P R E F A C E
_______________
For the past half a century the Nagas have endured untold miseries in the hands of the occupational forces. Human rights violations of the greatest magnitude were perpetrated without an iota of qualm. Tens of thousands of Nagas have fallen prey to the enemy’s bullets; thousands tortured and maimed for life; thousands of womenfolk raped and molested; thousands of homes razed to the ground; crops and properties worth millions of dollars destroyed. It no doubt constitutes one of the greatest war crimes in history committed against the Naga nation. Yet despite the violent onslaught of the mighty hordes of the occupational Indian and Burmese armed forces, the Nagas have fiercely resisted and withstood for what is inalienably theirs – the right to self-determination.
At the international level, the Nagas had the opportunity to actively participate in the two world wars in support of the allied forces. In 1919, 4000 Nagas joined the labor corps and reached France. Few of them are still alive. In 1944, the Naga people extended their fullest support and cooperation to the allied forces providing food, shelter, guides and other essential services inside and outside Nagalim and the same had been duly acknowledged by the army generals. In the words of Field Marshal Sir William Slim (cf. "Defeat into Victory"): "The gallant Nagas whose loyalty, even in the most depressing times of the invasion, had never faltered. Despite floggings, torture, execution and the burning of their villages, they refused to aid the Japanese in any way or betray our troops. Their active help to us was beyond value or praise … they guided our columns, collected information, ambushed enemy patrols, carried our supplies and brought in our wounded under the heaviest fire, and then, being the gentlemen they were, often refused all payment. Many a British and Indian soldier owes his life to the Nagas, and no soldier of the 14th Army who met them will never think of them, but with admiration and affection." Until a few years back, the Nagas in their existence as a people had gone through a very hard and perilous life subjected to severe famines, epidemics and other natural calamities which were often disastrous. It is indeed a sad thing to recollect that despite the help and support the Nagas extended to the democratic world during the two world wars, neither the United Nations nor any other nations or NGOs ever came to the rescue of the Nagas. In fact, much to the dismay of the Nagas, no one bothered to look into their pitiable plight. For the past 50 years the Nagas stood helplessly on their own, ignored and blacked-out by the rest of the world.
Today the Nagas too, along with the rest of the world, are looking forward to enter the new millennium with a new hope and zeal. Because of the unceasing love and mercy of the Almighty God, the Nagas under the banner of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have succeeded in internationalizing their cause and have reached a stage whereby the enemy has but to ‘call a spade a spade’.
The Naga Nation has a bright future to look forward to. With its abundance of natural resources, rich flora and fauna wealth, and enchanting landscapes so suitable for tourism, it is a matter of a couple of decades for the Nagas to become sufficiently self-reliant. Today Nagalim, among the few places on earth, is in its primeval setting, untouched by the modern degenerative elements – it remains, as it was, when God created it. It is truly God’s own country.
Focusing on the truth of the rights of the Nagas as a nation, it is the endeavor of the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN), to bring out this much awaited ‘Souvenir’ in commemoration of the 50 Years of the Naga freedom struggle.
This work, which attempts to combine historical and political perspectives with the objective of educating the masses, is a collective effort of a good number of dedicated Nagas. The MIP would like to express its deep sense of gratitude to those individuals who had contributed their ideas liberally: without whose help and support this ‘Souvenir’ would not have seen the light of the day. In particular, we would like to say a big "Thank You" to our hon’ble Kilo Kilonser Mr. Rh. Raising for taking special initiatives in making this book a reality, hon’ble MIP Dy. Kilonser Mr. Angnaikham Makunga for providing ideas and materials for the publication, Alee Command Dy. Secretary Mr. K. Timothy, Ph.D., for his selfless service in arranging and editing the articles of the ‘Souvenir’ from the beginning to the end, the MIP Staff members (Mr. T. Toshi Ao in particular) who spent many late hours performing arduous tasks to make this undertaking a success, and to Messrs. Imchawabang Longkumer (Personal Secretary to the Kilo Kilonser) and Simon Zeliangrong (a Research Fellow who is currently assisting the Monitoring Group on Cease-fire), for helping us in different capacities, and to the rest of friends whose names could not be mentioned for security reason. May God bless you all.
The MIP expresses its regret to those friends and organizations that, owing to distance and limitation of time, it could not accommodate their messages in the present publication. Also the MIP, in anticipation of printing errors etc., would like to request our esteemed readers to bear with us for the inconveniences.
In conclusion, the MIP shall be failing in its duty if it does not express its heartfelt indebtedness to the various nation-states that continue to support the just cause of the Naga people. Also we would like to say a warm ‘thank-you’ to all the members of the UNPO and the NGOs which have sent their messages of solidarity and are advocating and solidly backing the Nagas in their various endeavors in the international arena. With a heavy but renewed heart we salute each and every Naga patriot who had gallantly laid down his/her dear life for the "sacred cause". The Naga Nation will forever pay homage to their departed souls.
K U K N A L I M
(Ng. HUNGSHI)
Secretary in-charge
MIP, GPRN
