The 106th foundation day of Naga Club was held at Lotha Hoho conference hall, Wokha town on Sunday with Naga Club adviser Medoselhou Keretsü as the guest speaker. Delivering the keynote address, Medoselhou Keretsü described the club as an august body that had been championing the unity of Naga people and their political and social rights for over a century.
He noted out that though the club was formed in 1918, it was under the care and guardianship of various deputy commissioners (DCs) without the charge of any official office-bearer for 64 years.
Eventually, in January 1982, the Naga Elders General Conference was convened at Kohima Village panchayat hall under the leadership of Pesilie Suokhrie, then president of NEC.
It was a Naga public meeting attended by all Naga tribes during which the Naga Club was formally installed by legally electing the office bearers to take over the club, Keretsü said.
As per records, he claimed the election of club office-bearers was a unanimous decision of the huge gathering and had no specific term and they were entrusted to take over the affairs of Naga Club on that day. Hence, he said the day was since observed as Naga Club Foundation Day.
Keretsü said the inception of Naga Club was significant in the history of the Naga people, more so, because it was formed more than a century ago and at a time where there were no means of modern communication with very little to contact with the outside world.
“In spite of all the odds when we had no access to modern education, no information on world politics or human rights, few Naga visionary leaders had realised and understood that all Nagas are one race and belong to the same family as they are, but one blood. Their values common, in addition to their distinct physical characteristics. Therefore, the pioneering founders upheld and confirmed the unity of the Naga people and asserted that they must live together as a family and as an independent nation,” he added.
He recalled that in order to pursue the goal of bringing together all Nagas as a family, the Naga Club had on behalf of the all the Nagas submitted “The Naga Political Memorandum” to the British statutory commission led by John Simon on January 10, 1929.
He said the historic day was marked and observed as Naga Day every year as its consequence were indispensable to Naga history and legacy.
The Naga Club’s adviser claimed that the club’s representation to the Simon Commission became the cornerstone of Naga political movement and defined people’s rights, which still continued to be one of the most significant steps taken to assert Naga uniqueness and oneness.
He hoped that the Nagas had not given up on their forefathers’ dream for a Naga nation and let Nagas live together as a race and sovereign people. He recalled that in order to affirm that allegiance, the historic plebiscite was held in 1951 where more than 99% of the Nagas had voted in favour of sovereignty.
However, he regretted that the Nagas had not gained their sovereign rights and the struggle continued. With the passage of time, he said many changes had been witnessed.
And because of the delay in achieving this goal due to many factors like money power and political influence, he lamented that the present Naga generation seemed to have dissociated themselves from this goal.
He said present day Naga politics was quite dynamic- moving and growing with the fast changing world and therefore hoped that Nagas continue to keep the aspirations of “our” forefathers for a Naga sovereign nation and integration of Naga inhabited areas (Nagas without borders) in our hearts and include them in our political talks.
He prayed that the spirit of the 1951 Naga plebiscite continue to live among the Nagas and help them stand for unity, integrity, love, forgiveness and oneness.
He reminded the Nagas that Naga Club belonged to all of them irrespective of their location, stressing that no tribe was more important than the other and that the contribution of each Naga tribe and individual in the political struggle for a distinct Naga nationality was valued equally.
He lauded the struggles and efforts of the present Naga Club office-bearers for keeping alive the legacy of the club and Nagas as a whole.
He also appreciated their endeavour to keep the records straight and safeguard the truth of the tumultuous political history and the foundation laid down by their forebearers who, with their God-guided insightfulness, stood for Naga unity and freedom.
Keretsü hoped that intellectuals of the present generation inherit the correct Naga political history and fight for unity as envisioned by Naga Club.
In his presidential address, Kuolachalie Seyie said Naga Club was formed by some educated government servants serving in the Kohima DC office on January 7, 1918 under the presidency of Rheichalie Pienyü, Peshkar.
He alleged that attempts had been made by elements with vested interests to distort the facts of history with the claim that the Naga Club was formed by the Naga Labour Corps raised by the British for service on various battle fronts during World War 1 in Europe.
However, he claimed that history testified to the fact that the first batch of Naga Labour Corps returned to Nagaland in June 1918 and the Naga Club had already existed by then.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Lotha Hoho chairman Mhondamo Ovung said the hoho recognised Naga Club as the mother of all Naga activities. In this regard, he declared that the hoho would give its full support to the club.
He suggested that Naga Club create a wider circle of participation and be the leading Naga common forum.
The programme was chaired by Naga Club general secretary KN Mhonthung Lotha, while invocation was pronounced by WTBC associate pastor Y Chumbenthung Murry.
LBCA Vankhosung executive secretary Rev Nyanchumo Lotha offered prayers of blessing upon Naga Club leaders.
Closing remarks were made by Naga Club vice-president Y Vandanshan Lotha and benediction was pronounced by Lotha Hoho adviser and WTBC deacon N Thungjamo Lotha, while a special number was presented by the choir of Wokha Town Baptist Church.