Story of Nagaland Insurgency: Part-4
The Cause of Naga Nationalism
The demand for a Nagalim means taking large chunks of territories of three neighbouring States, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, along with some portion of Myanmar. The demand was accentuated by the Naga nationalism infused initially under the leadership of A Z Phizo. He was an efficient communicator who garnered support from majority of the Nagas and convert the demand for a separate homeland into a Naga nationalist movement. The further impetus was given by the organizations such as Naga National Organization, People’s Independence League etc.
The Naga cause was furthered on religious lines also. Since majority of Nagas are Christians, the Naga leadership spread the rumours that the Hindu Government in India would soon put an end to Christianity and it will force Nagas to even stop eating beef.
Thus, there are several internal and external reasons that brought the spirit of nationalism among the Nagas. Among internal reasons; firstly, Nagaland has not been a part of India and had no strong political and legal relations with it. Secondly, Nagas saw Indian government with fear and suspicion that it would force them to follow their customs. Thirdly, Nagas are different from mainland people and can be differentiated easily and so they don’t easily merge with them. Fourthly, Indian Government did nothing to alleviate the fear among Nagas that the taxes and alien culture is not to be imposed on them. They feared that there area would be slowly indianized. Among external reasons, firstly, Nagas had their base camps in Myanmar and East Pakistan helped them. Secondly, China provided them training and ideological support and meddled with issue of Nagas.
Various Problems in Peace Settlement
Fulfilling the demand of a Greater Nagaland would affect the integrity of other states. In 2010, the UPA had made it clear that it will not change the boundaries of the current states. Further, Delhi has also kept insisting that it would negotiate only with one entity and not several factions. But the Naga Problem has too many stakeholders with wide differences among them. Each of them claims mandate to represent the Nagas. However, the majority of the Nagas have their own resentment towards Delhi, which according to them is pampering a few gun-toting men with little resonance with broad Naga family. Further, there are several factors that make things complicated. These include: origin and spread of the Naga-Kuki clashes; failure of administration to reach out and meet the basic demands; distance from Delhi and difficult terrain; sense of being second citizens and neglect from mainland.
Further, the intervention of Delhi in Naga affairs has been quite reckless because Naga Polity is made of 25 tribes and each of these tribes is a proud owner and inheritor of distinct culture, language, tradition and geography within the broad framework of Naga family. However, Delhi has dealt with them as if it was a homogenous collective with common aspirations. Making a deal with one set does not mean that it satisfies all sets.
Burning Questions
There are several burning questions whose answer would define if the Naga problem is really solved. Firstly, New Delhi is engaged with NSCN-IM and it is not clear if any deal with the NSCN-IM is actually going to solve the Naga problem? It is often alleged that NSCN-IM has mainly the people from Tangkhul tribes of Manipur, having little resonance with other Nagas. The other powerful groups such as NSCN(K), NSCN (KK) and NNC have been largely ignored. This brings in another question – who is real representative of Nagas?
NNCN-K, NNCN-KK and NNC
NSCN (K) reportedly holds sway over almost the entire eastern Nagaland and its people and resonates well with the locals including the Konyaks, the largest of Naga tribes.
Similarly, the NSCN (KK)- essentially a militia of the Sumis, one of the larger Naga tribes — control a large swathe of Nagaland adjoining Manipur and also has heavy presence in Dimapur district.
The Naga National Council (NNC), the mother of all Naga militias though now a rump of its older self, deeply resonates with the Angamis, the second largest Naga tribe, and their kin tribes in Kohima and adjoining regions.
Secondly, whether the government takes into confidence the Naga Hoho, the apex Naga tribal council?
