GNF backs FNR’s ‘sacred mission’ to repatriate Naga ancestral remains from UK

October 17, 2024 10 Views No Comment

Kohima, October 17 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) today extended its solidarity to what it termed the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in its “sacred cultural mission to bring the Naga ancestral remains from the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) back to their rightful homeland.”

The journey home of the displaced Naga remains from far-off shores is a significant and necessary act of cultural recovery, it said.

According to the GNF, it can mean more if the Naga people are aware of the rich continuity of life, history, and cultures in their homeland and are in tune with the indomitable and resilient spirit of their forebears in pursuit of what is right, just, and good.

The return of their forebears’ remains could also be the beginning of today’s Naga people’s collective journey from past and present divisions and animosities toward understanding and healing, it maintained.

This would, the forum held, contribute to the reclamation of their narrative as one people, whose story has, for too long, been told by others—poorly, and mostly badly.

It also commended the FNR for its leadership in the sacred community work with the potential to bind together the historic Naga ancestral homecoming with cultural restoration and reconciliation for the present generation.

The FNR’s work is a timely reminder for Nagas spread across unnatural borders of the importance of reclaiming not only their dignity as one people with a shared history but also a worthy legacy to live for and to bequeath to the generations to follow, the GNF stated.

The forum also extended its gratitude to the PRM for its willingness to engage in this sensitive and necessary process of repatriation and called the museum’s effort to address the “injustices of the past” by working with Naga communities commendable.

“We trust that the partnership between PRM and FNR will continue to foster mutual understanding and respect among people across the seas and international borders,” it added.