Historical realities must meet contemporary realities: WC,NNPGs

Naga Apex Tribal Bodies must avoid selective amnesia at this juncture of Naga history. Most Apex Naga tribal Hohos have presidency tenures of about two years only. From the Autumn of 2015 to 2022, the FNR had locked its shop and threw away the keys. In between the tribal Hohos and NNPG leaders met extensively during 2016-19 and voluntarily signed and issued various joint statements on behalf of their tribes at various conclaves as crucial stakeholders in the Naga political issue. Most are still alive and remain relevant to the Indo-Naga political context. The Agreed Position of 17th Nov 2017, in reality, was a powerful political milestone achieved after ceaseless consultation among WC,NNPGs and Apex Naga tribal Hohos, churches, prayer groups and Village custodians. It is, in a nutshell, a refined political thought process offering a peek into delicate political craftsmanship, harnessed from different politically conscious Naga intellectuals, set into motion years and months before the actual signing.

1. The numerous Invitations and robust conclaves with apex Naga tribal hohos, Naga civil societies from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were organised as the need for practical Indo-Naga political solution became inevitable. The core issue: GoI must respect Naga history and identity while Nagas would understanding the practical difficulties of the Government of India.
2. The Government of India (GoI) invited the WC, NNPGs for official political negotiations in October 2017. The Naga delegation adopted a calm political position without being billegerent, pompous, rhetorical, overtly passionate or indulge in storytelling on sentimental issues. The Indo-Naga Political Negotiations entrenched Naga history and identity because it is a pre-independent India question for which solution must be honorable and acceptable.
   The hours were precious and precise. All agreed points were noted, put into papers and officially shared between entities.
3. This was necessitated in consideration of the many recent historical inconsistencies and distortions creeping into Naga historical perspectives, which neither the GoI acknowledged nor the general Naga public had access to as to how, where and why the percieved Naga political juggernaut had come to a grinding halt.
4. On the eve of and post the signing of FA of 3rd Aug 2015, the NSCN (IM) abruptly cut off all communication lines with the FNR, Naga political groups, Apex Tribal bodies, GBs and other CSOs. Nagas were left in the dark about their own political future. No single representative of the Church or Apex Naga tribal representative or Civil Society member was visible when FA was signed. That night, not a single candle was lit in Nagaland celebrating the event while in Manipur, Nagas organised candle light programs. Very soon the GOI realised the soul and spirit of Naga political movement was absent from the ceremony.
5. It is not a time to selfgarland, indulge in philosophy, sentimental browbeating or pursue metaphysical exercises when fifty thousand Naga boys and girls are coming home with Bachelor’s or master’s degrees each year in Nagaland state. The same is happening in other Naga areas albeit in lesser number. These are thousands of bright, talented future oriented men and women. They are Nagas and knows exactly what Naga history is. They know which Naga leaders are playing with their futures too. Extraordinary days are confronting the Nagas whether in Myanmar, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam or Nagaland. Definitely not a time to lecture Nagas on Naga history. It is not as though Nagas exist as Sovereign Independent people with contiguous, compact land and population. Naga History, culture, political rights are shared ideals with ethno-social identity transcending artificial boundaries and all Nagas must aspire for historical, cultural co-operation and co-ordination however, it is a reality that NAGA INTEGRATION, both geography and population, is not possible at this time. Nagas will continue to coexist with Meiteis, Kukis, mizos Ahoms, Arunachalis etc. Therefore, the then Government of India interlocutor Mr. R.N Ravi and the Naga negotiators on 17th November 2017, agreed that while the Nagas have the right to self determine their future in consonant with their distinct history and identity, acknowledging, “…WITH DUE REGARD TO CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL REALITIES”, form the other pillar in the Agreed Position.
   WC, NNPGs.