:: H i s t o r y ::
Part 1
When one looks at the map of Asia he will find China, India and Burma. The Tri-junction is the position of Nagalim. Nagas are a distinct ethnical stock of Mongoloid race. They migrated to the present Nagalim in two broad waves. Originated from Mongolia, according to oral traditional history.
Both the waves passed through western China (Yunan Province). The first wave passed through upper Burma and occupied the present so-called Arunachal. The second wave stayed in Burma and settled down there for a considerable length of time. And in course of time moved towards west to the present central Nagaland, Manipur, North Cachar Hills and Assam.
Before the advent of the British they remained Independent of any foreign domination. Each village was a republic of its own in most of the tribes-like that of Greek City States. The Nagas have a distinct social life, manner of living, laws, customs and their method of governance of the people is quite different. In religion, they practiced enimism before accepting, Christianity. The Nagas have an efficient system of Administration. Most of the tribes retain to a considerable degree their ancient laws and customs and village organization which have lasted through centuries and these form an integral part of their life. Democracy in its purest form existed among the Nagas. The basis of the Naga system is the village organiztion. Every villageis an independent unit in the tribe. Villages are managed by a Council of Elders and men of influence elected by the people. Such a polity, such a state of society and democratic life is rare to be found. History speaks of the frequent contacts between the Nagas and Ahoms of the plain areas of Assam during pre-British occupation of assam. These contacts were sometimes fierce resulting in battles and sometimes cordial for reasons of conducting peaceful trade relations which were conducted through the barter system. But the Ahoms never attempted to interfere with Naga way of independence.
The British took over a part of naga territory: The opening of a direct route between the Assam valley and Manipur necessitated the British to come in contact with the independent Nagas for the first time since the beginning of time and the result was the annexation of a part of the Naga territory to the British Empire in the first half of the 19th century A.D. It was in 1832 that a survey party to undertake a survey of the proposed route penetrated into the Angami country of the Naga territory led by Captain Jenkins and Pemberton from Manipur. The party met with strong opposition from the Nagas and the foreigners suffered some casualties at the hands of the independent Nagas.
The British realised that without showing the might of the sword it would be utterly impossible for them to penetrate through the Naga teritory. Thus during the period of 1839-1846 altogether 6 expeditions were sent out to suppress the Nagas and during the years that followed thereafter the Anglo-Naga history is marked with many bloody battles.
This period of control by a system of show of force from outside Naga territory did not prove sufficient to subdue over the Nagas permanently by establishing outposts within Naga territory during the British occupied portion of the Naga territory which was declared a "British District" and Kohima was made the Chief Administrative Centre of the area. When once a colonial base was founded the British imperialist were ambitious for further territorial expansion and thus the Sema country was made a "Control Area" in 1887. And in 1889 the Ao country was taken over and another sub-centre was established at Mokokchung.
The controlled Nagas found their world changed with the advent of the British. British administration came into force in the occupied territory through political Officers. Village Chiefs and Elders were encouraged to look after the welfare and civic needs of the villages. Inter-Village feuds came to an end and head-hunting became a thing of the past within Naga Hills District boundaries. The Nagas accepted what life offered, lived their own life in their own mountain villages, happy and content, peaceful and romantic.
Part 2: The Free Naga Territory - "FREE NAGALIM"
The British could take over and control only the south-eastern part of Naga territory during the period of 1832-1880 which came to be known as the British District. But the North and eastern part which formed the larger part of the Naga territory, was left uncontrolled and unoccupied by the British.
This uncontrolled part of Nagalim, the "Free Naga Territory", remained almost unvisited, entirely self-governing and completely independent even when India attained her independence from Great Britian in 1947.
The Government of India Act 1919
Part 1
When one looks at the map of Asia he will find China, India and Burma. The Tri-junction is the position of Nagalim. Nagas are a distinct ethnical stock of Mongoloid race. They migrated to the present Nagalim in two broad waves. Originated from Mongolia, according to oral traditional history.
Both the waves passed through western China (Yunan Province). The first wave passed through upper Burma and occupied the present so-called Arunachal. The second wave stayed in Burma and settled down there for a considerable length of time. And in course of time moved towards west to the present central Nagaland, Manipur, North Cachar Hills and Assam.
Before the advent of the British they remained Independent of any foreign domination. Each village was a republic of its own in most of the tribes-like that of Greek City States. The Nagas have a distinct social life, manner of living, laws, customs and their method of governance of the people is quite different. In religion, they practiced enimism before accepting, Christianity. The Nagas have an efficient system of Administration. Most of the tribes retain to a considerable degree their ancient laws and customs and village organization which have lasted through centuries and these form an integral part of their life. Democracy in its purest form existed among the Nagas. The basis of the Naga system is the village organiztion. Every villageis an independent unit in the tribe. Villages are managed by a Council of Elders and men of influence elected by the people. Such a polity, such a state of society and democratic life is rare to be found. History speaks of the frequent contacts between the Nagas and Ahoms of the plain areas of Assam during pre-British occupation of assam. These contacts were sometimes fierce resulting in battles and sometimes cordial for reasons of conducting peaceful trade relations which were conducted through the barter system. But the Ahoms never attempted to interfere with Naga way of independence.
The British took over a part of naga territory: The opening of a direct route between the Assam valley and Manipur necessitated the British to come in contact with the independent Nagas for the first time since the beginning of time and the result was the annexation of a part of the Naga territory to the British Empire in the first half of the 19th century A.D. It was in 1832 that a survey party to undertake a survey of the proposed route penetrated into the Angami country of the Naga territory led by Captain Jenkins and Pemberton from Manipur. The party met with strong opposition from the Nagas and the foreigners suffered some casualties at the hands of the independent Nagas.
The British realised that without showing the might of the sword it would be utterly impossible for them to penetrate through the Naga teritory. Thus during the period of 1839-1846 altogether 6 expeditions were sent out to suppress the Nagas and during the years that followed thereafter the Anglo-Naga history is marked with many bloody battles.
This period of control by a system of show of force from outside Naga territory did not prove sufficient to subdue over the Nagas permanently by establishing outposts within Naga territory during the British occupied portion of the Naga territory which was declared a "British District" and Kohima was made the Chief Administrative Centre of the area. When once a colonial base was founded the British imperialist were ambitious for further territorial expansion and thus the Sema country was made a "Control Area" in 1887. And in 1889 the Ao country was taken over and another sub-centre was established at Mokokchung.
The controlled Nagas found their world changed with the advent of the British. British administration came into force in the occupied territory through political Officers. Village Chiefs and Elders were encouraged to look after the welfare and civic needs of the villages. Inter-Village feuds came to an end and head-hunting became a thing of the past within Naga Hills District boundaries. The Nagas accepted what life offered, lived their own life in their own mountain villages, happy and content, peaceful and romantic.
Part 2: The Free Naga Territory - "FREE NAGALIM"
The British could take over and control only the south-eastern part of Naga territory during the period of 1832-1880 which came to be known as the British District. But the North and eastern part which formed the larger part of the Naga territory, was left uncontrolled and unoccupied by the British.
This uncontrolled part of Nagalim, the "Free Naga Territory", remained almost unvisited, entirely self-governing and completely independent even when India attained her independence from Great Britian in 1947.
The Government of India Act 1919
According to the government of India Act 1919 the "Naga Hills District" was declared as a "Backward Tract" and it was made clear in the above Act that no Acts passed by the Indian Legislature were to apply to this "Backward Tract" and thereby, the occupied Naga territory was treated as a separate entity from the British India Empire.
The Simon Commission 1929
The year 1929 saw the Nagas again demanding the restoration of their independence when the British withdrew their power from India and Burma. On January 10, 1929, the Simon Commission (The Indian Statutory Commission) under the Chairmanship of Sir John Simon and with Mr. Clement Attlee as one of the members of the Commission visited Kohima to ascertain the wishes of the Nagas on their political future. The Commission asked the Nagas whether they would join the coming "New Reformed Scheme" which became Government of India Act 1935. One of the Naga elders stood up and demonstrated the Naga cultural dance and said Nagas would remain free as before when the British would leave Nagalim. It clearly expressed the aspiration of the whole Nagas. In the memorandum submitted to the Commission the members of the Naga Club, the only all-Naga Organization existing then, speaking on behalf of the Nagas, demanded that the Nagas should be left "alone" whenever the British decided to leave India. The demand was couched in mild words but it represented their burning desire for independence. This memorandum is the first written document in which the Nagas had expressed the fervour of their national longing and political aspirations to regain their independence.
The Zeliangrong Uprising:
In 1929 and in the early 1930's the attention of the British Government was drawn to the Zeliangrong country in the south of Nagalim. The Naga national longing for independence was demonstrated by the Zeliangrong Nagas in an uprising directed to overthrow the British power in Nagalim by force under the leadership of Jadunang who was apprehended and later hanged at Gauhati by the British. The staggering number of Nagas who were shot dead, hanged or otherwise imprisoned in connection with this herioc revolution, was never made public by the British authorities.
The Government of India Act 1953
Under the Government of India Act 1935 which was passed on the recommendations of the Simon Commission, the "Naga Hills District" (Backward Tract according to Act of 1919) was declared to be treated as "Excluded Area" on March 3, 1935. This Act empowered the Governor to administer the area in his own discretion. It was also stated that no Act of the Federal Legislature or of assam Legislature was to apply to the Naga Hills, and thus the Naga area was not brought within the fold of Indian policy.
Sir Robert Neil Reid, Governor of Assam, 1937-41, says in "History of assam Frontier Areas Bordering on Assam" "throughout the discussions previous to the forming of the New Act, the Authorities concerned had no diffisulty in agreeing that Naga Hills ought to be kept outside the purview of the New Constitution. They were accordingly declared to be an "Excluded Area" under the government of British India (Excluded and Partially Excluded) Order 1936 and have since the 1st of April, 1937 been administered by the Governor in his discretion" (p.178)
Part 3: The Visit of British Cabinet Mission
The British Government sent a Cabinet Mission to India to study the political situation in the country in April 1946. The Naga National Council, which was formed in March 1945 to voice the national sentiments of the Nagas,waited upon the British Cabinet Mission in New Delhi on April 9, 1946 and informed the cabinet Mission that the Naga future will not be bound by any arbitrary decision of the British Government, and that no recommendation will be accepted without consultation.
The Naga National Council tried to make it clear that the Nagas would not accept any other kind of constitutional arrangement. Therefore the Nine (9)-Point Agreement was negotiated:
The 9-Point Agreement:
In June 1947, the Governor of Assam, Sir Akbar Hydari negotiated an agreement with the Naga National Council afresh in meeting on June 27, 28 and 29, 1947 in Kohima. This agreement came to be known as the nine-point Agreement. The Governor was acting on behalf of the Indian Constituent Assembly. Compromises on both sides produced the Agreement which gave increased administration authorities to the NNC.
In a memorandum submitted to him, the Naga National Council stated, "A constitution drawn up by the people who have had no knowledge of the Naga Hills and the Naga people will be quite unsuitable and unacceptable to the Naga people. It is our desire to make it plain to your Excellency that it will not be enough to say in the end that the constitution has been drawn up on the lines suggested by the Cabinet Mission.
"We know that Your Excellency will concede that the Naga people have as much right for self-determination as any other people. Our request to your Excellency is to do all that is in your power to enable the Nagas to stand on their own feet so that they may be worthy members in the civilized world."
"When a deputation of the Nagas very recently waited upon Your Excellency. Your Excellency was appraised of the demand of the Naga people for the restoration of their old boundary. The ancient boundary with the Ahom Kingdom previously observed by the Ahoms, has been overstepped throughout its length. All the valuable forests previously a part of the Naga Hills have been transfered to the Sibsagar and Nowgong District of Assam."
"In fairness, justice and equity Nagalim should be restored to the Nagas, for it is our great cry that Nagalim should be for the Nagas. We should urge Your Excellency to set up immediately a Boundary Commission to go into this very important question."
"The Naga National Council stands for the solidarity of all Naga tribes. The present Naga Hills District has arbitrarily been carved out for administrative convenience only. It is now our desire that Your Excellency take all steps to bring all the naga tribes together, for they all naturally desire to be together."
Part 4
The Following are the Heads of the 9-Point Agreement 10-Year Akbar Hydari Agreement:
That the right of the Nagas to develop themselves according to their expressed wishes is recognized:
1. Judicial
2. Executive
3. Legislative
4. Land
5. Taxation
6. Boundaries
7. Arms Act
8. Regulation
9. Period of Agreement.
The Government of Indian Union will have a special responsibility for a period of 10 Years to ensure the due observance of this Agreement; at the end of this period, the Naga National Council will be asked whether they require the above agreement to be extended for a further period, or a new agreement regarding the future of the Naga people be arrive at.
But at the same time, one evening, Sir Akbar Hydari warned several Nagas that if the Naga Hills District, in fact, refused to join the Indian Union, India would use force against them.
Gandhiji's Promise of Naga Independence.
There was only one thing to be done and it was to appeal direct to the Father of the Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the one man who above all others was shaping the destiny of the sub-continent in the name of peace and liberty. A Naga delegation went to mahatma Gandhi at the Bhangi Colony in Delhi on July 19, 1947, to tell him that they were resolved to declare their independence a day before India did so, on August 14, 1947 and ask him for help.
It must humiliate every right thinking Indian now to recalled that the Mahatma admitted the justice of the naga claim at once. He told the delegation, "Nagas have every right to be independent. We did not want to live under the domination of the British and they are now leaving us. I want you to feel that India is yours. I feel that the Naga Hills are mine just as much they are yours, but if you say, 'it is mine' then the matter must stop there. I beleive in the brotherhood of man, but I do not beleive in force or forced unions. If you do not wish to join the Union of India nobody will force you to do that. The Congress Government will not do that". When the Naga delegate pointed out that Sir Akbar Hydari was threatening to do exactly that, Gandhi exclaimed, "Sir Akbar Hydari is wrong. He cannot do that. I will come to the Naga Hills; will ask them to shoot me first before one Naga is shot".
Declaration of Naga Independence - August 14, 1947
According to plans and preparations, Naga independence was declared on August 14, 1947 one day before India became Independent. The Government of India and the United Nations Organization were informed by cable to which the UNO was kind enough to send an acknowledgement.
The cable runs:
Benign Excellency (.) Kindly put on record that Nagas will be independent (.) Discussion with India are being carried on to that effect (.) Nagas do not accept Indian Constitution (.) The right of the people must prevail regardless of size (.)
Naga National Council
Assurances for implementing the 10-Year Agreement.
Following a statement made to the representatives of the NNc at Gauhati on February 2, 1948 by the Premier of assam to the effect that there can be no "Agreement" with the Nagas, a 2-man Naga delegation met His Excellency the Governor of Assam Sir Akbar Hydari, in Shillong on May 9, 1948. The purpose of the delegation was to ascertain the position of the 9-Point Agreement of June, 1947. The Governor said that the agreement would be incorporated in the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution of India, although the 9-Point Agreement made no reference to the Constitution of India.
The Nagas took the Agreement on the basis of treaty. Further assurance for the 10-Year Agreement's implementation was given to the NNC by the adviser to the Governor of Assam vide his Memo No. 490/C Dated 11th June, 1948. The letter reads:
"His Excellency the Governor of Assam, I am desired by His Excellency to state that the machinery necessary to that end is already in motion. There was never, nor shall be, any question of non-implementation of the terms of the Agreement".
Sd/-
N.K. Rustomji,
Advisor to the Governor of Assam.
The final assurance for implementation of the 10-Year Agreement was made in a signed statement to the Naga National Council by both Sir Akbar Hydari, Governor of Assam and Shri Gopinath Bordoloi the Premier of Assam under Memo No. 88-C/47-570-72 dated June 22, 1948.
The signed statement reads:
"A deputation of Naga gentlemen had come to Shillong to receive a written assurance from His Excellency the Governor of assam and the Honourable Premier of assam to the effect that the agreement reached between His Excellency and the Naga Leaders in June, 1947 will be implemented. The deputation was given hearing by both His Excellency and the Hon'ble Premier and were given assurance by both that there was never any question of non-implementation of the Agreement. A misunderstanding has appeared to have arisen in the minds of certain section of the Naga people that the Agreement of June 1947 was nullified by the provision laid down in the Draft Constitution. It was explained to the deputation at length that the Draft Constitution is/was in no way inconsistent with the Agreement. On the contrary, it has prescribed the machinery whereby the Agreement might be translated into action. If, however, there still remains any doubt or apprehension in the minds of the Naga people regarding the validity of the Agreement, His Excellency and the Hon'ble Premier were prepared to give the written assurance that had been asked for. They have been pleased to do so accordingly and have both appended their signature to this document as a token of the assurance they have been asked to give".
Sd/-
A. Hydari,
Governor of Assam
Sd/-
G.N. Bordoloi
Hon'ble Premier, Assam
Part 5: The Betrayal of the Agreement by India
In order to extract a clear statement about the actual fate of the 10-Year Agreement (9-Point Agreement) a 3-man Delegation of the naga National Council met the represetatives of the government of India in Shillong on November 3, 1949.The Naga delegation was bluntly told that there was no Agreement made with the Nagas. Shri Gopinath Bordoloi himself sorrowfully admitted to the Nagas in the government House in Shillong on November 9, 1949 that the Agreement was no longer considered to exist by the Indian Government.
This betrayal of the Agreement by Indians in the face of repeated assurances given to the Naga National Council was a direct insult to the Nagas. It hurt tha Naga sentiments greatly. This deliberate lie to cheat the Nagas further widened the gulf separating the Nagas from the Indians. Men's memory is short, yet, this betrayal is still fresh in the minds of the Nagas. And people such as Nagas will never allow themselves to be called Indians.
Rajaji's promise of Naga Independence
Greatly dissapointed at India's betrayal of the 9-Point Agreement on June, 1947, an 11-man Naga delegation met His Excellency the Governor general of Free India, Shri C. Rajgopalachari in Shillong on Novemebr 28, 1949, at the Government House. His Excellency told the Naga Delegation: "India wants to be friendly with you. India does not want to deprive the Nagas of their land. Nagas are at full liberty to do as they like, either to become part of India or be separated if it would be best for their interest to be isolated".
Non-acceptance of the Indian Constitution.
On January 24, 1950, the NNC informed the Government of India the United Nations Organization and all the foreign ambassadors in New Delhi that NAGAS DO NOT ACCEPT THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION.
India informed about the Naga Voluntary Plebiscite.
On New Year's day 1951, the Government of India was given advance information by the NNC regarding the holding of the Naga voluntary plebiscite on the issue of Naga independence. Later on the Government of India was requested to send its representatives and observers to Nagaland to witness the holding of plebiscite vide NNC letters dated March 30, and April 11, 1951.
The Naga Voluntary Plebiscite of 1951.
Early in 1951, the Naga National Council launched a voluntary plebiscite which was inaugurated on May 16, 1951 at Kohima by Mr. A.Z. Phizo, who was by then elected to the coveted office of the President of the Naga National Council to disprove the slander that the desire for independence was held by only a few 'educated' Nagas. But the result, when finally tabulated was 99.9 per cent vote for a sovereign independent Naga State.
Part 6: The Impact of the Colonial Rule in Nagalim
The advent of the British Colonialists into South Asia was unprecedented since it brought about changes of historic significance, bad or good. It was more or less pervasive subdueing almost all the forces that resisted it.This turn of colonial power effected the Nagas (1881-1947) perhaps, worse than any other peoples in the region.
Their free homeland which was never conquered by any alien people, was just divided along the so-called Indo-Burma Boundary by the treaty of Yandabo in 1826 without their knowledge whatsoever. Nagas in their innocence did not know that their homeland was bifurcated by the foreigners whom they never knew before. This was the world they made out of Nagalim. But on this account, which is never their fault, Nagas had to suffer for years together. Their divided homes were further ramified according to what they called administrative convenience. In the west, souther Nagas were put in Manipur, some in Assam leaving the central portion as "Naga Hills". Indian Colonialist further placed a substantial area and population in the so-called Arunachal Pradesh. Eastern side of Nagalim which was called Naga Hills was also divided into two, with the north-east drawn into Kachin State and the south to the Sagaing Division. Being apprehensive of the imminent pan-Nagaism and also taking advantage of the Nagas' backwardness, Newin's regime abolished the "Naga Hills" unit of administration and divided it between the Kachin State and Sagaing Division without the consent of the Nagas. This policy of vivisection, old and new, victimized the Nagas beyond words. In addition, considerable areas of naga territory were just transferred to Nowgong and Sibsagar districts Assam at the sweet will of the British. Such act of cross-injustice shall, without question, continue to be the bone of contention, for the Nagas are now sufficiently alive to what are rightfully theirs. Nevertheless, the good side of the civilization they brought was immense and Nagas owed them as much. The south-west areas were brought under effective control. Administration was excellent. They stopped headhunting which was common among the Nagas. It was this savage practice which created hostilities and fueds among themselves. Before long Nagas were brought much to their senses. Schools were opened and they had the chance of learning the three arts for the first time. But the propagation of Christianity by the American missionaries along with the imparting of education by opening mission schools gave the greatest contribution to the rising of the Naga society. It was through them that the heathen Nagas learned of the existence of the Absolute reality and the better way of living. Nagas could comprehend the meaning life has and they wouldn't anymore part with it. They now felt blessed though endless hurdles remained. Nagas would be forever grateful to them.
SOURCE: http://www.nscnonline.org/nscn/index-2.html
