Then They Came for Us

The eight chapter discusses life for a common Naga having to live under the jurisdiction of draconian state acts like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 amended in 1972. I narrate the story of the village of Oinam that still continues to suffer from the scars of a military combing operation called Operation Blue Bird in 1987. The excesses committed by Assam Rifles on that fatal day are now recounted in Naga folklore and sung in such deep sadness of people being shot dead with no concrete evidence that it sends shivers down you even now; that a democratic country like India could be that brutal in its remote parts away from media focus.

Delhi Came Calling

The seventh chapter offers in-depth assessment of how the Government of India is perceived in these conflict zones. It explores the fault-lines between the Indian military and the Naga society including the para-military and the armed groups. I tell you the story of a young Tangkhul woman, Pangamla (name changed) and how her first interaction with the armed institutions of the Indian state materialized. It is a poignant story and will affect you deeply; her apprehensions, her fears, and her vulnerability.

Phizo

The second chapter deals with the life of A.Z. Phizo, the charismatic leader of the Naga National Council (NNC). It details his entry into the conflict, his role during the fight against British rule in Naga-inhabited areas as well as his role in the formation of the Naga National Council. The chapter provides a glimpse of his motivations as well as life trajectory as a rebel leader including his successes and disappointments. It was Phizo who created the conditions and narrative for the subsequent Naga movement for a separate homeland and was instrumental in conducting a plebiscite in Naga areas in 1951. The chapter highlights his role as the father of the Naga movement.

The Life of a Cadre in an Armed Group

The third chapter takes you into the life of a Naga rebel cadre in the armed camps. Based on my personal field visit to the camps, I take you inside the structure of the camps and the demands of rebel life on a young cadre. This is accomplished through capturing a day in the life of Jeffrey (name changed), a young Tangkhul Naga boy who is an NSCN (IM) sniper commando. This narrative provides you a snapshot of what it is like to be a young man who decides to join an insurgency and life thereafter.

The Naga Armed Group Leadership Structure

In the tenth chapter, I introduce Phunthing Shimrang, who was former Commander-in-Chief and is a Lieutenant General in the Naga army, based on my interview with him. Phunthing is the nephew of Muivah and is deeply committed to the Naga cause. I envision him as the next leader of the NSCN (IM). Hence, his views and vision for the future will have special interest to the reader in order to get a sense of where the Naga movement may be heading towards. Phunthing is now an executive member of the NSCN (IM) steering committee.

Haflong, the Barail Mountain Ranges, and Naga Traditions

The ninth chapter travels back to Haflong and traverses to the Zeme Naga village of Mpuilo. Set amidst the beauty of the Barail ranges, this Zeme village exposes the impact of the Naga conflict including that of counter-insurgency on both young and old. I recount the story of Pojei and Adeu (names changed), two young Zemes who shared with me their dreams and their views on how they see their lives evolve. This chapter introduces you to the impact religion has had on the conflict and the role of the church in the life of the ordinary Naga.

Camp Hebron and Its Symbolism

The fifth chapter travels to Camp Hebron in Nagaland, the NSCN (IM)’s headquarters. This chapter details my journey to this camp and my observations about how an insurgent group organizes itself, the training it imparts, the social networks it establishes, and the long-lasting social bonds the armed group builds with the Naga people, and how it accomplishes all this.

Being Naga in Ukhrul and Chandel, Manipur

In the fourth chapter, I take the reader to Manipur to Naga-inhabited areas like Ukhrul and Chandel (Manipur) to learn about how the communities there view the decades old Naga conflict. This chapter includes my interviews with civil society, armed rebels as well as the young students for whom the stories of the conflict have been a part of their existence since the time they were born. I show how the local folklore includes songs and story-telling about men and women leaving home to become a part of the Naga armed movement.

Introduction

This chapter consists of a historical backdrop in which I explain how the Naga conflict started and who were the chief protagonists. I then introduce the different armed actors involved in the conflict, their ideology, organization and belief systems, and how the conflict has changed over time. The chapter starts with the history of the conflict and why it has prolonged for so long. It offers an understanding of the impact of the deployment of the armed forces within the Naga society. The chapter highlights the complex role of Naga women in the local political setting, as well as their status today. The chapter also offers the reader a detailed map of the book, and the content of the following chapters.

Conclusion

The final chapter ends with my own vision and thoughts on the Naga armed movement as well as the Indian state’s dealing of the conflict. I offer my estimation on why the Naga armed movement sustained itself for so long (over 101 years) as well as the political ideology that added strength to it. I offer my view on some of the challenges that it faces including severe internal ethnic differences. I provide a snapshot of how the future will look like in these conflict-affected areas post-the Naga framework agreement. I finally end with how Po has turned out in his life, 22 years after that day in the rain when I first encountered the Naga conflict with him under those overcast skies in Lodhi Basti (village), Dima Hasau District, Assam.