Nagas from across the world, along with well-wishers like UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organization), and Naga International Support Centre (NISC), joined hands in commemorating the Naga Plebiscite Day on May 16, 2024, after 73 years.
It was a red-letter day in the history of the Naga freedom struggle as the Naga Plebiscite reaffirmed Naga Independence announced on August 14, 1947. It was the day the Nagas portrayed themselves loud & clear with their thumb impressions in which 99.9% of the Nagas voted for Sovereign Naga Nation.
It was the most powerful symbol of the Naga People’s inalienable right to sovereignty. It also represents the virtue of the Nagas and ignites the flame of the irreversible political identity of the Nagas as a sovereign nation.
National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN GPRN), Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Naga Hoho, Naga Student’s Federation (NSF), Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Global Naga Forum (GNF), United Naga Council (UNC) Manipur, Tirap Changlang Longding People’s Front (TCLPF) Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO), Naga People’s Organization (NPO) Myanmar, Naga Women Union (NWU), Tribe Hoho’s, All Naga Student’s Association Manipur, District Apex Bodies, Naga Churches, Politicians, Social Activist, intellectuals and well-wishers expressed in one voice to reaffirm the stand of Naga Nation. “Remembering with thanks to our ancestors,” said Eno. Gen Ningkhan Shimray, MC, VC Longvibu, Naga Army, in his welcome address on the commemoration day at GHC.
As the historical truth is told, Nagas, under the banner of the Naga National Council (NNC), conducted the Naga Plebiscite.
“We are here today to reaffirm the stand of our Naga Nation that we do not need India, and we do not want her. We are here, today, to prove to India and the world that Nagaland is United and that our nation aspires to the same conviction to continue to be independent as a distinct nation as we have always been the sovereign National state of the Nagas,” said A.Z. Phizo, President, NNC on the Naga Plesbicite Day, May 16, 1951.
Brief Background of Nagas as a Nation and the Declaration of Naga Independence on August 14, 1947:
Nagas came into existence as a free nation since time immemorial without any pressure from the outside world. Nagas are politically a distinct nation, with each village as a republic with sovereign authority.
Naturally, Nagas were against any intrusion/incursion and domination over the sovereign right. Nagas zealously guarded against the misadventure of alien forces like the Shans from the east and the Ahoms from the west. When the British intruded into the Naga territory, they went through a horrible time at the hands of the ferocious Angami Warriors.
This depicts the spirit of Naga nationalism for their love of their mother country. It shocked the forces that dared to test the nerves of the Nagas. The Naga People’s allegiance to the Naga nationhood is the dynamism of the Naga culture.
The passion for political freedom and independence are intrinsically linked and had been the motivating factor that drives the Naga political movement.
The British ruler, who established their authority over the small Naga area known as Naga Hills District in 1879, became more conscious of the Nagas’ political rights and their concern for future political status.
They could follow the burning desire of the Nagas, who did not want their national identity buried under the shadow of British India or British Burma. Thus, when J. H Hutton, a British officer, convened a meeting with the Naga Club to ascertain their wishes after the departure of the British, the Nagas expressed their desire to be left alone just as the British found them.
When the Simon Commission visited Kohima on January 10, 1929, the Naga Club exhibited remarkable political maturity by coming up with a more organised system in their political approach towards their stand. They submitted a memorandum that the Nagas be left alone to decide their own future and their political status be reverted to the independence they enjoyed before the British came.
The memorandum reads: “We pray that we should not be thrust on the mercy of the people who could never have conquered us themselves, and to whom we were never subjected, but to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times.”
Ironically, things were not moving as desired by the Nagas as the British Government and British India Government showed no sign of withdrawing their hold on the Nagas. This compelled the Nagas to organise themselves under the banner of the Naga National Council (NNC) and assert their rights in a manner that carried the weight of authority and credibility.
Henceforth, NNC occupied the centre stage to lead the Naga political movement. The NNC submitted a memorandum to the British Government and British India Government on February 20, 1947, with the request for interim Government for themselves and proposed a ‘Protected State Status’ with India as a guardian power for an interim period of ten years, at the end of which the Nagas would be left with to decide their political future.
A copy of the memorandum was sent to Clement Atlee, the Prime Minister of England, Lord Simon, a Member of the House of Lords and Winston Churchill. Part of the cover letter to Lord Simon, the house of the Lord’s reads:
“No argument is needed to show that the Nagas are a separate people with their own customs, traditions and culture; and to say that the British Government has decided to hand over to the Indian hands’ complete authority for governing over Nagaland, is completely inconsistent with the policy of administration hither followed in these Hills and in violation of implied but clear pledges in the past years, without even asking the opinion of the Nagas is not only unjust but immoral.”
Nevertheless, the Nagas decided to put up a good fight when it became very clear that the overriding geopolitics of the Indian government was simply to make the Nagas part of the Indian Union. This was made known when the Indian Constituent Assembly was established in 1946. T. Aliba Imti, the first NNC President was made a part of the Sub-committee.
When this Sub-committee met in Shillong over the issue of joining India, Nagas refused to be bogged down under any pressure and stoutly took the stand not to go along with the other princely states and walked away with the comment: “We the Nagas, cannot sign our names to be under India. We do not agree with it and we resign.” Not willing to let his name go down in history as having led down the Nagas, Imti plainly told the sub-committee, “I cannot return to my people as a traitor.”
Following the failure of the Shillong meeting of the sub-committee, the very next year the sub-committee visited Kohima in May 1947 to persuade the Nagas to join the Indian Union.
At this juncture, the NNC became more assertive and stated that Nagas are willing to cooperate with India only under the ten-year interim period with the freedom to terminate any agreement entered with the government of India after ten years. NNC was bold enough to make known the legitimate stand of the Nagas that they have their own constitution and they would never bow down to subscribe or surrender to the constitution of any country under any circumstances, come what may.
It was under the heat of this moment that the government of India sent Sir Akbar Hydari, the Governor of Assam, to Kohima on 27th June 1947, to meet the NNC leaders to resolve the deadlock.
There were three days of hectic consultations, and finally, an agreement was reached known as the Nine Point Agreement (Hydari Agreement). It was signed by moderate NNC leaders T. Aliba, as NNC President and T. Sakhrie as NNC General Secretary and the Government of India. However, NNC leaders like AZ. Phizo were never optimistic about the Nine Point Agreement and never believed that India would be sincere enough to implement it.
NNC was given official recognition as the sole national political authority of Nagas. What has really built up the confidence of the Nagas was that after ten years the Nagas have the liberty to terminate the agreement.
However, within a few months after the agreement was signed, the Nagas were given a rude shock when the government of India denied that there was a provision in the agreement for the Nagas to terminate the agreement after ten years and establish for themselves a sovereign independent state and threatened the NNC leaders that India would use force against the Nagas if they refuse to join the Union of India. This ugly turn of development shattered the faith of the Nagas in the Government of India.
However, the NNC hardliners led by AZ. Phizo rushed to Delhi and made things very clear before the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi that Nagas would declare independence on August 14, 1947, no matter what the opposition was from the government.
True to his statesmanship, Mahatma Gandhi lent his ears very patiently to the narrative of the NNC leaders. He was true enough to tell the Naga delegates that Nagas had every right to be independent if they did not want to join the Indian Union.
Mahatma Gandhi took strong exception and responded, “Sir Akbar Hydari is wrong! He cannot do that… I will come to the Naga Hills; I will ask them to shoot me first before one Naga is shot.” He further stated,” Why wait until August 14? Why not even declare your independence tomorrow?!” Unfortunately, the ruling elites in the Government of India were determined to use force to bring the Nagas into submission.
Tragedy struck as Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated but in his death, Nagas finds inspiration in his path of non-violence & truth.
The NNC leaders returned to Kohima, emboldened by the successful meeting with Gandhi. They wasted no time and declared Naga Independence on August 14, 1947.
The declaration was sent to the King of England, the Government of India and the Secretary General of the United Nations in which it was explicitly mentioned that “Nagas will be independent and Nagas do not accept Indian suzerainty, and the right of the people must prevail regardless of size.”
The policy of aggression against the Nagas began to unfold when the Indian Army started to arrest and imprison Naga political leaders. Even AZ. Phizo, the President of NNC and others were thrown into prison in July 1948 while returning from Delhi after meeting the Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.
NNC pursued a policy of non-violence, and approached the Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari on November 28, 1948, to reason out the Naga political issue. C. Rajagopalachari assured them and said, “India wants to be friendly with you. India does not want to deprive Nagas of their land. Nagas are at liberty to do as they like, either to become part of India or be separated if it would be best for their interest to be isolated.”
The act of betrayal against the Nagas came when the government of India committed a breach of the agreement. In 1949, Gopinath Bordoloi, Chief Minister of Assam admitted that the Government of India no longer held the Nine-Point Agreement valid and invited the Nagas to join the Union of India.
To the Nagas, this is like rubbing salt in the wound. Nagas rejected the offer outrightly and resorted to taking legitimate steps as the only way to find a solution to a fundamental political problem. On January 24, 1950, the NNC informed the Indian Government, the United Nations and those countries that had their embassies in Delhi that the Nagas do not accept the Indian Suzerainty.
Finally, to lend legitimacy to the Nagas’ claim as an independent nation declared on August 14, 1947, NNC took a critical decision to organise a Naga Voluntary Plebiscite and accordingly informed the Government of India on January 1, 1951, in no uncertain term that there is ongoing back on Plebiscite as scheduled.
The NNC President AZ. Phizo informed the President of India to send their observers to bear witness to the whole process of the Plebiscite from the beginning to the end. The Plesbicite was held on May 16, 1951, and saw multitudes of people never witnessed in the history of the Nagas. It turned out to be a landslide victory for the Nagas as the tabulated results showed 99.9% of Nagas who favoured Sovereign independent Naga Nation.
Taking a bold stand, NNC delegates met the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru on March 11, 1952, to convey the sovereign will of the Naga people as expressed through the Plebiscite.
The government of India determined to throttle the bonafide standing of the Naga political rights by imposing Indian state elections on the Nagas. When the Nagas boycotted both the 1952 and 1957 General Elections, India used violence that attacked the human dignity of the Nagas.
During the Indo-Naga political dialogue, NSCN leaders led by Chief negotiator Th. Muivah spotlighted the declaration of Naga Independence and plebiscite based on solid historical foundations.
The government of India accepted the historical truth that the Nagas were in existence with a sovereign identity as a nation. Accordingly, two agreements were signed: (i) Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 11, 2002, which recognises the unique history of the Nagas and the political situation, and (ii) Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, which recognises the bonafide status of the Nagas with sovereign rights.
In God’s name, Naga Plesbicite Day in consonance with the recognised unique history of the Nagas and Framework Agreement, Naga Plebiscite was commemorated on 16th May 2024 after 73 years. Thus the sovereign rights of the Nagas as flaunted on May 16, 1951, will continue to remain imprinted indelibly in the psyche of the Nagas. “In God who has the power and authority over the universe, we put our trust,” concludes Tongmeth Wangnao, Vice Chairman, NSCN.
The author is a freelance journalist based out of Ukhrul, Manipur. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect EastMojo’s view on this issue in any manner.
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