Nagalim Voice September-October 2025
INDELIBLE TRUTH OF NAGA POLITICAL MOVEMENT
Deputy Ato Kilonser Lt. Gen. Retd. Vs. Atem, VC, AEM who was the Chief Guest at Phungyar in Ukhrul, Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR), Independence Day Celebration, reminded the huge gathering the indelible historical truth of the Naga’s political identity and the defining moments as recorded in the pages of Naga political movement. In defence of Naga’s independent identity, Nagas are assertive and this was demonstrated when the Angami Naga warriors gave the British Empire “a taste of its own medicine” as they valiantly engaged the British forces through guerrilla tactics, not once but eleven times.
He pointed out that the Nagas were no less than the Indian when it comes to political consciousness as an independent sovereign nation. The Naga Club submitted the memorandum to the Simon Commission in January 10, 1929, that Naga people be excluded from the proposed constitutional reform of 1935 and to leave the Nagas to determine their own political future after the British departure.
K. Chawang acknowledge the 14th August, a great day and blessed day when God gave the Nagas the sovereign rights as a nation when the Nagas declared independence one day ahead of India ‘s independence. This was conveyed to the whole world, including the United Nations Organization (UNO). It has gone into the history as Nagas have stood the ground to honour the God-given Naga nation. This is the significance of the Independence Day that has been recorded for the last 79 years.
On the crucial ongoing Indo-Naga political talks he admitted the complexity as Government of India has its own problem. However, the truth of the unbreakable Naga political foundation was admitted by India during the time of India’s Interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah who said that the “foundation of the Naga history is too strong that it cannot be dismantled”. Finally, Government of India recognised the unique history and the situation of the Nagas and this led to the historic Framework Agreement (FA) of the 3rd August, 2015.
According to FA, sovereignty lies with the people but as we are searching for peaceful settlement of Naga issue, we like to be with India but not within India. “We have had good relation with India and on that line, we have come out with the formula of sharing sovereign powers. The sovereign powers of the Nagas also should be given to the GoI as much as the GoI to honour thesovereign rights of the Nagas and by sharing of sovereign powers we are trying to work out a formula.