K Nzimongo Ngullie (NCS Rtd)
The Present Naga Student Federation was born on September 11, 1987 in Naga Club building, Kohima.
The news which featured on front page of The Morung Express (July 25, 2022) on ‘NSF clarified on eviction orders, question claims’ took me back to the times of my involvement on the historic day of when and how the present NSF finally came to its proper shape and was formed on September 11, 1971 at the Naga Club building, Kohima.
Facts and circumstances associated and leading to formation of Naga Students Federation
First the All Naga Students leaders union was formed on August 15, 1971 at Shillong. On the first week of August 1971, Late Pikheto Sema the then President of Sumi Students Union (who became Director of Higher and Technical Education) and Benjamin Panny the then President North Manipur Naga Students Association (Who became Minister in Manipur) came from Guwahati and met me at Union Christian College Barapani when I was holding the post of President Lotha Students Union. They deliberated upon the necessity, prospect and significance of having an All Naga Students Union covering the entire students of North East India. Being assured we met the Naga Students leaders at Shillong. A meeting was conveyed under the banner of Naga Students union Shillong which was held infront of the residence of Akai Mao, Secretary Naga Student Union Shillong on August 15, 1971. The meeting was presided over by Ahovi Zhimomi the then Vice-President Naga Students Union. At the meeting all the leaders discussed to take immediate initiative for formation of All Naga Student leader. Late Pikheto Sema was selected as the Chairman and I was selected as the Secretary to lead the party. We were authorised to organise the All Naga Students Leaders meet at Kohima. Accordingly we initiated and reached out to more Naga Students leaders and elders. The meeting was held on September 10 and 11, 1971 at Naga Club building and K Khekiye Sema (who became IAS Officer) was selected to conduct the session. Student leaders from almost all the Naga tribes of Nagaland and Manipur attended. We were informed that some Naga Student Union existed in the past but no one could produce record nor name the leaders to support their claims. It appeared that the Naga Students Union was formed in the past but it was defunct. We found impossibility result to link with the past union, so we agreed upon giving historical importance and acknowledge the past leaders who formed such Naga Students Union. All the members agreed to start a fresh new Naga Students Union under the style and name of Naga Students Federation on September 11, 1971. After the formation Abie Yalie Angami of Medziphema was selected as the President of NSF. K Khekiye Sema carefully and diligently presided over the meeting. He acted as a moderator and reconciled the different views and arguments forwarded by the various Naga student leaders and concluded the meeting in a peaceful manner.
The tenure of office was for a year. The next meeting was held on October 1972 at the Naga Club building, Kohima. Late Shikiho Sema (who became Minister and MP) was elected as the President and I was elected as the General Secretary. MC Konyak (Who became Minister) was elected as Vice President, MV Chakhesang (who became IPS Officer) was elected as Joint Secretary, Sulluno Ebao as Secretary Information and Publicity and Lhovisher Angami as the treasurer.
NSF Constitution
The NSF constitution was drafted by three members- Late Shikiho Sema, K Nzimongo Ngullie and Yarphung Tangkhul. We invited experts through local dailies to submit emblem and insignia for the NSF to which three different experts submitted. In the executive meeting we examined and accepted which is the present one still existing.
Why NSF is a registered body?
After I became General Secretary of NSF, in the course of working for proper formation and meetings with the various Naga student leaders and public leaders at Kohima, I stayed with my uncle Late CN Ngullie (Rtd IAS) at Chandmari colony.
Someone misrepresented me to the Government and they suspected me of organising unlawful union. The SIB Officer (Intelligence Department) and Officer of Army intelligence wing came to my uncle’s residence where I resided and interrogated me and accompanied me wherever I went. My Late uncle CN Ngullie advised me to take step of registering the Naga Student Federation as a society in the Government Office. Late Shikiho Sema and I went to the Directorate of School Education with the drafted constitution and got it registered in the Office under the Society Act. After registration there was no more suspicion and inquiry.
The General Session was held at Mao gate in 1973.
In the executive meeting we decided to hold general session at Mao gate. We went to verify the spot for the meeting but there was no suitable ground to accommodate the session. We approached the GOC 8th Mountain Division Jakhama- Major General Dutta, and clarified our position that it is purely a Students Union. We also requested him to help us in levelling/extending the ground at Mao Gate, where we had proposed to hold the general session of the NSF. The GOC accepted our request and he deputed his soldiers, engineers to level the ground to standard size. The public of Mao Village contributed bamboos and wooden logs and the army engineers constructed the meeting halls.
The draft constitution and its provisions, article, sections were thoroughly examined and accepted in the executive meeting. The printed emblem and insignia and the constitution were put up and approved during the general session at Mao gate.
Late Zakhu Tsukru of Visema Village (who became public leader) was elected as the President and Late Pangti Ihelung Zeliang (Who became Minister) was elected as General Secretary. We handed over the office and files to the new team.
No payment of fee or rent for conducting the meeting in Naga Club building.
I vividly remember that we held a meeting on September 10 and 11, 1971 in Naga club building, Kohima but I do not remember who permitted us to conduct the meeting there nor do I know who were managing the Naga club those days. We conducted the meeting in vacant room free of cost.
NSF is a student organisation with no profit venture, no source of income. It is a body which is working for the welfare of the students. The student leaders are also working without pay, allowances and remunerations. The ownership of the Naga club is already established without dispute now. Therefore, the Naga Students Federation occupying some rooms at Naga club building may please be considered as a bonafide son living in his legitimate father’s house. Any differences between NSF and Naga Club building authority maybe solved as father and son.
The writer is former general secretary, NSF and Rtd Commissioner & Secretary to Government of Nagaland.
