemorial and he devoted his entire life towards making the Naga people an independent and sovereign nation recognized by the modern world. And for his contributions he is fondly called as the ‘Father of the Naga Nation’.
Now, let us have a thought on how our Indian counterparts honor their ‘Father of the Nation’. On every 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti), the President and the Prime Minister of India along with many other dignitaries go to the Gandhi Samadhi (Gandhi’s grave) in New Delhi and pay their respects to this great soul. Similarly, ever since Mahatma Gandhi was gunned down by Nathuram Godse at Birla House, New Delhi on 30th January 1948, this day (30th January 1948) has also become a historic and an unforgettable day for millions of Indians. Even today, on every 30th January, many programs and activities are held through out India in remembrance of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
As mentioned, Phizo was born on 16th May 1904 and he passed away in London on 30th April 1990. Except for a program which was held in 2004 to commemorate his birth centenary, as of now I am not aware of any program or activity being conducted by anyone either on 16th May or 30th April in remembrance of Zapuphizo. We call him ‘the Father of the Nation’ but nobody seems to remember him even on his birthday. Yes, it is sad but true that even on 16th May and 30th April, Phizo’s grave situated near the entrance of the new secretariat complex wears a deserted look.
In early May 1990 also, when the plane carrying Phizo’s coffin landed at the Dimapur airport, his supporters declared that from then onwards the Dimapur airport would be called as Phizo airport. But even today, 21 years later, the Dimapur airport is still known as Dimapur airport and not as Phizo airport. Besides being the birthday of Phizo, 16th May was also the day in 1951 when the Nagas declared in one voice once and for all that they were a separate nation and people and that they had nothing to do with the new independent India. This declaration was made by means of the plebiscite conducted on this day. I believe that 16th May is worth remembering and cherishing by every Naga even for this simple fact that such a decisive event took place on this day in 1951.
Now, let me wind up this discussion by mentioning how the great Indian leaders honored one of their greatest political events. India’s history tells us that the Indian national flag was first hoisted at Lahore on 26th January 1929, i.e., 18 years before India’s independence. When India was about to become independent, a constituent assembly was set up to frame a new constitution for the new country. This constituent assembly under the presidentship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad completed its work in about three years time and the new constitution of independent India was adopted on 26th November 1949. The new constitution having been adopted on 26th November 1949, it could have been enforced on any day soon after. However, the Indian leaders decided to enforce independent India’s new constitution on 26th January 1950 to signify and symbolize the fact that the Indian national flag was first hoisted at Lahore on 26th January 1929. Since then India celebrates its Republic Day every year on 26th January. Having known this, I would say that India really knows how to honor and cherish its big days.
Finally, coming back to the prediction of the doctors, since both the two doctors independently predicted that my wife’s expected date of delivery was 16th May 2009, I became quite convinced that I would become a father on this day. However, contrary to the predictions of the doctors, my child or rather my daughter was born, not on 16th May 2009, but eleven days later on 27th May 2009. And since that day, 27th May has also become a historic and important day for me and my family just as 16th May is for the Naga people.
Khrietuonyü Noudi, Kohima Village
