We all know Jawaharlal Nehru as the first prime minister of independent India. He is also known, admired and revered for being the author of acclaimed books like ‘Discovery of India’ and Glimpses of World History’. Nobody can also doubt the contributions he made during India’s freedom movement. In fact, from the time he was appointed as the president of the Lahore session of the Congress in 1929, Nehru had undoubtedly become the No.2 man in the political scenario of India – next only to the great Mahatma Gandhi. And by the time India became independent in August 1947, Nehru had become the overwhelmingly suited leader to lead the newly independent India – as Gandhi had already become aged, fragile and vulnerable in health by this time. And during his stint for 17 long years as the first prime minister of India, Nehru proved himself not only as a mass leader but also as a practical politician and a shrewd diplomat. As the first prime minister of India, Nehru helped India overcome many insurmountable difficulties.
Throughout the better part of his political career, Nehru had been a crowd puller wherever he went. People would always throng in thousands and thousands just to listen to him speak wherever he went. This was the case both before India became independent as well as after he became the first prime minister of India. In fact such was the Nehru phenomena that almost every word that came out of his lips would be greeted with overwhelming applause and appreciation.
On my personal level, during my high school years, I read some of the most interesting write-ups of Jawaharlal Nehru in my English prose section. Of these, the letters which he wrote while imprisoned in different jails are the most impressive and beautiful. I have also seen a photograph of Nehru wherein he was walking shoulder to shoulder with none other than the dynamic John. F. Kennedy in the White House lawn. And even today, whenever I read or hear the Independence Day speech which he delivered to the nation on the midnight of 14th – 15th August 1947, I am always inspired and overwhelmed.
Many Nagas, specially the younger generation may not be aware that this great Indian leader paid a visit to Kohima in March 1953. Considering what the Naga hills were undergoing during those years, it becomes obvious what the purpose of this visit could be.
The Nagas had declared their independence on 14th August 1947 and also conducted the Naga plebiscite on 16th May 1951. But the Indian government led by Nehru refused to acknowledge these historic events. The Nagas also refused to participate in the first Indian election which was also to cover the Naga hills and the Naga people.
It was under these circumstances that Jawaharlal Nehru along with the Burmese prime minister U Nu came to Kohima in March 1953. The purpose of this visit was understandably to make the Naga people believe and accept that their demand for total independence and sovereignty was not reasonable and justifiable and that their future would not be in jeopardy even if they remain within India’s armpit. Nehru knew very well the state of the backwardness the Nagas were in during these times and he must have also thought that the Naga people would certainly listen to him as had always been the case wherever he went in India.
That day in March 1953, a good number of Nagas had gathered at the Kohima local ground to witness the historic visit of the two leaders, namely Jawaharlal Nehru of India and U Nu of Burma. It seems that before Nehru went up to speak to the gathered people, the then Deputy Commissioner of Kohima made an announcement to the gathering that none of the Nagas would be allowed to speak, that no representation of any sort would be accepted and that they were only to listen to what Nehru would be saying to them. This announcement of the DC once translated to the gathering was enough to stir up a huge commotion amongst the Nagas gathered at the Kohima local ground that day. Consequently the whole crowd rose up at once shouting and expressing their annoyance and anger in their own traditional manners and walked out of the local ground leaving behind only heaps of dust.
This turn of events must have left both Nehru and U Nu completely stunned and numbed. It caught both these leaders completely unaware and unprepared. As mentioned above, Nehru had been a crowd–puller wherever he went as people would always throng in multitudes just to listen to him and to applause. The whole event at the Kohima local ground that day turned out to be a total humiliation and disgrace for both Nehru and U Nu. It was something they had never experienced before and would not witness again anywhere in their lives. It is said that after this humiliating experience at Kohima, Nehru and U Nu traveled by road to Imphal. And during the whole long journey from Kohima to Imphal, Nehru did not utter even a single word.
Here, I would like to clarify that I do not write these things to mock and humiliate the great Jawaharlal Nehru. Far from it, I am terribly sorry that a world renowned leader like him had to be humiliated in such a manner by my own people right here in my beloved birthplace Kohima. However, this event once again proved that the Naga issue was totally unique and very different from what India might have been experiencing during those early years after its independence. It also clearly establishes the fact that almost the whole of the Naga population were united in their aspirations for an independent and sovereign Nagaland. Moreover, the truth was that the Nagas had gathered at the Kohima football ground that day in March 1953 not only to hear but also to be heard. Therefore, when it was announced that they would not be heard, they felt humiliated and insulted and at once retaliated by walking out of the playground without hearing what the Indian prime minister was about to say.
As mentioned, this event took place in March 1953 and less than 2 years from then, Nehru would start sending thousands and thousands of Indian soldiers to the Naga hills, starting from October 1955. This visit by Nehru also turned out to be the first, the last and the only time when this first prime minister of India happened to set foot upon the soils of Kohima.
My uncle Zasierü Noudi also happened to be at the Kohima local ground that day in March 1953 as a young 13 year old boy and it was through him that I came to know about this significant and unique event.
Throughout the better part of his political career, Nehru had been a crowd puller wherever he went. People would always throng in thousands and thousands just to listen to him speak wherever he went. This was the case both before India became independent as well as after he became the first prime minister of India. In fact such was the Nehru phenomena that almost every word that came out of his lips would be greeted with overwhelming applause and appreciation.
On my personal level, during my high school years, I read some of the most interesting write-ups of Jawaharlal Nehru in my English prose section. Of these, the letters which he wrote while imprisoned in different jails are the most impressive and beautiful. I have also seen a photograph of Nehru wherein he was walking shoulder to shoulder with none other than the dynamic John. F. Kennedy in the White House lawn. And even today, whenever I read or hear the Independence Day speech which he delivered to the nation on the midnight of 14th – 15th August 1947, I am always inspired and overwhelmed.
Many Nagas, specially the younger generation may not be aware that this great Indian leader paid a visit to Kohima in March 1953. Considering what the Naga hills were undergoing during those years, it becomes obvious what the purpose of this visit could be.
The Nagas had declared their independence on 14th August 1947 and also conducted the Naga plebiscite on 16th May 1951. But the Indian government led by Nehru refused to acknowledge these historic events. The Nagas also refused to participate in the first Indian election which was also to cover the Naga hills and the Naga people.
It was under these circumstances that Jawaharlal Nehru along with the Burmese prime minister U Nu came to Kohima in March 1953. The purpose of this visit was understandably to make the Naga people believe and accept that their demand for total independence and sovereignty was not reasonable and justifiable and that their future would not be in jeopardy even if they remain within India’s armpit. Nehru knew very well the state of the backwardness the Nagas were in during these times and he must have also thought that the Naga people would certainly listen to him as had always been the case wherever he went in India.
That day in March 1953, a good number of Nagas had gathered at the Kohima local ground to witness the historic visit of the two leaders, namely Jawaharlal Nehru of India and U Nu of Burma. It seems that before Nehru went up to speak to the gathered people, the then Deputy Commissioner of Kohima made an announcement to the gathering that none of the Nagas would be allowed to speak, that no representation of any sort would be accepted and that they were only to listen to what Nehru would be saying to them. This announcement of the DC once translated to the gathering was enough to stir up a huge commotion amongst the Nagas gathered at the Kohima local ground that day. Consequently the whole crowd rose up at once shouting and expressing their annoyance and anger in their own traditional manners and walked out of the local ground leaving behind only heaps of dust.
This turn of events must have left both Nehru and U Nu completely stunned and numbed. It caught both these leaders completely unaware and unprepared. As mentioned above, Nehru had been a crowd–puller wherever he went as people would always throng in multitudes just to listen to him and to applause. The whole event at the Kohima local ground that day turned out to be a total humiliation and disgrace for both Nehru and U Nu. It was something they had never experienced before and would not witness again anywhere in their lives. It is said that after this humiliating experience at Kohima, Nehru and U Nu traveled by road to Imphal. And during the whole long journey from Kohima to Imphal, Nehru did not utter even a single word.
Here, I would like to clarify that I do not write these things to mock and humiliate the great Jawaharlal Nehru. Far from it, I am terribly sorry that a world renowned leader like him had to be humiliated in such a manner by my own people right here in my beloved birthplace Kohima. However, this event once again proved that the Naga issue was totally unique and very different from what India might have been experiencing during those early years after its independence. It also clearly establishes the fact that almost the whole of the Naga population were united in their aspirations for an independent and sovereign Nagaland. Moreover, the truth was that the Nagas had gathered at the Kohima football ground that day in March 1953 not only to hear but also to be heard. Therefore, when it was announced that they would not be heard, they felt humiliated and insulted and at once retaliated by walking out of the playground without hearing what the Indian prime minister was about to say.
As mentioned, this event took place in March 1953 and less than 2 years from then, Nehru would start sending thousands and thousands of Indian soldiers to the Naga hills, starting from October 1955. This visit by Nehru also turned out to be the first, the last and the only time when this first prime minister of India happened to set foot upon the soils of Kohima.
My uncle Zasierü Noudi also happened to be at the Kohima local ground that day in March 1953 as a young 13 year old boy and it was through him that I came to know about this significant and unique event.
Khrietuonyü Noudi
L.Khel Kohima Village
