Adinno Phizo, former President of NNC and eldest daughter A Zapu Phizo breathes her last ::: S C Jamir recalled once -- "When I appeared Matric from Kohima Govt School, I think she was younger to me ... maybe class Nine then"

Adinno (Ms Adino) Z. Phizo, former President of the Naga National Council (NNC) and the eldest daughter of the founder of Naga movement, A Zapu Phizo expired at Kohima today, Oct 8th. 

She assumed leadership of the Naga National Council (NNC) - first organisation to take up the Naga freedom movement, following the death of her father A Z Phizo, in 1990.

She breathed her last at Bethel Hospital, Kohima. 

Adinno Phizo 

She has long maintained a strict position regarding 'Naga sovereignty' maintaining that Nagaland has a right to self-defence and independent recognition.

She spent decades living in London, where her father had been in exile, before returning to Nagaland.  

I interviewed Adinno's mother Mrs Jwane Phizo on Aug 29, 1990

36 years !!

(This interview was done on August 29, 1990 at her residence in Kohima and was published in Kohima-based ‘Nagaland NewsReview’, then a weekly tabloid)

Jwane Phizo was 76 and during the interview she was interpreted and helped by her son Kevitsielezo, whose only condition, I still remember, was : “please do not distort the truth of what has been really said”. Both he and his mother told me that she had stopped giving interviews especially to non-Nagas as many a times her version has been twisted. 

While I did the interview, she was abroad and was already the head of NNC - the organisation founded by her father in the mid-forties before India's independence.   

I did ask Mrs Jwane Phizo about her daughter's election as the NNC president following Phizo’s death.

Mrs Jwane's response was : 

"From our family side we thought of taking rest from all these. But it is the people who have given her a mandate. So Adinno is doing her best to live up to the expectation of the people".

I also asked: Whether she wrote to you (he mom) after her election as NNC chief, particularly on the Naga issue?

Jwane said: "Very much, now and then she has been writing. But all on domestic matters. 

She has been with her father and she knows the issue (Naga movement). Perhaps she discusses politics with her leaders. But between us, we avoid politics. We hardly discuss politics within the family."

Priceless possession: Jwane Phizo's autograph

 

(With shaky hands, she scribbled 'Love' before signing 

Me, 20 something then, was thrilled from the very beginning as it was supposed to be my first major ‘exclusive interview’. The interactions started informally and that gave me confidence. She asked for ‘phika cha (Naga black tea)’ and in typical Naga hospitality said, “bhaat khabo (will you have rice)”. At around 8 am in the morning, I obviously said, ‘no thanks’.  

One controversial question I had asked Adinno's mother was : 

The Nagaland Chief Minister Vamuzo has recently reiterated that Nagaland is an ‘integral part’ of India and that all Nagas and non-Nagas living in Nagaland are Indians. 

Would you venture into a comment on this?

Mrs Jwane replied: 

His statement is best known to him. No comment from my side.

(Chief Minister Vamuzo had made the remark in a radio message and cautioned extortionists and some groups like then floated Naga Youth Liberation Front (NYLF) who were threatening non-Nagas)

When veteran S C Jamir appeared Matric (Class X Board exam) - Jamir - then a student of Mokokchung school had to  walk for days to reach Kohima to appear Matric. Long back Jamir had told me : 

"When I appeared Matric from Kohima Govt School, I think she was younger to me ... maybe class Nine then.)   

ends