Senapati (Manipur): In what is being seen as a display of his popularity and the influence he still wields over the community, thousands of Nagas from Senapati and adjoining districts of Manipur came out Wednesday to give a rousing reception to Thuingaleng Muivah, who has been the face of the Naga resistance movement for six decades now.
Dressed in their traditional attire and head gear, the crowd thronged the Senapati stadium starting early in the morning. Streets leading to the venue were decorated with Naga cultural motifs, festoons and posters of Muivah.
Old, frail, and moving around with help from aides, the general secretary of Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), in a brief address, advocated an “honourable Indo-Naga political solution based on the 2015 Framework Agreement”.
He also called for “unity among Nagas” and urged them to “rebuild the Naga nation through love, understanding and forgiveness”.
Muivah’s call for unity among Nagas and an honourable political solution comes at a crucial juncture, when many in the community have grown weary of the peace talks dragging on for over two decades.
Delay in reaching a peaceful settlement has spawned several splinter groups within the NSCN and outside of it, many of whom are not on the same page with the Isak-Muivah faction over their core demands of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim, and a separate flag and constitution. Peace talks with the Centre have hit a roadblock over these demands including creation of Greater Nagaland, which proposes extending Nagaland’s borders to include Naga-dominated areas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Centre has refused to agree to any of these demands.
It is in this backdrop that Muivah’s visit to the two Naga-inhabited districts of Manipur—Ukhrul and Senapati, including his ancestral village Somdal—and attending public rallies attended by thousands of Nagas assumes significance.
With charges of extortion levelled against NSCN (IM) cadres, a section of Nagas feel that over the years the organisation and Muivah’s hold over the community has weakened.
But A.C. Thotso, United Naga Council (UNC) working committee secretary told ThePrint that the crowd at Senapati stadium was proof of Muivah’s popularity. “Senapati has never seen such a large gathering in a long time. This (Muivah’s) visit will help inspire the community, especially the youth to the Naga cause.”
After Muivah finished his brief address, his full speech was read on his behalf by his deputy V.S. Atem. In the speech read out by Atem, Muivah reiterated what he had said in Ukhrul last week. “The only honourable negotiated political agreement shall be according to the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communique and the Framework Agreement and officially recognised Nagalim unique history, Nagalim sovereignty, Nagalim territory and the Naga national flag and the Naga national constitution,” he said, reading from the speech.
‘Once-in-a-lifetime experience’
There were choirs from different Naga tribes including Mao, Maram and Poumai, who welcomed Muivah to the venue with performances. Besides, leaders from 21 Naga tribes also addressed the gathering organised by UNC, the apex body representing Naga civil society in Manipur.
The UNC had declared a Genna—a traditional day of reverence and celebration—in honour of Muivah. During Genna, derived from the Angami-Naga word “forbidden”, community members traditionally refrain from routine activities to observe rituals and celebrate collective identity.
The UNC had also directed all educational institutions and shops across Naga-inhabited areas to remain closed. Many who gathered at the Senapati stadium were young Nagas, who were seeing Muivah in person for the first time.
“We have come here to pay honour and respect to our avakharar (father figure) and get inspiration from him. He (Muivah) is a father-like figure to our community. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for youngsters like us,” said Koshyel Khaling, a Naga, who came from the nearby Chandel district.
Soyophy Zingkhai Awuh, a Naga from Imphal, said it was a joyous moment to see in flesh and blood the man she had only only heard of and read about until now. “It’s going to be a great memory for youngsters like us.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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