Adinno Phizo
President, Naga National Council
Greetings to all the Nagas on this historic Day. I am immensely grateful to the Almighty God and Nagas for this privilege to address the nation on this momentous occasion of the 75th Naga Voluntary Plebiscite Day. You all must be aware, this year it is remarkable and more precious than the other past Plebiscite Days, that today we are commemorating the 75th Naga Plebiscite Day in the very place (Khuochiezie Playground) where in 1951 on 16th May the Naga Voluntary Plebiscite was inaugurated and commenced the Plebiscite, where the Naga National Council (NNC) office was also located in the vicinity of this playground.
In commemoration of the Naga Plebiscite Day, it is always a time of thanksgiving to the Almighty God for inspiring the Naga leadership of the day, and thereby all Nagas, who enthusiastically participated in the Plebiscite of 1951. This self-determination process of the Nagas to stay independent as in ancient times is definitely an epoch making history of the Nagas. For which, we are gathered together to thank God and all the Nagas who participated in this famous Naga Voluntary Plebiscite, drawing strength from them we celebrate the day to strengthen us more.
Even before we could be as knowledgeable and innovative as we are today, the Divine has guided us through our honest and clear-headed Nagas to chart our destiny as a family and a free nation much before the Plebiscite had taken place. With the end of British colonialism in the Naga Hills, the Nagas under the banner of the Naga National Council declared the independence of Nagaland on the 14th of August, 1947.
On formal declaration of Naga Independence, India started propagating that “the talk of Naga Independence is the voice of only a few educated Nagas.” As such, Naga National Council felt the need to really show the stand and wishes of the Nagas to India and the rest of the world called for a Voluntary Plebiscite.
In order to be fair and transparent, India was informed about our intention, and invited India to send its observer. As a result of the invitation, India sent its Intelligent Chief Mr. B.N. Mullik. Who came to Kohima to observe the Plebiscite proceedings. And later commented to NNC President Phizo “you have already won. I am surprised to see your people, they are so disciplined and so happy even in such a big meeting.”
However, notwithstanding our declaration and Plebiscite, India imposed her first general election upon the Nagas in 1952. The Nagas stood by their declaration on Independence and Plebiscite. Hence, no Naga participated in India’s first general election and all the ballot boxes were returned empty. This unilateral and unanimous act of the Nagas stands as the first strongest singular action of the Nagas to uphold their decision to live as a sovereign nation, for none has bequeathed us to another nation; nor had we wavered in our decision to live as an independent nation.
Nevertheless, it is astounding and ridiculous to witness, for a fact, that even after all the Nagas had legally established themselves as a sovereign nation, India invaded Nagaland in the year 1955 with full military might. Herein lies the Indo-Naga problem. Therefore, be it known that the Indo-Naga problem is not a political problem or a socio-economic problem, but a bilateral problem involving two nations wherein, India had aggressed and invaded Sovereign Nagaland and continues to illegally occupy it. Be it known hence, our defence of our country is not a freedom movement to gain or demand freedom from someone, but rather a struggle of defending what has already been bequeathed to us; that is our freedom and sovereignty as established by the declaration of independence and ratified by our Plebiscite. Ours is not a struggle to break free from someone’s yoke but to continue to be free to carry on with our own yoke, our inheritance, legally passed down to us on that fateful day of our national Plebiscite on the 16th of May, 1951.
Heretofore, our predecessors have stood their ground in upholding our Plebiscite and national principles both in ink and in blood. All of us have contributed in the building of our Nation and some may have gone awry; but I am sure our intentions were good and I am aware that inspite of all our differences of opinions, the fact remains that we are one as a sovereign nation by the very act or our National Plebiscite. Hence it is my earnest wish that we do not devastate our present and our future by trampling on the foundation that our forbearers have built and established for us in the form and spirit of the Naga National Council. It is for us to work together to uphold the decisions we have made for ourselves, regardless of the differences of opinions we may have; for it is not by emotions, but by facts of history that we have come this far.
May God bless Nagaland.
Urra Uvie: Our Land Belongs To Us.
