Dimapur, Dec 12 (MExN): Governor of Goa SC Jamir today paid rich tributes to Naga leader late AZ Phizo saying that it was due to his political foresight that Nagas came together as a people. Interacting with a group of 25-member students’ group from Kohima Science College Jotsoma, Nagaland this afternoon, Jamir narrated the historical events of the Naga people in the last century for the benefit of the students.
“The Naga Labour Corps which went to Europe and North Africa in the World War I opened up the eyes of the Nagas,” he said in a statement received here. “It was perhaps the first time that the Nagas realized they were different from other peoples and that they were of the same racial stock.”
After returning from the war, members of this Labour Corps formed the Naga Club. “But even up to my time, we did not know much about the other Naga tribes,” he said and pointed out that the Aos called the Semas Moyer, Tenyimia tribes as Monger and those tribes in Mon and Tuensang districts as Merir. “Up to the time of my generation, we did not know much about each other’s tribes,” Jamir said and added that it was Phizo who made the Nagas aware that they were part of the same Naga family.
“I always pay rich tributes to Phizo for his political foresight,” he said. “He instilled the feeling of oneness among the Nagas.”
Jamir went on to add that even Statehood would not have been possible for the Naga people if not for the Naga political movement headed by Phizo.
It is generally perceived that the Government of India hastened the dialogue with the Naga People’s Convention in 1960 after Phizo landed up in London. That Statehood was given to a people numbering only about 3.5 lakh at that point of time (1963) is quite surprising when other princely states with millions of population were compressed into States.
Jamir said that Statehood, though small, had ensured that the distinct ways of life of the Naga people were protected in the form of Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India.
On the issue of integration of contiguous Naga areas, Jamir pointed out that it was the genuine aspiration of the 16 tribes of Nagaland to share the fruits of their efforts with their brethren in other areas and that accordingly, the same was indicated in one of the Clauses of the 16-point Agreement (the 13th point).
“The people of Nagaland have also passed resolutions to this effect in the form of private member resolutions in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly,” he said. “We wanted to share the blessings with our brethren, but they did not come forward at that point of time.”
“There are hindrances today in other States because of the problems created. We have antagonized our neighbours,” he said.
He was of the opinion that since the different States concerned are all part of the same country, the Government of India or the other States for that matter would not have minded too much or that much heartburn would not have been created if some areas were sliced or added.
“But good will is lacking. We have antagonized our neighbours,” he repeated.
He also lamented that while on the one hand, we are talking about integration, on the other hand we are killing each other.
“This is the greatest paradox of the Naga political problem,” he opined.
He appealed to the students to learn from the peace and tranquility prevailing in Goa, “light the candles of peace and take it back home to Nagaland to rekindle the torch of love.”
The students will be leaving for Mumbai tomorrow and then head back to Nagaland the next day.
