The kind of state we have today is the direct result of the 16 Point Agreement signed between the GOI and the NNC (then Federal Government) of Nagaland represented by the Naga People’s Convention in 1960 and the same was implemented on 1st December, 1963 by which Nagaland became the 16th State of the Indian Union. It took just three years to draft the Agreement and circulated to all concerned parties for final acceptance and approval.
Most of the 16 Point Agreement have been honoured/implemented except that of a separate High Court for the state due to non-completion of the High Court Complex at Merima, Kohima. To remind the Naga public that this agreement not only created the state of Nagaland, but peace came to stay till today. This happened in the midst of a full-scale war between the Indian army and a handful of committed Naga army led by the NNC. The Nagas of today should understand this and remain grateful to the first generation of Naga political leaders led by Late A Z Phizo and Khodao Yanthan.
Likewise, today there is much talk by the Nagas and wait for such a long time to see the results of the political agreements the two major political groups have signed with the GOI on 3rd August 2015 by the NSCN(IM) and the other on the 17th of November 2017 by the 6 NNPGs. It is now running more than ten long years since the first agreement was sealed and signed.
As a gist of the background, NSCN(IM) agreed to a ceasefire with GOI in 1997 and after a lapse of 18 years, the next political agreement was made. Indeed, a period of almost three decades is a pretty long period of time with still no positive sign or progress to bring the Naga political issue to a settlement which is very disturbing and becoming unacceptable and intolerable for the general Naga public. The Nagas have not only lost precious time but wasted a lot of resources as well for the same cause.
The Naga public fails to understand as to why the two political groups are so slow and reluctant to press further or follow up on what agreements they have signed with the GOI. No doubt we can understand the political groups do attend meetings whenever GUI representatives come calling to talk on issues such as ceasefire monitoring cells and others, or if without the knowledge of the public, secret meetings were held with central leaders at Delhi or elsewhere. While of course, they do keep themselves busy in illegal taxations, extortions and the lot that we all have come to familiar terms with. The question arises as to what makes them so occupied that they neglect to pursue the core issue of a political settlement which should have been their top priority.
The Naga public do not unduly blame only the political groups for the neglect on the issue, but the state government is also equally responsible for failing to play their role as a “facilitator” to bring about an early solution. It appears that the state government has not taken up their role with interest and real concern towards the same. The government is seen rushing to New Delhi to meet the central leadership whenever a certain political group makes the slightest political hiccup, while most of the time, the state government appears to remain numb as if the Naga issue is a non-issue.
This game has been going on and on and the Naga public are not at all satisfied with the way this almost a century old issue is being tackled so casually and carelessly and feels it is time we “call a spade a spade”.
Look at the mess that all of these messy politics has led us to. The 100 years old, British era stretch of road, roughly 60-65 Kilometres between the state capital, Kohima and the commercial hub, Dimapur does not have suitable conditions to last all seasons of even a single year. The fact that 62 years of state governance cannot provide decent road connectivity is indeed sad and shameful. Villages do not have proper approach roads nor ordinary bus services, interior villages do not have proper drinking water, electricity, schools, healthcare facilities to name a few of the essential services for a normal life for which the blame goes to the political groups, erring departments, contractors and suppliers culminating in the state government. To which we may finally add that Nagaland has the dubious distinction of having ranked amongst the highest percentage of educated unemployed youth in the country, the situation of which is often tied to economic factors and limited opportunities for skilled workers both in government and private enterprises. The list will be endless and the question may be posed if the state has failed in all fronts, be it politics, economic development, infrastructure, unemployment and wastage of human resources.
Having patiently witnessed the chaos, the GOI disrupts the “fish in troubled waters” by attempting to divide the state further through the ENPO’s NFT mirage making the state weaker by the day. Not satisfied with this, the remaining 8 tribes and districts have been sharply divided into the TUN and the CNTC among others and thus the issue of Naga Independence has taken a back-foot and is almost diminishing. It is indeed, self-defeating politics that the Nagas has accomplished and the core issue has been watered down to unions, associations, tribalism and petty district level issues. God forbid, it splinters down to the clan and village levels and for all of these, there is no blaming any outsiders for this inherent decadence leading to an almost three-decade long period of selective and sedative peace that hinges on the borders of a “free for all” state. This is the outcome of petty politics, systemic division and invasive corruption that has interwoven all of the Naga society in this mess.
The “rule of few” that has preceded all this, can be held accountable for an almost mafia like state in which honest people can hardly get by. It has become a case of either joining in the line to curry favours or be alienated for standing up for what is right, just and deserving for all Naga people. Unfortunately, if this political trend and system remains unchanged, it is only a matter of time that we shall witness criminalisation of politics as is apparent in some states in the mainland India.
The temptation to resist any opposition in politics as well as in all other fields will lead the people towards moral corruption leading to a fully-fledged “mafia state” which is a sad thing to envisage in our so-called Christian state.
It is sadly and apologetically disheartening to lay bare these issues and say that anti-people, anti-democratic or anti-Christian ethics are being practised in front of the Naga Christian church bodies and organisations who are the guardians of the souls of the people and the society, but it is even sadder that these bodies feel reluctant to speak up to correct, speak out to object or attempt to make sense of all these prevalent evils within our Christian communities.
We feel, should the Nagas in general, the common public, the church leaders, the political leaders, the NGOs, the social activists and student bodies take strong stand against all that is wrong and against all that is happening in the state, by admitting where we, as a people have gone wrong and work together towards looking within while progressively working towards our beloved slogans “Nagaland for Christ” in letter and spirit, may we find ourselves achieving the true spirit of our banner and our people.
It may appear to be a herculean task that no single organisation or two can, however strong, committed or united can achieve on their own, given the long period of distrust, disharmony and confusion that have brought upon these vices: But, in God and with God as the guide captain, NM is of the opinion, view and conviction that our Christian state can defeat all these forces and elements for a better future of the Nagas. If the erstwhile headhunting Nagas could become God believing Christians, the same God and his spirit, we believe will enable us to have our jobs done for God’s glory and for the betterment of the Nagas.
C. Pankathung Lotha,
President, Nagaland
Tribes Council
C. Onen Walling, Gen.
Secretary, Nagaland
Tribes Council
Tuesday, November 11, 2025