SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. ZAVISE RUME, EXECUTIVE MEMBER, NAGA CLUB ON 10TH JANUARY, AT AGHUNATO VILLAGE, ZUNHEBOTO<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE SIMON COMMISSION: On 26th November 1927, the British Conservative Government appointed a Statutory Commission, famously known as the \u201cSimon Commission,\u201d to examine the working of the Indian Constitution established under the Government of India Act, 1919, and recommend reforms. Chaired by Sir John Simon, the Commission consisted of seven members tasked with addressing the socio-political realities of British India. The Act of 1919 had been introduced as a reward for India\u2019s support to the British during World War I.
THE NAGA CLUB: A SYMBOL OF UNITY AND VISION: Formed in 1918, the Naga Club was the first-ever people-based Naga organization. Its primary objective was to uphold the political consciousness of the Nagas and promote socio-cultural activities, creating a unified platform for Naga society. Over the years, it has evolved into a vibrant think tank for intellectual, political, and social discussions, driven by the collective spirit of the Naga people.
THE FIRST NAGA POLITICAL MEMORANDUM: MAGNA CARTA: On 10th January 1929, the Naga Club submitted a historic memorandum to the Simon Commission. This was a defining moment in Naga history\u2014a declaration of our identity, sovereignty, and aspirations. The memorandum emphatically stated that the Nagas were never conquered by any power and had been forcibly subjugated by the British. Therefore, it prayed that when the British left India, they should also leave the Nagas alone, as they were before the British colonization.
CONTENT OF THE MEMORANDUM: The memorandum expressed the Nagas\u2019 discontent with being included in the Reformed Scheme of India without their consent. It urged the Commission to withdraw the Naga Hills from the scheme and place them directly under British protection. It highlighted the Nagas\u2019 fears of heavy taxation, land dispossession, and loss of sovereignty if subsumed into India. The plea was simple yet profound: \u201cLeave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times.\u201d
This powerful document, originally drafted by the visionary leader R\u00fczh\u00fckhrie Sekhose, became the foundation of the Naga political movement and a timeless symbol of the Nagas\u2019 unyielding spirit. We salute all the signatories of the memorandum for their courage, wisdom, and determination in safeguarding the sovereignty and dignity of the Naga people. Their legacy continues to inspire and guide us in our pursuit of freedom and self-determination.
IMPACTS OF THE MEMORANDUM: The memorandum significantly influenced British policies:
Under the Government of India Act, 1935, the Naga Hills were categorized as an \u201cExcluded Area\u201d and placed under the special powers of the Governor of Assam.
Sir Robert Reid, K.C.I.E., became the first Governor of Assam Province, and the Naga Hills came directly under his charge.
On 14th August 1947, the Nagas reaffirmed their independence a day before India\u2019s Independence, reflecting their unwavering desire for self-determination.
THE BASIS OF NAGA POLITICAL MOVEMENT: The cornerstone of the Naga political movement is the principle of people\u2019s sovereignty and independence. It is a mass-based movement, rooted in the conviction that the Nagas are not Indians and that Nagaland is not a part of India. This sovereignty, inherited from time immemorial, is a birthright that no individual or group has the authority to compromise.
Deviating from this principle risks division and conflict. The movement must remain grounded in its foundational values to preserve its integrity and purpose.
STRATEGIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS: On 14th August 1947, the Nagas declared their independence. Subsequently, on 16th May 1951, they conducted a plebiscite, with an overwhelming 99.9% voting in favor of sovereignty. This historic decision was a bold assertion of the Naga people\u2019s right to self-determination.
REVIVING THE NAGA CLUB AS A THINK TANK: The Naga Club must continue to serve as a platform for intellectual engagement and strategic thinking. It should draw upon the expertise of Naga thinkers, scholars, writers, teachers, and professionals to deepen our understanding of ourselves and our aspirations as a nation.
PROMOTING THE NAGA MAGNA CARTA: The Naga Political Memorandum, often called the \u201cNaga Magna Carta,\u201d is a testament to the courage and vision of our forebears. It articulated the collective will of the Naga people and stood as a beacon of hope for future generations. We must preserve and promote its legacy, ensuring that the world recognizes its significance.
Let us honor the signatories of the memorandum and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals they stood for. Let us keep their vision alive by safeguarding our sovereignty and working towards a united and self-reliant Naga nation.
LONG LIVE THE NAGA CLUB!
LONG LIVE NAGA SOVEREIGNTY!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. ZAVISE RUME, EXECUTIVE MEMBER, NAGA CLUB ON 10TH JANUARY, AT AGHUNATO VILLAGE, ZUNHEBOTO THE SIMON COMMISSION: On 26th November 1927, the British Conservative Government appointed a Statutory Commission, famously known as the \u201cSimon Commission,\u201d to examine the working of the Indian Constitution established under the Government of India Act, 1919, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[395],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-465601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}