THE HONOR OF STICKING TO ONE’S ULTIMATUM

This time I strongly approve the CNTC (Central Naga Tribes Council) for issuing a principled, reasonable and appropriate Ultimatum to the Naga Hoho for the later to withdraw its untenable support of the Government of Nagaland attempting to legitimize the unacceptable declaration of the Rongmeis as the ‘INDEGENOUS TRIBE OF NAGALAND’.   It is great the Ao, the Lotha and the Sümi Units of the CNTC that they have unwaveringly stuck to their Ultimatum to Naga Hoho. Particularly during a time when it has almost become a dishonorable custom for the NGOs of Nagaland to often issue Ultimatums haphazardly only to be broken on flimsy re-consideration before the Sun sets.  

Ultimatums are not Playthings issued to be broken. Nothing is more dishonorable for an Organization to issue an Ultimatum to be easily broken on flimsy justifications. It greatly degrades them.  

This time the CNTC stuck to their Ultimatum with consummate firmness and have set a great precedence for all the NGOs of Nagaland. I congratulate them.  

I was afraid the Ao, the Lotha and the Sümi Tribes of the CNTC may buckle at the Government’s unconscionable onslaught at them to weaken their resolve. It is surprising the Government has unnecessarily meddled in the internal affairs of the NGOs.  

It was completely unconscionable for any Naga of Nagaland to support a self defeating Interest of the State Government of Nagaland to grant ‘Indigenous Tribe’ Status to a Tribe not Indigenous to Nagaland. The Rongmei are no more, no less Naga than the Nagas of Nagaland but they were never ‘Indigenous’ in the Territories of Naga Hills or NEFA or Nagaland before.  

t is true some of them came and stayed in Kohima for their employment by the British before Nagaland became a State and quite a few of them were ‘Domiciled’ in Nagaland. That is in the records of the State, but a ‘Domiciled’ Status of a Community and an ‘Indigenous Tribe’ Status are completely different. They cannot be equated.  

It is only by ‘Natural Historical Process’ that a ‘Tribe’ is Indigenous to a natural geographical Territory. The Government can make a Community the ‘Citizen’ or ‘Domiciled’ to a Territory. The State of Nagaland can declare a ‘Punjabi’ or a ‘Marwari’ Citizen of Nagaland; but it can not make them Indigenous Tribe of Nagaland.  

Nagas can live in North America, can become USA Citizens or Domiciled of Canada but they can not become Indigenous Innui Tribe of Canada or Indigenous Red Indian Tribe of the USA.  

The Kacharis, some Karbis -formerly Mikirs- for whom Dimapur Area has been their ancient original Homeland, are the Indigenous Tribes of now Nagaland State. Similarly some Kukis who had their Villages in Naga Hills during the Colonial British days, are also the Indigenous of the State of Nagaland.  

It is historical fact the Rongmei Naga is not an Indigenous Tribe of the State of Nagaland. They never had Village or Tribal Territory in Nagaland: they can be ‘Citizen’ and ‘Domiciled’ of Nagaland but never ‘Indigenous Tribe of Nagaland’. This is not a personal matter; this is a much larger historical Tribal Issue.   It is non-understandable how the Naga Hoho supports the unwise Government of Nagaland’s attempt to legitimate an anathema.  

The CNTC has done a great Service to all future generations of Indigenous of Nagaland. I think not everything is lost to the Nagas.3  

Thepfulhouvi Solo IFS Retd (RR -68) Principal Secretary, (Retd)