Memories - Turbulent NE and how Nagaland remained 'unique'

'Naga rebels fought security forces and did not kill innocents'

 

New Delhi  

The North East India had a turbulent history and from time to time there were problems of ominous dimensions in most states. Though the 'origin' of Naga insurgency was started in 1929 when the Simon Commission came to India, in the past many observers and experts maintained that "absence of bloodshed" almost between 1947 and 1956 made it an exemplary case.

One viewpoint was that the 'absence of bloodshed' during the embryonic state (1947-56) of the Naga rebellion showed that the rebel leaders led by A Z Phizo never encouraged violence.

Critics have maintained that the murder of NNC general secretary T Sakhrie in 1956 actually had changed the entire scenario. In the words of eminent writer Nari Rustomji this period of Indian history was "the dark and senseless part of India's history". Of course his reference was the moving in of Army and that resulted in intense violence between two sides.

Some years later came the 1960 Sixteen Point Agreement and Statehood on December 1, 1963. This was followed by 1964 -- Sept 6th - Ceasefire. But J B Lama, senior journalist of 'The Statesman' wrote in the 1990s -- "this Ceasefire raised hopes but it was honoured more in the breach than in observance".

Lama also maintained that the ceasefire had given 'freedom' to the underground to consolidate their position and the activities soon reached its peak in Ukhrul district of Manipur.

Notably, in 1966, analysts would say Mizoram went the Nagaland way. Had the Assam government tackled the famine in the Lushai Hills in 1959 caused by the flowering of bamboos and leading to multiplication of rats, the story of Mizos would have been different. Look at the evolution of MNF and its armed rebellion under legendary Laldenga. 

A number of voluntary organisations came up under the aegis of the Mizo National Famine Front. In 1961 Laldenga rechristened the organisation as the Mizo National Front (MNF).

In Manipur rebellion started with Bisheswar Singh, founder of the People's Liberation Army. The story goes

he was recommended/nominated by Manipur government for training in ceramic engineering to the

Jadavpur University, Kolkata. On completion of his course, Bisheswar sought bank loans 'running from

pillar to post to set up a unit. Here too the loans never came and the rest is history, as they put it.

The 'Rise of ULFA' in Assam has interesting anecdotes and turn of events. It all perhaps started with Mongoldoi by-election when Janata Party MP Hiralal Patwari died. It was alleged that at the behest of Congress, the Chief Election Commissioner Sham Lal Shakhder allowed 'foreigners' in the voters' list. The AASU launched anti-foreigners agitation for years and AGP government was installed during the Rajiv Gandhi era. 

The AGP 'boys' were at the helm under P K Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. But the former student leaders soon became 'more Congressmen than the Congress leaders'. The ULFA unleashed violence and by 1990-91, it was a different and 'fearsome' Assam. Extortion became the order of the day especially in tea gardens. The ULFA leaders established camps in Bhutan and Bangladesh and had 'nexus' with Pakistan. The 'Operation Bajrang' was launched but it failed to a large extent.

In 1991, on the Naga rebellion, Former Advisor to Nagaland Governor Murkot Ramuny wrote in 'The Nagaland Journal, Nov 27, 1991) -- "Nagas who took up arms are respected in the rest of India for the manner in which they conducted the long drawn out insurgency and their integrity and honesty in keeping their word".

Ramuny also stated that - "It was only in Naga areas", the underground "fought the security forces and did not kill innocent men, women and children".

Cut to 2023 -- a few of those in the Government of India believe that the Naga rebel leaders will yet again live up to their reputation and "keep their word" by helping resolve the long pending Naga issue and ink a final peace pact.

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