‘One People, One Destiny’

Naga Solidarity Walk kicks off from Kohima

Morung Express news 
Kohima | July 28 

Cutting across all boundaries, hundreds of Nagas today joined the Naga Solidarity Walk under the theme ‘One People, One Destiny,’ which was flagged off early this morning at Kohima. 

Visier Sanyü, Advisor, Global Naga Forum (GNF), during an introduction on the walk, said the people were making a historical day which will be remembered by generations to come when “our granddaughters and grandsons will say that their grandparents walked for Naga Solidarity.” 

He described the Naga family as deeply divided, however asserting that this was the right time to come together to build “our nation” as one people for one destiny. "There is a time for everything, a time to heal, a time to kill, a time to laugh and a time to cry," Visier said. 

Describing the past of Naga  ancestors and leaders as the days that "fought to defend our land with guns," Sanyu said that period is gone and instead the present Naga want to fight for the people with heart. 

"In this walk, we want to show the world and our people that we are one people," he added. He hoped the Solidarity Walk will enrapture the souls of the people to do the right thing for a people that love their land so much. "We are walking so that we become one people, we are defending our history, our land with the right spirit," he said.

Vichütuolie Mere, a member of the Global Naga Forum described GNF as a group of likeminded people and not under any other organisation. He said tall leaders like AZ Phizo had performed the walk 70 years ago and traversed from village to village, in Naga land and the walk displayed unity. 

"This walk is for everyone and is an indication that we Nagas are one. Our intention is clear and this walk is solely to bring the Nagas together. We've walked halfway and will walk the remaining," he affirmed.

Rev Shonnai Saka from the Uipo (Khoibu) Naga tribe who was also in attendance shared that the walk indicates that the Nagas should become one and will relay a unique message to the world that Nagas are one. He appealed for prayer from all the Nagas for an ultimate yearning destiny. 

According to the organizers, "the Naga Solidarity Walk, a modest but meaningful walk is the start of the 21st Century Naga Solidarity Walk, the first leg of a people’s relay for unity and peace in the Naga homeland. It is not an anti-India project; this is a pro-Naga movement and a non-violent one." 

It added that the walk sends across a message converging in a common path of healing and peace for a shared journey to an undivided homeland of ‘One People, One Destiny.’ “The Solidarity Walk celebrates our being Nagas together. The concept is inclusive, non-partisan, and peaceful,” it added. 

The walk hopes to bridge the divisions and boundaries – physical and regional, ideological and political, tribal and gender; a joyous cultural enactment of Naga sisterhood and brotherhood, reinforcing community bonds as a people across the states in India and Northwest Myanmar, as well as Nagas around the world.  

The Global Naga Forum (GNF) is a civil society group composed of Naga men and women from across the Naga homeland. The GNF said that the forum consists of young and old, in different walks of life, living and working in India, Myanmar, and other countries of the world, but who share the common aspiration for a self-determined democratic Naga society in an undivided homeland with the motto ‘One People, One Destiny.’ 

The marchers will cross Mao territory, Maram territory, Poumai territory, and will converge in Tahamzam (Senapati) on July 29.