Kohima to Mokokchung, it required three days
New Delhi
In the history of contemporary Nagaland, of course December 1 is important.
In 1963, on this day came the Statehood. But prior to that and perhaps no less significant was Dec 1 of 1957.
Students of Nagaland state history and politics should appreciate that in 1957 (first
day of December), a separate administrative unit was formed combining the Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang Frontier Division of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA).
Come to think of it; according to legendary J B Jasokie, former CM, "The Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA) was "one of the best governments that I have experienced". Jasokie made the remark in an article for the official souvenir published by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 1989.
Of course, the principles and transparency as practiced during NHTA is gone long back and the anguish of the Eastern Nagaland is today getting ventilated in their demand for carving out a new state, Frontier Nagaland. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to give some credit to the bureaucracy who ran the NHTA.
P N Luthra was the first Commissioner for the NHTA and Usuf Ali was deputy commissioner of Kohima. The responsibility to administer Tuensang district had fallen on N F Suntook and R Khathing was made the DC, Mokokchung. Usuf Ali soon moved out and in his place M Rammuny was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Kohima and much later Rammuny had played his part in deciding the future of Nagas and Nagaland state.
I remember Late Jasokie once telling me, "So, Mr Journalist...I am talking about 1957-58 and I am sure you were not born even". Humbly I smiled and told him, "Sir, my parents met only ten years later in 1967".
The veteran leader would not give up his unique sense of humour. He chuckled - "See, this is the best part of your profession... You do not know anything about what we suffered and yet you criticise all of us....Jamir, Vizol and Jasokie. We really went through tough times". I would nod in affirmative certainly.
One such interaction, he narrated the story of his visit to Amguri in Assam and a beautiful Assamese lady -- much younger to him -- he had met. I did not pursue further on his 'friendship' in Amguri and instead foolishly asked, "Why of all the places Amguri sir".
Jasokie would smile and then had said, "You will not believe it took three days to travel between Kohima and Mokokchung and the journey used to be via Jorhat and Amguri because Wokha areas roads were just pathetic for any season and it was not safe for us".
"So, from Kohima to Mokokchung, we used to travel via Dimapur, Jorhat and Amguri....We had to follow the army convoy and if any vehicle broke-down mid-way, it even took whole day to reach Dimapur from Kohima because the convoy will not move leaving the vehicle not repaired".
He explained further, the next day one would reach Jorhat and then go to Amguri for night halt. "One had to get up early at Jorhat next morning to catch the Army convoy again at Amguri.
His remarks on Kohima-Mokokchung journey came in 1990 when Vamuzo was the Chief Minister and the latter used to frequently take the services of defence helicopter to travel between Dimapur and Kohima and also to travel to Mokokchung region.
Jasokie had once recalled about the crucial Naga People's Convention meet at Ungma village. The said meeting took place between May 21 and 23rd and it was at this meet that S C Jamir was elected as one Joint Secretary to
the NPC and regionalist Vizol became one vice president.
Notably, the Ungma village convention set up a Liasion Committee and tasked to explore the possibilities of agreed solutions of the Naga problem. The members of the Liasion Committee were Dr Imkongliba Ao, A Kevichusa, Vizol Angami, Tekasosang, Khelhoshe, Mr Sangbo, Mr Etssorhorno and Mr Lakhimong.
Interestingly, the panel met its major hurdles and in fact even failed to submit a report on time.
On Dec 11, 1958, the panel admitted its 'failure' and had maintained that a general meeting of Naga public could not be organised. It further said the underground leaders agreed to 'negotiate' with the Government of India only on their demand for Naga independence. The Govt of India had obviously turned down such negotiations and on Dec 12, 1958, A Kevichusa resigned from the committee.
Later a much bigger Drafting Committee was formed with Jasokie himself as the Secretary and it had two leaders from each major and minor tribes. The Drafting Committee had leaders like Hoksihe Sema, N I Jamir, Zopianga, Goyiepra Kenye, Manoranjan Mech (plain tribal) and also figures like Shashimeren Aier and also A Kevichusa and Mr Khelhoshe.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment