Today is 23rd September, the day of assassination of Late Chalie Kevichusa. After his assassination, this writer wrote in ‘Nagaland Post’, “Can’t 23rd September, 1992 be erased from the calendar ? It is the very cursed date which snatched Chalie away from us.” Chalie is no more. But his memory is still fresh. He is enthroned in our hearts.
Chalie was born on May 13, 1943 to A. Kevichusa and Germanthangi (Mannie) at Mission Compound, Kohima. He was the seventh of eleven children. In this connection, it may well be mentioned that his father A. Kevichusa was the first graduate among the Nagas. Chalie’s actual name was ‘Thechazelhu’, which means ‘one who upholds justice’. Poet Shakespeare said, “What’s there in a name’? Name does not matter. But Poet Rabindranath Tagore did not agree with this view. According to him, the name must be meaningful and appropriate. So the name ‘The Thechazelhu’, which means ‘One who upholds justice’ was exactly suited and most appropriate in the case of Chalie.
Throughtout his whole life, he upheld the banner of justice. Later on, his name was abridged to Chalie. Chalie had a happy childhood divided between his native village Khonoma and Kohima. He gratuated from St. Edmund’s College in Shillong in 1967. He joined politics as a voluntary party worker of the UFN (United Front of Nagaland) in 1968. He also served as Headmaster of Central High School, Dimapur from 1970 to 1973. The nomenclature of UFN was changed to UDF (United Democratic Front) and he was elected as a Joint Secretary of this party. In March, 1973, Chalie was married to Seyievino on January, 20,1971. Throughout his whole life, he was a loving husband. He was blessed with five children – three daughters and two sons. He was an affectionate father till his death, he served as a deacon at Town Baptist Church, Dimapur.
When Emergency was proclaimed in 1975, Chalie, along with other party leaders were incarcerated in the Nowgaon special jail from November 1976 to March, 1977. From February, 1976 to 1987, he served as General Secretary to the United Democratic Front (UDF), Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP), Nagaland people’s Council (NPC) and also of the Forum of North Eastern Regional Political Parties during the Presidency of B.B. Lyngdoh.
He was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MARCOFED, Vice-Chairman of Nagaland State Co-operative Bank, Member of the Urban Bank and Advisor to Chakro Angami Kuda Union (CAKU). He was the Editor and publisher of Ura Mail from June 1976 till the last breath of his life.
He founded the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in August, 1992 just before his earthly departure on September 23, 1992.
Madam Monalisa Changkija, the renowned poetess, a distinguished Journalist and the Editor, ‘Nagaland Page’ dedicated her poem ‘Not Be Dead’ to the memory of Late Chalie Kevichusa. (Thanks and gratitude to Madam Monalisa Changkija). The poem starts with these lines:
“If tomorrow my body is riddled with bullets, I shall not be dead. Nor will I be defeated and silenced.The event would only mean the capitulation of those who cannot think beyond the AK-47.”
Chalie’s heart was filled with the milk of human kindness. He could raise his head beyond all the sectarian and communal interests. His voice was the voice of conscience, which could be distinguished and heard from among the noise of the thousands.
Chalie is dead – Chalie is alive. He is dead physically. But he has hoisted the flag of humanity. Though it is purple with his own blood, it is still flying. So, he is alive.
Salute to Chalie, the immortal. Long live Humanity. Long live Nagaland.
Sources :
i. Chalie, A life Remembered, 1943-1992, Published by- Lhusi Haralu & Mene Chandola.
ii. Chalie : A voice of conscience by- Navojyoti Datta, Published in Nagaland Post March 2, 1993.
iii. Monsoon Mourning, by- Madam Monalisa Changkija.
N.B.: The writer is thankful to Sri Pran Gopal Banerjee, Social Worker, Milan Mandir Road, Dimapur, as he has helped him in preparing this write-up.