State Re-organisation to Solve Indo - Naga Issue

Why India mentioned Manipur in the Shillong Accord of 1976 as Supplementary Agreement, without consulting the Government of Manipur? The same thing is repeated now while signing the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement of 2015. And some fools in the United Naga Integration Council thought that state unit of Indian National Congress is the final authority to allow the integration of Naga tribes, paving way for a separate homeland in Manipur. 

If BJP Government at the Centre is happy and convinced to satisfy few tribes who called themselves as Naga in Manipur, then please work towards State Re-organisation in entire Northeast India. If India is ready for South Nagalim within Manipur and "shared sovereignty" in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, let us divide Northeast based on the ethnic communities.

Though, it is impossible for State Re-organisation in the ambit of Indian Constitution. If Centre believes they can play with the Constitution of India to appease few people, let us do state re-organisation!

The BJP Government in Assam should stop importing and exporting Bangladeshi Muslims or Hindus first. For Assam will have drastic impact with the appeasement policies of Centre. The BJP government at the Centre is seriously concerned about pleasing Th Muivah, NSCN (IM) leader from Manipur to be the torch bearer of ending decades long Indo-Naga conflicts.

Let those tribes residing in Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur make their own land. Likewise, Assamese living in the entire Northeast too formed a separate State. Let Kukis living in Manipur, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland too formed a separate Kukiland.

Meetei must formed a separate land with those Meetei living in Nagaland, Assam Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The same rights be given to other communities too, if India believes that such proposal to integrate Nagas is acceptable for bringing peace in the entire region.

The question is how much sacrifices have been done by some tribes who called themselves Naga. How many villages in Manipur, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh are torched and innocent killed by Indian forces to suppress the Naga struggles for freedom from India? How many villages in the proposed South Nagalim revolted against the Indian forces like the Naga brothers are suffering for freedom from India? 

During the period from 1953 to 1955 it was reported that the activity of the Naga Movement resulted in lawlessness, violence and created a fear psychosis in the minds of people living in the Naga Hills. By 1955 over 10,000 Nagas had been beaten up and tortured, 1562 women were beaten up and assaulted, out of whom 709 girls were below 20 years of age. 515 granaries were destroyed or burned down,1811 men were maimed through torture, 482 houses had been looted by Indian soldiers; 60 houses belonging to Naga leaders were pulled down and many schools were occupied by the Indian armed forces; 46 villages, containing 10, 791 houses had been attacked as many as 223 times, and Rs 86, 517.60 was been imposed as "fines". 

Let us not linked Oinam incident in Manipur with the freedom struggle of Nagas. It was purely a different issue. On 9 July 1987 the Oinam village become quite a nightmare of terror and horror when the Assam Rifles Outpost near this village was raided in broad daylight by the NSCN. 

Indian general elections of 1952 and 1957 had been totally boycotted by the Naga brothers. But, the so called Tangkhul leaders were enjoying in Delhi as Member of Parliament, right from 1952 onward. And why no Tangkhuls or Maos or Zeliangrongs or Marams or any Naga tribe who claimed to settle in Manipur, signed the 1951 plebiscite? 

BJP leaders should study the facts and act accordingly. Entire communities in Northeast want to see Naga get their solutions, for they have suffered much! But India should not divide Manipur or any other States to satisfy fake Naga tribes who were waging war against its own people!

Tangkhuls Are Not Naked Tribes

The Meetei goddess, Nongpok Ireima is a Tangkhul women. She was married to a Meetei king Tabungba. Today, Meetei worships the Tangkhul woman as a Goddess and presence of Tangkhul brothers and sisters is a mandatory during Lai Haraoba of Ima Nongpok Ireima.

Irengba married the daughter of  Tangkhul Chief  Khayingba, Pidongnu Nuphabi. which is known as Haoreima  Tamheibi by the Meetei.

The leirum  (Tangkhul phee)  which is an important gift in every Meetei marriage is her father's (gift) to the Meetei king.

Interestingly the Chingdai Khullakpa (headman)  Khayingba was the second son of Thingol Likmaba of the Khuman principality. He went up to the hill to become a hillman and later became the chief of Chingdai village.

King Paikhomba married  Ingallei (Matrimei), daughter of Maram Khullakpa. The last royal blood of King Pakhangba, Charairongba was their son.

Tangkhul women performing dance during the Luira Phanit festival

The romantic relationship between the Meetei king Paikhomba and Maram tribal woman Ingallei, and the tragic end of Ingallei are soul stirring episodes in the personal relation of a  Meetei king with the hill people. The abode of Ingallei is still located at the Langol hill, and the deity of the abode is known as Tarung Lairembi in the Imphal West district.

King Charairongba too married a Chothe women.

All these suggest Manipur is a land for the Meetei, Tangkhul, Maram, Chothe, Anal, Thangal, Kabui and various other tribes. The land is not for Kuki or Naga.

We have to sit together and read history and keep that bonding intact who are trying to break the land with vested interest only.

The word "Naga" and the new religion "Christianity" came only 200 years ago. We have to read and understand history beyond this period!

When the colonial administrators and missionaries first visited the Naga Hills, the tribals used to identity themselves with a particular tribe and not as a Naga. The name "Naga" was given to them by the people of the Assam plains and in the last century was used indiscriminately for the Abhors and Daflas as well as for the Nagas themselves.

The word, Naga and Nagamese came into vogue at the same time in the closing years of the Nineteenth century. Nagamese, a form of Assamese enlived by tribal words, is what the Nagas spoke with the plains people of Assam for centuries, which later on became the lingua franca over a loosely defined territory.

Definition and the probable meaning of the term Naga was defined by Prof Gangmumei Kamei in his book "History of Manipur (Pre Colonial Period) as a derivatives from Sanskrit word Nag (snake) or Nagalogae or Nagalog, which signifies Naked.  Another view from the Myanmar side supported that the word Naga is derived from the Ear piercing tribes.

More researchers are of the opinion that the term Naga is mostly suitable for Naked people who lived in the forest where no one can entered.  Further studies by the Britishers shows there were still naked people living in the Naga Hills.

Our study reveals that there are no naked tribes in Manipur. We have a rich civilizations and tribes living in the hills of Manipur had different clothes which are colourful and have symbolic meaning.  Although, British missionaries came along with Bible, they have not brought the dress and culture in the land.

Dress worn by the Tangkhuls were beautifully woven and crafted over the ages. Haora and Changkhom of the Tangkhul tribe is filled with their own distinct design and pattern. How can we called them Naga (naked) tribe if the above definition of Prof Gangmumei Kamei is confirmed as the  only legitimate meaning of Naga? So, Tangkhuls are not naked tribes.

(Excerpt from the forthcoming book TANGKHULS ARE MEETEI TRIBE)