Morung Express News
Jotsoma | October 30
“What our future will turn out to be will be decided by the quality of the thinking, living and character that Nagas will demonstrate today,” stated Niketu Iralu, Activist for Change, Healing and Reconciliation during the lead-in general public meeting to the Centenary of the Naga Club on October 30 at the RCEMPA, Jotsoma.
Organised by the Naga Club, the meeting is an overture to the Club’s Hundred Year Celebration to be held on November 29, at Khuochiezie, Kohima Local Ground.
Speaking on the essence of a beginning and its impact on the future, Iralu considered the 100 years of Naga Club as a “precious common achievement of the Naga people’ which also is the beginning of the Nagas’ journey with others in a world much older than that of the Naga nation.”
“The beginning is the seed. The legacy is the seedling that grows to become a fruitful tree. The Naga Club, the NSF and the legacy are the trinity that describes the journey of the Nagas in our modern history. We will come to see that together all of us are doing the right thing, at the right time, the right way for our people,” said Iralu, adding that Nagas together are a loosely related group of peoples becoming a nation with determination.
“Let us not forget that we have a legacy that can destroy us if we thoughtlessly pollute and damage it with our selfishness and ill-will towards one another. Our common duty is to nurture the health of the Naga dream, not fight over its fruits which will lead to its destruction. This 100 year is the moment when each one of us, not just our leaders would decide to be fully responsible for the healthy growth of our people,” asserted Iralu.
Krurovi Peseyie, President, Naga Club who delivered the keynote address briefly spoke on the history of the Naga Club. The founders of the Naga Club, according to Peseyie, might not have been well educated but they created “the most important and famous political history of Nagas with great wisdom.”
“In all humility, they founded a great legacy of Naga National political foundation and passed it on to the present and future generations and the legacy of which, even the more civilized neighboring countries could not imagine then. When we go through the records of Naga Club, we can clearly know that the Naga Club has never been defunct, but only remained inactive sometimes,” stated Peseyie.
On the recent re-formation of the Naga Club, Peseyie informed that with the approaching centenary of the Naga Club, “some well meaning and concerned” Naga elders after having several consultative meetings held a meeting of Naga tribes on June 2, 2017 at the Naga Club building Kohima. Office bearers of Naga Club were elected on adhoc basis during the meeting, who were later regularized on August 17, 2018 by tribal representatives.
“The Naga Club stands committed on the principle of the founding members which says that the Naga Club belongs to the Naga people as a whole. The Naga Club shall remain as the foundation of our unity and aspiration. As members of the Naga Club, we strive for what is right and just,” affirmed Peseyie.
Rev. Dr Tuisem Shishak, Founder Principal Emeritus, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) meanwhile said that if it were not for the Naga Club, the memorandum to the Simon Commission might never have seen the light of day.
He viewed that because of the Naga Club and because of the memorandum to the Simon Commission, the Naga National Council, as a cultural and political institution of all the Nagas was established.
“Because, the Nagas of that day were united in their commitment to achieve political freedom for all Nagas, NNC became a formidable force for the Indian government to be reckoned with,” said Rev. Dr. Shishak. He however lamented that today Nagas are as divided as ever and in the pursuit of their own selfish ends.
“Today the Indian Rupee can buy and sell Nagas for any purpose. Today, the Naga underground and over-ground have become lovers of money. We are pursuing our political battle today without God. And we are being defeated on all fronts,” stated Shishak, viewing that nothing can be won by human might except God’s.
“Simply observing or celebrating the Naga Club centenary will do no good for the Naga cause. We need to get down today right now on our knees and beg for God’s mercy. Else, the future of Naga society remains bleak,” he viewed.
Speeches were also delivered by Rev. Dr. N. Paphino, Vice President, Joint Christian Forum, Nagaland; Chakhesang Public Organisation; Lotha Hoho; Zeliang People’s Organisation; and ACAUT.
