Dear Chairman,
Thank you for your several invitations to Meetings in connection with the Naga Club. Please do not mind for my absence. I was hesitant.
The issue of re-formation of the Naga Club today has attained the importance of ethical public domain of the Naga Society and hence I raise it here.
If my understanding is correct, a CLUB belongs only of its Members and not to others of the public. Universally a Club is exclusive to its Members only, –Nuclear Club, only of the Nations that have Nuclear Weapons, Mohan Bagan Football Club of its Members only and the Classic Club of Kohima like any other Club, consists only of its Members.
For many years, I have been collecting information on the Naga Club and the identities of the signatories of the letter the Club sent to the Simon Commission. Perhaps I was the first to bring out about the Naga Club to Public Notice (my Article: ‘Corrected story of Naga Club’ 9th and 10th Dec 2017 in the local Papers).
In the early 20th century, according to impeccable Jasokie Zinyü, former chief minister of Nagaland and the son of Dr. Khosa Zinyü the highest ranking leader of the Naga Labor Corps of Naga Hills of 1918 direct to this narrator, the White Officers at Kohima formed a ‘Whiteman’s Club’ in the Town where they met every night for recreation. They did not allow any Non-Whites into the Club.
This discrimination gave the clue to the indigenous employees of the Government of Naga Hills District to have their own Naga Club for their interest. They were very clear about the membership of the Club; it consisted of the Government Servants only, not even Village Gaonburas nor were Christian Mission Employees included.
There was a Membership Fees of One Anna (6 Naye Paise now) for the Interpreters and below Grade, Four Annas (25 Paise) for Clerks and above Grade.
The first Naga Club building under Rheichalie Pienyü Peshkar of the DC Office was at Chotobosti below Mission Compound on the eastern aspect of the hill slope destroyed in the WW. II. There is an interestingly long story of how the present Naga Club building came about, its long occupation by the Forest Department, and how it returned back (with the help of God) to the Club again from the clutches of a difficult forceful Government (Govt seized other Plots belonging to the NNC)
During late seventies, a few well-known persons led by Lt Neilakuolie Belho and Lt Samuel Mezhür Sekhose tried to appropriate the Naga Club and its Building claiming they are the Naga Club. A dispute arose and remained protracted for quite some time, at last it went to the District Magistrate Court of the DC Kohima.
Finally; the Court declared the Case in favor of the Elder’s Group led by one Lt. Peselie Suokhrie, Lt. Azhüto Rengma, Lt. Khriesavisie Hieme, Kewezhü Mero as Joint Secretary and Lt. Vilavor Liegise its Secretary.
Since then the Naga Club Building continued to this day under the care of the elders group all of who have passed away except its surviving Caretaker Joint Secretary Kewezhü Mero still alive today.
The Club is til today properly or not, under the Care, as per the Court ruling, of the Naga Elders group under its Joint Secretary. Any other groups intending to claim the Club have to set aside the Court Order first before attempting to appropriate the Naga Club.
This Writer, not heir to any original member, feels sensibly, reasonably, if not naturally, the Club belongs to the legal descendants of the original Members only, several of whose direct descendants are still alive. They (the descendants of the original Members) or the Jt. Secretary of the group taking care of the Naga Club Building Kewezhü Mero appropriately may call a meeting to harmonize the simple ethically issue to a consensus, not you collecting every dick and tom naga from everywhere.
If I may, you would do well to go slow carefully, sensibly, legally, and not rush to appropriate the Naga Club and its Plot or the Building at the risk of legal complication.
Yours Sincerely. (Thepfulhouvi Solo)
.JPG)
