Nagaland celebrates 55th statehood day

Contingents of IRB Battalion march during the 55th Nagaland Statehood Day celebration at Secretariat Plaza in Kohima on December 1. Highlights of the programme includes a video presentation on ‘Nagaland at 55’ by the Department of Information and Public Relations, March Past, band display and cultural performances by the 17 Tribes of Nagaland. (Photo Courtesy: DD News Kohima)

 

Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 1

 

Nagaland today celebrated 55th Statehood Day here at the Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima today highlighting the developmental activities and various achievements made during the intervening years and a reiteration to “pave the way for an alternative arrangement” if there is an agreement to protracted Naga political issue.

 

On December 1, 1963 Nagaland was inaugurated as the 16th State of the Indian Union by Dr. Sarvapelli Radhakrishnan, the then President of India.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called the people of Nagaland to come forward and join hands with the Government “so that we can march together towards all-round development.”

 

“Our responsibility is to carry on the dream of our pioneers who struggled and sacrificed for us. Let us put our hearts and our heads together so that we can be torchbearers of unity, peace and reconciliation to the rest of the country and the world, Rio said.

 

The Chief Minister also maintained that the government is committed to facilitate for an early resolution of the Indo Naga political issue through a negotiated agreement that honours the unique history the rights and identity of the Nagas.

 

“I also reiterate that we will pave the way for an alternative arrangement that may be required for implementation of any such political agreement,” he added.

 

Narrating the historical trajectories before the statehood, Rio said the British created the Naga Hills District in 1866 with headquarters at Samaguting (present day Chümoukedima), later shifted to Wokha in 1876 and then to Kohima in 1878. In 1889, the Sub-Division of Wokha was shifted to Mokokchung.

 

Later, Tuensang was included as part of Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA). The resistance of Nagas began 100 years ago, when the Naga Club was formed in 1918, which later submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission on January 10, 1929, demanding the exclusion of Nagas from the proposed constitutional reforms in British India.

 

This marked the beginning of the political movement leading to the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 and the deployment of armed forces to contain the struggle which led to loss of innumerable lives, he said.

 

The first attempt to politically resolve the issue was made through the 16 Point Agreement of 1960, signed between the Government of India and the Naga People’s Convention.

 

The Interim Body of Nagaland was inaugurated on February 18, 1961 by General Shrinagesh, the then Governor of Assam. It was a five-member Executive Council to advise and assist the Governor in the Administration of Nagaland for implementation of the 16-point Agreement.

 

Subsequently, on August 28, 1962, the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, Bill No. 7 of 1962 was passed by the Parliament and the President gave assent to the State of Nagaland Bill, 1962, on September 4, 1962, for the creation of Nagaland as the Sixteenth State of the Indian Union. Nagas were given special status under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India, Rio said.

 

Stating that it is important that to remember the history of Statehood and the struggle and the sacrifices of pioneers, he said, “I pay my homage to our founding fathers and hope and pray that their vision, principles, sacrifices and hard work continue to guide us in the days to come.”

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