Naga Club observes 104th foundation day in Kohima

Correspondent KOHIMA, JAN 8 (NPN) : Naga Club, which was founded on January 7, 1918, observed its 104th foundation day at Prasielie’s residence, Pfuchatsumia Khel, Kohima village, here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion as resource person, renowned Naga peace activist Niketu Iralu, described the day as a moment of history and one that also gave the sense of historic significance behind the great village.

Emphasising on the topic “What the Naga struggle has achieved: assessment,” Iralu said it was not a question but an assertion and answer to the questions that many especially the younger generations of the Nagas today were asking because they were disturbed and insecure due to the society the Naga struggle had produced.

He said the question “what has Naga struggle achieved?” had been going on in the minds of the younger generations.

Iralu maintained that unless the people welcomed this question and answered it truthfully, the struggle, even though it was important for them, would destroy them gradually.

Asserting his response to the question young people were asking, the peace activist said Nagas had become a people and a nation, which was the greatest achievement of the Naga struggle.

Iralu said the Nagas had become a people and a nation through the positions that were made clear before the new government of India created by the British came and before India became an independent nation on August 15, 1947 and because of that the Naga position could not be wiped off.

He said Nagas have to redefine many things that had kept the people divided till now.

He hoped that the Naga Club in its present form would be able to explain the future possibilities to the Naga people.

Later, during the interaction, Iralu while responding to an observation on the need for Naga Club to bring the Nagas closer together, said the Club was meant to be the respected and trusted body of the Nagas as was stated in the memorandum of the Simon Commission. He said it was very clearly stated that the memorandum, which later became the basis of the Naga struggle, was submitted on behalf of all the Nagas.

He said the Club was meant to provide the thinking and the thoughts that would guide Naga people and also reach out to any question and provide conclusions and wisdom to those questions.

Unless the Nagas dealt with most difficult questions faced by the government of India and by the Nagas, the issue of sovereignty, he said Nagas were not going to get anywhere.

Iralu said the Nagas knew what sovereignty was when they started the struggle to achieve it and that was to claim on the basis of the facts of Naga history.

He said Nagas were demanding sovereignty long before India came into existence.

He said any Naga could go to Delhi and tell them what Naga sovereignty meant. However, Iralu said Delhi could not discuss about it since that government would fall in the next election on the grounds that it had fragmented the territorial integrity of India. Therefore, he said that no government of India could discuss about this issue.

Iralu said Nagas could, therefore, say that their sovereignty, for which many people had sacrificed their lives, was India’s problem. “This has to be understood by the Indian people and not just the government,” he said.
He said Naga sovereignty would be taken up by the future Nagas when Indian democracy was mature, developed and stable enough to be able to discuss matters like that. He said other nations like Canada and the UK, whose democracy had become so stable, could discuss questions of Scotland for UK and Quebec province of Canada.

Stating that sovereignty should be discussed only when India was ready, he opined that sovereignty may not be part of any settlement that could come at the moment.

Earlier, delivering presidential address, Naga Club president, Kuolachalie Seyie, said Naga Club was founded on January 7, 1918 by “our visionary forefather Rheichalie Pienyü and his fellow Naga pioneers comprising of some of the first Naga elders representing different tibes”.

He said it was everyone’s duty to declare not to damage what “our Naga struggle” had achieved from the starting point the Naga Club made and gave to the Nagas.

Seyie said that the founder of Naga Club understood what the consequences of their decisions would be for the generations coming after them. He said they faithfully and patiently upheld their time-tested virtues by remaining committed with integrity and unflinching courage to what they believed would be best for the Nagas as a whole. 

In his greetings message, Prasielie Pienyü, great grandson of Lt Hisale (Rheichalie Pienyü), the first president of Naga Club, paid respect and homage to all the pioneers of the Naga Club.

He clarified that many people assumed the Naga Club was formed by the Naga Labour Corp that returned from Europe at the end of World War I (1914-18), however this was not true as told by Rheichalie Pienyü.

He said Naga Club was formed by some likeminded salaried people serving in DC’s office Kohima which comprised of Peshkar, Interpreter, Clerks, Potdar, Chaprasis etc. to work for the greater interest of the Naga people.
He said the Naga Club belonged to everyone and therefore no one should distort the history to suit their own interest but let historical facts remain so.

He announced that in memory of their Rheichalie Pienyü, the family had decided to construct a memorial park on a hilltop at Phirtsakhie for which they sought the support and guidance of the Naga Club.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Naga Club vice president, Y Vandanshan Lotha while Sashirenla Aier moderated the interaction session.
Konyak Baptist Church, Kohima pastor, Mankup invoked God’s blessings while Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima, pastor, Khekavi Yeptho offered the benediction. A special number was presented by Rheichalie’s descendants.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/naga-club-observes-104th-foundation-day-in-kohima/248023.html