“We will stand our ground—come what may,” Avàkharar Th. Muivah’s firm message to New Delhi

By – Addie Chiphang
Somdal, October 28:
In a voice both resolute and timeless, Avàkharar Thuingaleng Muivah, Ato Kilonser National Socialist Council of Nagalim / Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim , reaffirmed the unshakable stand of the Naga people: recognition of Naga identity is non-negotiable. Speaking to this journalist at the Gethsemane Prayer Centre in his native Somdal village, Ukhrul district, the 93-year-old Naga revolutionary declared that the Naga political movement would continue “come what may” if the Government of India refused to accept the truth of Naga Nationhood.
“Our history with the Indian government is clear,” Muivah stated firmly. “We were compelled to tell them that, come what may, we will stand our ground. We will not surrender our history. Whether it is today, tomorrow, or in the generations to come—we will never do that.”
Recalling the events leading to the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015, between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India, Muivah said he had made his position clear long before the accord. The Agreement, hailed at the time as a milestone toward peace, has since remained in limbo, with unresolved questions surrounding the Nagas’ distinct flag and constitution—symbols central to their identity and sovereignty.
For Muivah, these are not mere political issues but matters of existence and dignity. “Nagas are Nagas and Indians are Indians,” he said unwaveringly. “If you do not come to understand us and appreciate that, then there is no point for us to come to you.” His words carried the weight of history—of a people who declared their independence on August 14, 1947, one day before India’s own freedom, and who have never forsaken that declaration.
Even at 93, the veteran Naga leader’s conviction remains unshaken. To him, the peace process can only move forward on the foundation of mutual respect and recognition of Naga identity. “We are not against peace,” he said, “but peace must rest upon truth.”
Nearly a decade after the Framework Agreement, the stalemate endures. Yet Muivah’s message was clear and uncompromising: unless the Indian government acknowledges the unique history, rights, and political identity of the Nagas, the movement will go on.
As dusk falls over the sacred hills of Somdal, the flame of Naga nationalism still burns bright—steadied by the will of a man who has spent his lifetime carrying the torch of his people’s destiny.