Ravi, Rio pay homage to founding fathers of Nagaland

Durbar Hall rechristened Dr. Imkongliba Hall

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 26 (EMN): Governor of Nagaland RN Ravi on Sunday paid homage to the founding fathers of the state and urged the people to rise up and work towards building a new Nagaland.

RN Ravi and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio along with their wives unveiled the plaque rechristening Durbar Hall as “Dr. Imkongliba Hall” on the occasion of 71st Republic day celebrations at Raj Bhavan in Kohima, on Sunday.

Paying homage to the leaders of Naga People’s Convention (NPC), the founding fathers of Nagaland, Ravi said that “today we can only try and imagine under what extraordinary circumstances these leaders got together displaying an extraordinary sense of unity, keeping their heads cool and thinking what was best for our people who were caught in crossfire.”

He reminded that all the 16 tribes and the leaders got together in the best interest of the Naga people. “I salute their extraordinary courage, political maturity and their foresight, because, unswayed by the emotions at that time, they could assess what was in the best interest of the people”, he stated.

RN Ravi mentioned how, when the country was in the throes of issues, the leader of the NPC realised that it was an opportunity to get the best deal for the people of Nagaland “because as the time passed, a more self-confident India would not have perhaps agreed to what was greater at that point of time”.

‘They got Nagaland not only as a state but as a special state, where the parliament chose to withdraw itself and limit its power in the core areas concerning the Naga people and left it to the Nagas to decide their destiny according to their own way,’ he said, adding that it was all done by pursuing the path of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Today, by dedicating our Durbar Hall and naming it Dr. Imkongliba Hall, we just want to tell that you still live in the hearts of Nagaland,” Ravi said. He also congratulated former chief minister of Nagaland Dr. SC Jamir for receiving the Padma Bhushan award from the president of India for his contribution to the people of Nagaland and India.

“When we have set on building a new Nagaland, Nagaland of our dreams and dreams of our founding fathers, we have to harness the inherent strength of our people, and as we are building a new Nagaland. Let us all rise up for the challenge that we have in front of us. We are destined to overcome it,” he told the gathering.

Neiphiu Rio also paid homage to the first president of NPC, Dr. Imkongliba for his selfless effort under the banner of NPC along with his committed colleagues and inking the 16-Point Agreement which led to the formation of Nagaland.

“He was a man of great commitment and values with a far-sighted vision to bring all Naga brothers together to find a practical solution during the turbulent time in the Naga history and later on became the first martyr of the 16-Point Agreement for the state of Nagaland,” he described Imkongliba.

He conveyed his gratitude to the governor for naming the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan after Imkongliba and mentioned that the situation to salvage and bring peace to “our land was a collective effort of NPC”.

He also congratulated SC Jamir on being conferred with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award of India. “It is a moment for our state and we feel proud for this exemplary service to the state and to the country,” he said.

Jamir on 16-Point Agreement

SC Jamir shared the truth and achievements of the NPC that was “suppressed till today” and said that “over the years, the 16-Point Agreement had been scorned and maligned by vested interests, including those who are enjoying the fruits of statehood”. He asserted that some people in their comforting belief of complete knowledge and factual consciousness would perilously incline to “apply distorted logic, analyse half-cooked information and draw faulty conclusions on matters requiring detailed and meticulous understanding and scrutiny”.

As the only living signatory to the 16-Point Agreement, he said that he felt a bounden duty to place on record the incontrovertible reality that the NPC always dedicatedly endeavoured to create a favourable political environment in the areas so as to lucidly and unequivocally highlight the foundational basis of the legitimate demands and long-felt political aspirations of the Naga people before the government of India.

“I do not harbour the slightest hesitation or faintest demur in stating that the widely acknowledged, hugely debated and often irrationally maligned 16-Point Agreement of 1960 was evolved after exhaustive and widespread deliberations by the representatives of the 16 tribes of Nagaland, is a prominent milestone in the chequered political history of the Nagas. The solemn and unanimous resolution of the NPC was to salvage the hopes and aspirations of the Naga people,” he stated.

He mentioned that the agreement was conceptualised and drafted very consciously and judiciously, factoring all the prevailing exigent and strenuous socio-political militias, to act as the basis for an honourable resolution to the Naga problems, and after examining the depth of the historical and political records of the Naga council, “the NPC included Article 371 (A) as one of the most important demands during the negotiation with the prime minister of India in 1960”.

He asked the younger generation and the young political leaders of the state today to understand how and why the NPC emerged in the Naga political scenario so that “a true perspective can emerge on the ideas, ethos, activities and goals of the NPC in the context of the prevailing situation of that kind”.

He asserted that the greatest need in the current political scenario in Nagaland is to recognise and conform to the contemporary realities and steer with them. “All indications show that we are on the threshold of a new dawn for a united, peaceful and progressive Nagaland and in this new dispensation, the people of Nagaland in general and the leaders, in particular, should completely bury their hatchets and with true Christian spirit reinvent, redesign and revolutionise the new Nagaland to measure up to the sanctity of the declaration of our churches Nagaland for Christ,” he added.

Tali Longkumer, son of Dr. Imkongliba, said that his father was a simple person who loved his family and his people. “As one of his sons, I can only vouch for the fact that he accepted the overwhelming challenges of shouldering the Naga politics of his days that were churning through the crisis of identity and survival,” he added.

He mentioned that it was a difficult and dangerous assignment for his father to chart out a way for peace in the midst of violence and bloodshed, but he accepted the challenge with courage, vision and fortitude that subsequently paved the way for the Nagas by negotiating with the government of India, culminating in signing the historic 16-Point Agreement that contained a provision for the creation of the state of Nagaland.

The governor and his wife also felicitated 21 Naga personalities, namely SC Jamir, Imkongliba Ao, JB Jasokie, Kheloshe Sema, RC Chiten Jamir, Goyiepra Chakhesang, TN Angami, Etssorhomo Ezung, Tanwang Konyak, P Demo, Imtichuba Chang, Lakiumong Yimchunger, Bautung Phom, Sentsu Rengma, P Shilu Ao, Sashimeren Aier, R Khathing, Chuba Sangtam, Loyem Chang, Chingai Konyak, Hokishe Sema.

Governor’s Award for outstanding contribution

Moba Konyak and Chenjei Konyak, on behalf of the Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACAOA), received Governor’s Gold Medal certificate 2020 with a plague and a cash award of INR 1 lakh in recognition of the continuous effort and outstanding contribution towards creating awareness on social ills.

Noksen village council chairman Langachu and chairman of Mashiku reserve committee Tinokumzuk received the governor’s award on behalf of Mashiku Wildlife Sanctuary for their tireless effort and outstanding contribution towards conservation and protection of the environment.

Ravi acknowledged them described them as the unsung heroes of Naga society. “These two awards today are just symbolic recognition to say that we are here to take pride in what you are doing and to share the happiness you share with the people of our state,” he said.