Call to peace and reconciliation remains alive

The call to peace and reconciliation remains as relevant and urgent today as it was twenty years ago when on November 27-30, 1997 the quasquicentennial celebration of 125 years of Christianity in conflict torn Nagaland was held. The Naga Republic recollects poignant moments from the event 20 yrs ago and a reminder that the work of peace remains incomplete

Flashback on celebration of 125 years of Christianity in Nagaland

Naga Republic News

The massive celebration held at Kohima was marked by a call to peace and reconciliation led by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and delegations from American Baptist Churches International Ministries and the Baptist World Alliance.

As a flashback, The Naga Republic recollects some of the poignant moments from the quasquicentennial event and also as a reminder that the work of peace and reconciliation among the Nagas is incomplete even after more than two decades when we affirmed to the world our commitment to these very ideals.

Delegates during the quasquicentennial event at Kohima held from November 27-30, 1997. (Pic courtesy NBCC)

“The whole world knows that head-hunting ended when Christianity came to the Nagas.  Now let the world know that the Nagas live in peace,” said Dr. John Sundquist, executive director of American Baptist International Ministries, during the Sunday morning celebration attended by 120,000 Nagas and an estimated overflow crowd of 30,000.  “The culture of retribution must end.  I plead with you to stop the killings,” he added.

The killings have since come down thanks to effort of Naga civil society but divisions have gone up even more today than it was 20 years back.

As the American Baptist News Service had published on December 29, 1997, “the Nagas have been fighting for independence from India for 50 years but have splintered into six underground factions who are in conflict over leadership of the movement and potential control of the Nagaland government”.

Twenty years hence the number of factions has gone up to nine. Worst is that the Naga public is also deeply divided on how to pursue the goals of peace and reconciliation.

But when the quasquicentennial celebration of 125 years of Christianity was held in 1997 there was much hope. A few months earlier on July 25, 1997, the NSCN (IM) had just announced a Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India to bring about a lasting political solution to the long drawn out Indo-Naga issue.

“Never has there been such a feeling of hope,” said Dr. W. Pongsing, the then General Secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC). “Our people believe that God is moving in the hearts of the insurgent leaders and perhaps we will see peace come by the end of this year.” Such was the optimism in the autumn air.

According to reports collected by The Naga Republic, approximately 1,000 underground members were present at the quasquicentennial celebration and that when Sundquist asked for leaders who were “willing to forgive and forget in the name of Christ,” nine leaders stood and were recognized.

It was reported that the entire crowd enthusiastically rose when Sundquist challenged those in attendance to stand if they would no longer tolerate the violence inflicted upon innocent people.  He then asked the attendees to join in a mass prayer, all praying in their own language.  Many were moved to tears as they fervently asked God to bring peace to their land.

Responding to the plea by thousands of Quasqui attendees for American Baptist church leaders to speak out against the national conflicts in Nagaland, International Ministries’ area director for East Asia and India, the Rev. Benjamin Chan, appealed to the insurgents to “stop killing your innocent brothers and sisters.  Only by doing so can we save the next generation.”

Of interest to note is that Chan also spoke against corruption in Nagaland and appealed to the government officers to “return the money which you have hoarded for Nagaland.  We need all the resources in your hands to uplift the land.  If these resources are not returned, then let the people’s voices be heard.”

It was reported that the foreign delegates were visibly moved by the Christian commitment of the Naga people. But Twenty years since the celebration of 125 years of Christianity, we need to seriously reflect on this question—have we become better or worse?

The call to peace and reconciliation remains as relevant if not more today against the backdrop of an eminent political settlement with the Government of India expected soon. Blatant corruption in Nagaland has reached such a stage that today the stigma of being corrupt is a shameful tag that is attached to the very noble name of Nagaland for Christ.

Five years from this week in November 2022, we the people will be celebrating 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland. What kind of testimony will be bring? What shame or noble deeds will we display before the world? Lest we forget—it’s time to restore or continue on the path of ruin. Looking to the future and to the immediate next five years, let us choose wisely.

 With inputs from the American Baptist News Service