Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio speaking at the culmination programme of the yearlong celebration of NSF’s 75th year in Kohima on October 29. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 29
Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that the prime need of the Naga society at the moment is oneness, unity and harmony.
Realizing this need, and to take the lead, the state government had incorporated the word “Unity” in the state emblem during his first tenure as Chief Minister, Rio said while gracing the culmination programme of the yearlong celebration of the 75th year of Naga Students’ Federation (1947-2022) at Naga Solidarity Park, Kohima under the theme ‘Call to Oneness.’
Rio said that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) had passed as many as six resolutions for the unification of all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella; the first resolution was in 1964, and the last resolution in 2018, that is, in the present House of the NLA.
Stating that the 60 members of the NLA had also decided to form an opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government, Rio said “All these can be regarded as some of our collective actions in pursuit of our goal of Naga unity of oneness.”
“Today, the Nagas need a new awakening and concerted efforts to stoke the flame of Naga nationhood, patriotism and oneness. This will be the best way we can re-kindle the feelings of oneness and harmony in the Naga society,” Rio said and congratulated the NSF for choosing an appropriate and important subject ‘Call to Oneness’ as the theme for their 75 years celebration.
In the last 75 years, he said, NSF had undertaken various initiatives to bring about the spirit of oneness among the Naga brothers and sisters in Naga inhabited areas.
Division among Naga family continuing unabated
Rio recollected the brief the history of the Naga movement, “which actually is a movement to unite the Naga family as one.”
It may be recalled that the Nagas started our journey towards unity and nationhood with the formation of the Naga Club in 1918. The Naga Club was the first pan-Naga body that articulated the idea of Naga nationhood and Naga independence in their now famous Memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929. Later on, this initiative snowballed into the formation of the first pan-Naga political organisation, Naga National Council in 1946. Under the tutelage of the NNC, there was broad unity and harmony amongst the Nagas, and they participated in large numbers in the NNC sponsored plebiscite of 1951, opting for Naga sovereignty by an overwhelming majority. It was in the midst of this tumultuous time that the NSF was formed in the year 1947, Rio said.
“Unfortunately, division amongst the Naga family started in the 1960s, and is continuing unabated till today. The Naga nationalist political groups are now divided into several camps, while tribalism is raising its ugly head in the Naga civil society,” Rio said.
The chief minister said that many well-intended decisions and actions of the Government, as well as many law and order incidents, etc., are often viewed and interpreted on tribal lines.
“Sadly, as of today, we do not even have a single true pan-Naga organization, be it a civil society, a tribal body or students' organization,” said Rio.
Urges NSF to play a catalytic role in guiding and moulding youth
Rio said, to his understanding the NSF was set up not only for taking care of student related activities, but also to cultivate and preserve the rich Naga identity, such as cultures, customs and traditional heritage; to safeguard the common interest, and promote oneness and cooperation among the Nagas.
“Our forefathers had followed a system of pure democracy, where there was no class system, and where there is equality amongst all. But today, the beautiful Naga culture is showing signs of slowly declining,” Rio said and urged upon each and every individual to make every effort to preserve and protect the rich traditions, cultures and customs of the Nagas.
Rio urged NSF to play a catalytic role in guiding and moulding the youth, “so that they can live up to their full potential.”
“During the student years, it is important to build good moral standard, good human qualities, such as, patience, empathy, self-reliance, self-confidence, and to acquire important life's skills through hard work,” Rio said.
Without self- discipline and the habit of hard work, it is becoming almost impossible to achieve success in this highly competitive world, Rio added.
