Can Indo-Naga Peace Process Come To Fruition During Modi- Muivahera?

“Seek ye the political kingdom first-not because it matters most, but because in the lack of political order, no normal social development is possible. The state cannot replace society. In the lack of political order, social and individual values are meaningless; they cannot be realised, nor can they be protected from assault, violence and chaos”. - Ben Dor.

- Rinmaya Kumrah

The Naga issue is one of the oldest unresolved political problems that India has ever encountered. The seed of oneness and brotherhood among the Nagas can be said to be sowed with the formation of Naga Club in 1918. However, Naga Nationalism as a mass movement was only popularised by A.Z.Phizo with the formation of Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946, but the concept of Naga integration was visualized and propagated by Rungsung Suisa which was further popularized and conceptualized by Thuingaleng Muiva and Lt. Isak Chishi Swu. In the words of Muivah, “Integration is a must; without integration there will be no permanent solution”.

The UN enacted two important international covenants in 1966, namely, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Art.1 of the second covenant asserts: “All people have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they can freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural rights”. The assertion of the Nagas as a culturally distinct community can definitely fit in this context as per the historical background. In fact, cultural diversity is the common heritage of humanity. Cultural diversity is as necessary for humanity as biodiversity is for nature. Isak Swu strongly stated that “Freedom is a gift of God and we will not choose anything before it”.