One can flirt with Death to prove that we are truly alive !! It's all in human nature.
The past - even in good humour - cannot stay silent.
The Naga Students Federation (NSF) is perhaps more likely to be considered a "mandated body" because there is an elaborate democratic process and electioneering involved in it and all Naga students can vote.
The Naga Hoho too is an old body. Earlier the organization leadership moved from one tribe to another, according to sources, by rotation. It was not structured. Only in the nineties a structured body was created. The process essentially marked a coming together of a group of Naga leaders and intellectuals.
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| Blogger in old NSF office - 2022 visit |
M Vero was the first president of Naga Hoho and in the 1990s at Kohima it was common knowledge that Vero was an ardent opponent of Chief Minister Vamuzo. Vero had defeated Vamuzo in 1989 assembly polls.
But later Vero became his Agriculture Minister when Vamuzo headed the JLP ministry in 1990. "Quo vadis" is a Latin phrase that translates directly to "Where are you going?" or "Whither goest thou?"
One can hardly predict. Naga veteran S C Jamir and flamboyant Vamuzo easily fell into such a category.
In 1990, the NSCN was 'banned' by the then Chandrashekhar Govt. ULFA too was banned and the AGP government was dismissed in Assam.
President's Rule was imposed.
But the big fallout was political at Kohima. There was a huge argument between the then Chief Minister Vamuzo and Congress stalwart S C Jamir - who had only a few months back brought in non-MLA Vamuzo as the Chief Minister to oust K L Chishi.
Timing is crucial in politics. The Chandrashekhar government took the decision at a time when Vamuzo was politically 'stronger' having the disqualification of 10 MLAs revoked. The Congress(R) comprising 12 legislators including Neiphiu Rio had already merged with the NPC.
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| S C Jamir and Vamuzo 'used their old personal friendship' to topple K L Chishi |
One evening the 'fight' between Vamuzo and S C Jamir had turned quite serious. It actually broke out in front of Vamuzo's deputy chief minister - in charge of the Finance portfolio - I K Sema.
An upset Jamir told Vamuzo, "You want to do away with Congress, can anyone survive in Indian politics without Congress. You know, the AGP government was dismissed by your Chandrashekhar government. But
it was done at the behest of Congress".
Vamuzo jumped on this. Jamir had given him a fantastic escape route. In fact, after banning of ULFA and NSCN, Vamuzo was under pressure.
Some Congress leaders including pradesh Congress chief Shikiho Sema claimed the centre must have 'consulted' the Vamuzo Govt before banning the NSCN.
Vamuzo retorted sharply at Jamir, "You mean, the AGP government was dismissed at the behest of Congress... you mean both ULFA and NSCN were banned at the behest of Congress.
Meaning your party wanted this ban on NSCN".
Table was turned. A smart political operator, I K Sema gauged the mood in the room and told Vamuzo's PA (a south Indian) to type his resignation letter. But both senior leaders were always friends. Later when we asked Jamir about Vamuzo's argument and use of the phrase -
'at the behest'
Jamir's response :
"I always knew there was something wrong in his head. He did not understand English as well".
But political damage was done. Vamuzo then dropped all Congress ministers.
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| Bolero era - Roads and Vehicle on National Highway |
Congress pradesh office bearers led by president Shikiho Sema (a former NSF president) smelt a rat and they issued a statement demanding that Jamir has to clarify whether he really said NSCN was banned 'at the behest of Congress' as claimed by Vamuzo.
Shikiho had turned a radical nationalist and also named his son 'Bharato'. In 2026 - he could have easily figured in PM's 'Mann Ki Baat'.
The signatories included the likes of K V Pusa, NPCC general secretary.
They met at Rainbow Ezung's residence (opposite Vizol's house near NST premises) and the copy of the letter was passed on to the central government and Shikiho's "friends in central agencies".
It was really one of the serious challenging times for Jamir. But all the rebellion still could not corner Jamir in real sense.
Around 1994-95, once S C Jamir said on the floor of the assembly, "Mr Speaker Sir, in Naga politics, I think, I made only two mistakes...".
Everybody including those in the press gallery were more than attentive. Maybe there was a breaking news on cards.
But Jamir surprised everyone when he said -- "One mistake was I made Vamuzo the Chief Minister and later in 1993, I made K L Chishi the Finance Minister".
Needless to add, both were furious.
On different occasions both the leaders reacted. Chishi said Jamir thought everyone else around him is a 'pawn'.
Vamuzo was usual flamboyant - "You are a habitual liar" - he told Jamir straight.
Vamuzo and Jamir were bosom friends personally. Once during a heated argument in the House, Jamir said something only a true friend can tell another truly yours.
"I don't know Sir, why this dull fellow is sitting here". And the real climax was both started laughing at each other.
Shurhozelie, a good debater himself, was up on his feet and said -- "Next time when the Govt High School holds debate competitions, they should invite Shri Jamir and Vamuzo as special guests".
The Jamir-Vamuzo friendship was almost legendary and so when we refer to these leaders - one must rejoice the spirit of healthy politics.
In 2026, some words from either on each other should be therefore taken with a pinch of salt.
Another highlight of the Vamuzo regime in 1990 was the ability of the NSF to pressurise the authorities.
The apex NSF under R Paphino (who later became NPC MLA) was not "youth wing" of any political party.
The organisation was really a force worth appreciating its strength.
The Vamuzo government was even forced to change the superannuation policy forcing hundreds of senior officials and state government
employees taking retirement as the clause "57 years of age or 33 years of service whichever is earlier".
Likes of DIPR Director K Peseyie lost his job within minutes the Governor M M Thomas had signed the Ordinance.
The incumbent Lok Sabha MP, S Supongmeren Jamir was a key player in the erstwhile Paphino-led team. The NSF then had asked both the lawmakers Late Vizol and Late Shikiho Sema to resign and come back home.
The complaint had cropped up when the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed (only Muslim Home Minister) had described the NSF as a "parochial body".
Supongmeren is today pradesh Congress chief but his conduct has been always friendly to the BJP-NPF regime at Kohima.
Activist Theja Therieh was ANCSU president and later NSF Speaker in the 1990s. The ANCSU had demanded I K Sema's resignation when UGC scale was not given to Science College teachers. ANCSU also had issues with a Nagaland University Vice Chancellor.
Prior to that, the students' protest had left the then Chief Minister S C Jamir red-faced in the mid-eighties as two students had died and the NSF Martyrs' Park was set up.
The protest was against the introduction of IPS cadre in Nagaland.
Many years later, veteran Jamir wrote a booklet, "Don't Mind, I am still Growing" (released on his birthday Oct 17, 2023).
There in Jamir shared about his mild differences with SMH Burney, then the state Governor, vis-a-vis the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and Naga Mothers' Association protest against the Jamir government's
decision to implement or introduce 'IPS norms' for the state police.
"With a view to improving and updating police organisation the cabinet under me decided to introduce IPS in the state.....To my utter surprise some of the senior police officers were totally against it", wrote Jamir.
That way, even New Delhi understands that the Rio regime has been handled with soft gloves not only by students but also by other pressure groups and even the local media.
Amit Shah showed trust in Rio hoping the chief minister would
deliver Solution and a lasting peace -- both still remaining far away.
We Journalists - I am afraid - are more often behind the times.
ends
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