"Ball is in the court of Govt of #India to make the right move....", says #NSCN IM general secretary #Muivah....says "we see no meaning in the ceasefire that does not embark upon political negotiation. We see no meaning in negotiation if it does not deliver #Solution". #Nagaland
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| Naga rebels: Kaito, Mowu and Khodao |
#NNPG #Kitovi -- "History will remember who wasted 25 years in fruitless parleys amassing wealth and enriching themselves" .... sounds critical of #NSCN-IM role and 'delay' in arriving at a solution
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| Kitovi: Pro Solution NNPG chief |
New Delhi
This write up obviously has to start with the 'first citizen' of Naga movement - A Zapu Phizo.
Without him the history and future stories of this valiant community would have been different.
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| NNC founder Phizo |
It is alleged he played into the hands of colonial masters. He had already emerged as a 'prophet' of the Naga movement and unity.
But for next door neighbours in Assam - he had left a word of cautioning, say ULFA leaders.
"India is different. You Assamese are my brothers. India will treat you one day as they treated Nagas; only then will you understand our struggle.." - were reportedly his words.
New Delhi would dismiss these. But it's a fact no one touched Naga 'hearts' like Phizo but sadly -- ethnic and tribal tensions today grip the Naga society --- something Phizo wanted to eradicate.
# Dr Imkongliba Ao, chairman, Interim body -- A key organiser and an apostle of 'peace'. Was he an idealist -- much ahead of his time? Are Nagas still ready to follow his principles ? His policies seem flawed to many, but one individual Nagas cannot erase from their legacy.
# P Shilu Ao -- the first Chief Minister --- between 1961 and 1963 and also from 1963 to 1966. He could have easily become the architect of modern Nagaland, but state's first No Confidence motion against him on August 11, 1966 was carried and he was voted out.
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| Hokishe with Late PM Rajiv Gandhi |
# Hokishe Sema
- The protagonist of Indian nationalism right from 1960s. It was paradoxical that in 1997 he had to float a regional outfit NDM. Faultline lay with Congress leaders of the time and his life long bete noire S C Jamir. Hokishe once said - "Once Jamir did not want to contest election, we forced him against A Kevichusa for Lok Sabha polls in 1971. Jamir had lost and he did not forgive me for that".
# 'General' Kaito Sukhai (of Naga army)
: His admirers say he transformed the distraught Naga peasants into a lethal 'army' and became a symbol of guerrilla warfare for self-determination. He is also romanticised as the world's 'youngest general' .
"General Kaito saved my tribe from annihiliation...," said Hopong P Yimchunger, first president of Yimkhiung Tribal Council.
# S C Jamir --
In his own words - "I am the most harassed Naga politician and also the most surviving". Well, veteran Dr Jamir is still around. So much aura about his style and politics - even in 2022 August, there are Naga leaders and his admirers who insist - only Jamir can take up matters with PM Narendra Modi 'sincerely and frankly'. Well, he could have easily become the Perfectionist.
# Vizol --
His simplicity and honesty is legendary. It's "unlike many Naga leaders of his time"-- said his Kohima neighbour and political opponent Rainbow Ezung in the 1990s. Vizol holds the distinction of sacking Jamir from his ministry. But he was soon toppled by Jamir's time tested machinations.
# Vamuzo --
A staunch regionalist and he knew how to 'unleash the spirit'. "We are fighting cocks" - he said in state assembly once and during the Gulf war --- speaking at the National Integration Council meet - his speech urging all states and opposition parties to rally behind then PM Chandrashekhar had impressed the likes of Biju Patnaik and Chandrashekhar himself.
He holds the record of becoming state's only - non-MLA chief minister. Courtesy - Jamir-KL Chishi rivalry.
# Neiphiu Rio - Once underestimated, he has created the 'Rio phenomenon'. In 2018, Rio changed the fate of Nagaland politics within six weeks time. Despite winning 27 seats, the NPF could not fight him. Rio's friendship with BJP will be discussed for longtime to come.
His best saffron party friends are Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ram Madhav. K L Chishi calls him 'Jamir's disciple' -- we thought it is a big compliment.
# Chingwang Konyak
- A Naga leader with all good intentions. But he takes 'break' when it comes to party-based ideologies. Once a committed Congressman - he was part of the NDM in 1997 and is today chief of a 'regional party' called NDPP. Once as the pradesh Congress president -Chingwang had said -- "I am not a rubber stamp president".
# Chongshen Chang
- a former Speaker; he served as Deputy Chief Minister in the brief Chishi ministry. He had all the potentials to be an undisputed leader of ENPO region; but he did not play that game very aggressively.
"We may get UT-status in ENPO one day, but a separate statehood is not possible. We should work harder with other Naga leaders," he had told me in 1990.
# T A Ngullie - Probably had all the talent to be first Lotha Chief Minister. The fact that Wokha district gave only four legislators was one handicap.
"Jamir is always taller than me...in height and also he has ten MLAs," T A Ngullie
had remarked after he was asked to resign as the Planning Minister.
* (We are missing out many others -- owing to space and also we need not make this piece a list of Who's Who)
ends
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| Chingwang Konyak |
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