S.C. Jamir’s recent piece, “Unveiling Bare Facts of Naga Political Struggle,” published in the Nagaland Post on 20 September 2026, questions the trajectory of the Naga political movement but relies heavily on the current borders of Nagaland. The article’s focus on present-day state boundaries obscures the fact that the movement began long before Nagaland was formed in December 1963, and that its political consciousness has never been confined to the territory that later became the state.
The historical record shows that Naga communities have inhabited areas now part of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and north‑western Myanmar. The 1918 formation of the Naga Club in Kohima, the 1929 memorandum to the Simon Commission, and the later evolution into the Naga National Council all involved representatives from Angami, Zeliangrong, Rengma, Sema, Lotha and even a Kuki individual. These early groups demonstrate that the political consciousness represented by the Naga Club cannot be reduced to a single tribal or territorial identity.
Southern Naga participation further illustrates the movement’s geographic breadth. The 1948 “No Tax” protest at Mao‑Gate, the 1951 Naga Plebiscite involving Mao representatives, and the varied electoral responses in 1952, 1957 and 1962 all point to active engagement outside present‑day Nagaland. Armed clashes with Indian forces in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the ambush between Mao‑Gate and Khuzama, affected communities in the southern Naga areas and underscore that the political and military repercussions of the Naga question were not confined to the state’s borders.
Given this complex history, it is inappropriate to claim that the Naga political struggle “was born and fully matured in the soil of Nagaland.” Recognizing the diverse experiences of Naga tribes across multiple territories is essential for a balanced narrative. A future that moves beyond narrow tribal loyalties will require dialogue, evidence, and respect for the shared yet distinct histories that shape the Naga people today.
