Naga Political Struggle: Origins and Fragmentation

The Naga political struggle traces its roots to 1929, when Nagaland's people submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission, marking the first explicit expression of their political aspirations. The Naga National Council was subsequently formed at Wokha, now a district of Nagaland.

Following World War II, when colonial territories sought independence, Nagas launched their own freedom movement for self-determination. The voluntary plebiscite conducted by the NNC under A.Z. Phizo in 1951 gave the organization a popular mandate from Nagaland's people. Armed conflicts began in 1955, leading to widespread violence, destruction of homes and granaries, mass arrests, forced labor, and village stockading across Naga areas.

Today, the NNC faces severe fragmentation, having spawned approximately 37 factions. This splintering represents a fundamental paradox in Naga politics, undermining the unified political institution that once represented the people's aspirations from 1946 to 1954.