The 56th anniversary of Naga national flag hoisting day was observed at “Parashen” in Rengma area with Chuba Ozükum general secretary Naga Hoho as the special guest.
The programme was organized by the Rengma Students’ union under the theme “Retrospection”
Chuba Ozükum speaking at the function said “March 22” was a significant day for the Nagas as Naga national flag was hoisted for the first time at Parashen in 1956.
Chuba said though he came to Parashen for the first time, the place was “historical and that it was a God chosen place for the Nagas”.
Hongking government and NNC merged together and formed Federal government of Nagaland (FGN) on this day, he added.
Chuba said on this very day and place 56 years back, Nagas were one and united. He appealed to all the different Naga groups to come together as one family and be united and move forward with vision for the common goal.
He called upon the Naga students’ leaders to take initiative and bring all the different Naga groups together to this very place where the first Naga flag was hoisted, then on used by all the Nagas.
He gave his assurance that during Naga Hoho assembly the agenda will put up to make Parashen a Naga historical place and preserve it even for the future generation.
The importance and significance of Parashen was delivered by Dr. S. Kemp Land Management Committee member.
He said that the first planned of hoisting National flags by A.Z Phizo was at Chiethu a beautiful hillock east of Cheiphobozo but Indian army intelligent attacked the gathering and as the result Captain R. Peseyie Naga army was shot dead.
Then A. Z Phizo and his Comrades went to Phenshünyu village and camped at Kwalorü and in his second attempt, hoisted the National Flag at Parashen consulting with all neighboring villages with Thungdi Chand C-in-C Naga Home Guard under his supervision on 22nd March 1956 at “Parashen, he added.
The Rengma Hoho President Kegwanye Lorin Kempalso spoke on the role of Regmas in Naga National Movement and said that Regmas have been with the Nagas since inception and played a vital role in Naga freedom movement in different capacities.
He said during the First World War more than two hundred Rengmas were sent to France as labourers called (German Thawa), and when the Naga Club was formed in Oct 1918 at Kohima, Azüto Keppen was elected as President during the Simon Commission.
Rüsilo Rengma was the signatory in the formation of Naga Hills District Tribal Council in 1945 and P. Sentsi Kent Regma was made joint secretary in the formation of Federal Government of Nagaland.
Whenha Rengma was elected as the first Ato Kiloser under the Kriesaniesa Presidentship and P. Sentsi Rengma was amongst the team of Naga Delegation to Delhi meeting with M.K Gandhi and Jewaharlal Nerhu.
Earlier Naga national flag was unfurled by the special guest, the programme was chaired by Sinhilo Thong vice president NSF, Bible reading and prayer by Rev. Gwasolo Semp pastor SBC, welcome speech by Ntsenyhun Nsü president RSU, timeline of Parashen was said by Dr. S. Kemp, patriotic song (Kuknalim) was presented by Senti Semy (cotton country), solidarity speech by Jollyson, speaker of NSF, president Rengma GB’s association and president Rengma mothers’ association, vote of thanks by Kenneth Kath, convener organizing committee and S. Seb PKR visiting pastor said the closing prayer.
Public leaders, office bearers of Naga Students’ Federation and Rengma students’ union, Rengma Hohos and its frontals organization, Rengma political leaders along with hosts of surrounding villages attended the function.