The Naga National Council (NNC) is not a political party. It is not a government. It is the ultimate national institution of the Nagas. As such, every Naga has a responsibility to uphold the Naga National Council.
The Naga National Council was formed on February 2, 1946 to hold the Naga people together in one platform as there was no central authority prior to this. After this, whenever the occasion arose, the NNC began to speak for the Naga people. In May, 1947 the emerging modern India sent her delegation of the Constituent Assembly of India to Kohima and met NNC members, and made an offer to the Nagas to join the Union of India. The offer was refused. And then in June 1947, Ten years Agreement was given by the Indian representatives. NNC agreed with modification for 10 years but India broke off its promise with NNC. And before Great Britain handed over her power to modern India, the Naga representatives declared Naga Independence on August 14, 1947, a day ahead of modern India.
A.Z. Phizo on becoming the President of NNC in 1950 immediately began to direct the course of NNC into a political consciousness and brought all regions (tribes) together as a nation. He next took a national referendum, because modern India was alleging that only a few educated Nagas were talking about their independence. Therefore, a national plebiscite was conducted on May 16, 1951 by giving a choice to the people to decide whether to stay independence or join India. The result was 99.9 percent not to join India. And he also brought in our Eastern Nagas to join the mainland and establish the Federal Government of Nagaland on March 22, 1956.
The indisputable right the Naga have is that Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not Indian Territory. The Nagas have every right to be a nation. Hence, NNC is the Guardian of Nagaland. Let no Naga be confused with this Naga National Stand.
Urra Uvie – Our Country is ours.
Adinno Phizo President, Naga National Council (NNC), Nagaland
