‘Naga position cannot be wiped out’

Naga Club celebrates foundation day  

Morung Express news 
Kohima | January 7

Noted peace activist Niketu Iralu today said that the greatest achievement of the Naga struggle is that Nagas have become a people and a nation, a fact that was made clear before the British and before the independent Indian government. 

“Naga position cannot be wiped out and thinking Indians are now increasingly understanding that,” he said while speaking at the Naga Club’s foundation day on January 7 in Kohima. 

He said that many people, especially young Nagas are asking what the Naga struggle has achieved because they are disturbed and insecure. “Unless we welcome this question and answer it truthfully, the struggle though so important will gradually destroy us,” he said.

Iralu called upon the Naga people to understand the possibilities ahead and to recognize the realities of the present day.

“We have to redefine many things, the things that have kept us divided,” he said. 

President of the Naga Club, Kuolachalie Seyie hoped that the Naga Club will play its role in helping the Naga people rise to the challenge with hard work, integrity, commitment, courage and non-violence. He termed it a bounden duty to never damage what the Naga struggle has already achieved from the starting point the Naga Club made and gave to the Nagas. 

“Our forefathers, like other pioneer-creators of nations, somehow realistically survived extremely difficult economic, social and political challenges and the turbulent changes the outside world brought to them. The founders of Naga Club understood what the consequences of their decisions would be for the generations coming after them. They faithfully and patiently upheld their time-tested virtues by remaining committed with integrity and unflinching courage to what they believed would be best for the Nagas as a whole,” Seyie stated. 

He further stressed on the need to learn to hold our peace and develop ourselves in all areas of life to become the human beings we are meant to be. 

He meanwhile said that Nagas are “clear and justly proud that their struggle was not an act of secession, that unlawfully or treasonously violated some solemn agreement or understanding made by them to be a part of the new independent India at any time.” 

“Nor was it an anti-India reaction as they were acting on the basis of unquestionable facts of their history and their right to choose their own future as a good neighbor of India as justified by the facts of their history,” he added.

The Naga Club President meanwhile said that the killings in Mon on December 4 has brought back the “sad memories of decades of hardship of military barbaric violence and massacre, pain and humiliation endured by the Nagas…” 

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he stated, “is the symbol and face of India which gives the arm forces wide powers to shoot, to kill, to arrest, to conduct warrantless searches and to demolish structures in the name of aiding civil power.” 

Speaking of the formation of the Naga Club, Prasielie Pienyü who is the great grandson of Rhiechalie Pienyü said that a few likeminded salaried people serving in the DC office formed the club to work for the greater interest of the Naga people. 

The formation of the club had its inspiration from the European Club; however non-whites were never allowed to take part in their evening leisure times, he stated. Pienyü said that today Nagas have come forward to defend and protect the true history of the Naga Club and through the legacy that was left by the forerunners, ‘we look at a new window to look at the world and ourselves.’

Earlier, in the programme, Rheichalie's descendents presented a special number and Khyomo Lotha, former caretaker, Naga Club exhorted the gathering. Y Vandanshan Lotha, Vice President, Naga Club was the chairperson of the event.