Kohima Village Council (KVC) has appealed to all not to distort the history of Naga Club to suit their own interest and let historical facts remain just that so that truth could be preserved for posterity.
A press release issued by ‘Committee on KVC History of Naga Club’, comprising Kohima Village Council chairman Dr. Neiphi Kire, chairman of advisory committee of APO Pheluophfelie Kesiezie, Ruzhükhrie Sekhose’s son Khriehutuo Sekhose and Rheichalie Pienyü’s grandson Prasielie Pienyü, stated that KVC, along with all fellow Nagas, desired a grand and unified Naga Club centenary celebration in the true spirit of the club.
The Committee lamented that, despite the best of efforts and KVC’s appeals, reconciliation could not be brokered between Naga Club members and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF). Consequently, it said KVC was compelled to take the decision not to participate in the separate celebration programmes of Naga Club and NSF. According to the Committee, this was deemed necessary so as to maintain a neutral, apolitical stance as well as to express dismay over the tragic disunity between two mature and respected organisations, the press release explained.
The committee reiterated Kohima Village Council’s earlier stance regarding the origin of Naga Club as understood through historical facts and events.
The committee narrated how the Naga Club was formed by a few salaried people comprising of school masters, interpreters, clerks, potars, chaprasis etc. of the then Naga Hill district deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on January 7, 1918.
This formation is substantiated by written documents of the Club which held its traditional annual meetings on that particular day since then. The Committee said it was a fact that Rheichalie Pienyü of Kohima village was the first president of Naga Club and held multiple posts of president, secretary and treasurer till 1942. Later on, the post was handed over to Krusiehu Belho, while the post of secretary was held by Ziekro-o Theünuo in 1942.
The Committee also recalled the labour force of around 2,000 Nagas comprising of 1,000 Semas, 400 Lothas, 200 Rengmas, 200 Aos, 200 Changs and other trans-frontier tribes who were recruited and designated as 21st Naga Labour Corps. After the World War I, the first batch of Naga Labour Corps returned from Europe in June 1918 and the second group in October 1918. By then, the Naga Club was already in existence and the returnees formed Naga Elders Conference.
The Committee said the signatories submitted their representation to Simon Commission on January 10, 1929, which was 11 years after the formation of Naga Club, that included mainly DC staff and Khosa, who was a Labour Corps returnee from Europe. The letter to Simon Commission was drafted by Ruzhükhrie Sekhose at the request of DC office dobashis, the Committee pointed out.
The Committee acknowledged that the returnees of Naga Labour Corps influenced Naga Club and that played an important part in the memorandum submitted to Simon Commission, which was considered as the beginning of political consciousness of Naga nationalism.