Senka Ao
President, NNC
On this historic day of the 75th Naga Plebiscite Day, I extend my greetings to each one of you in the name of our Almighty God. This day stands as a towering testament to the resolute will of our Naga political struggle, when, on May 16, 1951, under the visionary leadership of the Naga National Council (NNC), -united in purpose and spirit- articulated our inalienable right to self-determination through an unprecedented democratic expression declaring to India and the international community: We are Nagas, a sovereign people, committed to the path of self-determination. The 1951 Plebiscite was never a referendum on accession to India, for the question of integration into the Indian Union had no basis in our political reality. Rather, it was an emphatic assertion of our national identity and inherent sovereignty. The outcome— 99.9% in favour of independence—was not a statistical anomaly but the unequivocal voice of the Naga people asserting our right to exist as a free and independent nation. On this defining moment in our history, we pay homage to the indomitable legacy of A.Z. Phizo, the Father of the Naga Nation and President of the NNC, for his unwavering commitment to the Naga national movement. Under his leadership, the Plebiscite was conducted in strict adherence to democratic principles, with transparency and integrity. We owe a lasting debt, for he not only consolidated our collective aspirations but also internationalized the Naga struggle for self-determination.
The 1951 Plebiscite was neither clandestine nor ambiguous. It was a conscious and open declaration of our political aspirations, undertaken with full transparency and prior notification to the Government of India, in two formal communications addressed to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in January and March 1951, respectively. These missives clearly outlined the intent of the Naga people to determine our own political future through peaceful and democratic means. The NNC also extended an invitation to the Government of India to send official observers to witness the Plebiscite. In response, the Indian press (Hindoostan Standard) and B.N. Mullick, a senior officer from the Indian Intelligence Bureau, came as observers, further affirming the legitimacy and openness of the process.
The Plebiscite’s outcome, a resounding endorsement of Naga independence, was not merely a symbolic gesture but a definitive mandate that closed the door to any negotiation within the constitutional framework of any external power. It was a clarion call to the world that we, the Naga people, having distinct historical, cultural, and political identity, would not acquiesce to subjugation but would steadfastly pursue our rightful place among the world community to live as a free nation. The Plebiscite was our answer to India’s refusal to acknowledge our declaration of independence on August 14, 1947. It was our non-violent plea to the world: See us, hear us, respect us as a nation.
As we reflect on this historic day, let us pray that God spares us from becoming victims of imperialism and that He guides us to a future where Nagaland shines as a sovereign nation, free and equal among the nations of the world.
