Longding residents to see “Naga” replaced with “Wancho” in official documents in Arunachal Pradesh

What it means for ‘Naga integration’

In an announcement dated September 24, 2024, the Office of the Circle Officer Longchan, the Longding District Administration has initiated a process to update essential documents for residents of Longchan Circle. This effort involves the replacement of the term “Naga” with “Wancho” in various official certificates, including Birth, Tribe/Caste, and Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC).

The directive aligns with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s policy to better represent the identity of the local population. The Longchan Circle, which was carved out from the erstwhile Wakka Circle in 2013, will also see changes in address documentation. Residents are being asked to transition their records from “Wakka Circle” to “Longchan Circle,” and from “PO Wakka” to “PO Longchan.”

As a part of this initiative, inhabitants of Longchan Circle are surrendering their original certificates to the Circle and District Administration. In return, the administration is issuing new certificates that reflect the updated nomenclature and address changes.

This development has provoked a strong reaction from the NSCN-IM, which condemned the government’s decision during its joint council meeting on October 1, 2024. The NSCN-IM maintains that Nagas, who are administered under various Indian states, constitute an integral part of their ancestral land. The group stated, “We will resist all efforts to deny us the identity of ‘Nagas.’”

Why are Nagas in Arunachal being denied to use the word ‘Naga’?
The long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Nagas in Arunachal Pradesh has been a contentious issue. In 2013, then-state water resources development minister Newlai Tingkhatra and Union minister of state for minority affairs Ninong Ering sought assistance from the Centre to pursue a constitutional amendment for recognition of the Nocte, Wancho, Tangsa, Tutsa, and Ollo tribes as Scheduled Tribes. According to them, these tribes, residing in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, face challenges due to the lack of recognition as separate entities from “any Naga Tribe.”

In 2018, the central government initiated the process with the very first step of naming the tribes in a proper and documented manner as it has been ‘vaguely referred to in the ST list’. As per the government, proper naming of the tribes and including them in the ST list is a step towards undermining the National Socialist Council of Nagalim. The NSCN-IM demands of Nagalim or Greater Nagaland, comprising all Naga-inhabited areas around Nagaland.

In 2018, The Economic Times reported that the tribal affairs ministry has cleared the decks for removing the reference “any Naga tribes” from the ST list of Arunachal Pradesh and replacing it with the names of Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa and Wancho tribes.

“This move would completely undermine NSCN-IM’s demand for a separate Naga-dominated Nagalim, extending to other states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, as the government’s amendement would now not recognise Arunachal Pradesh tribes as “Naga” but with their specific names,” it added.

Ahead of 2019 State general election, the Union Cabinet approved the Home Ministry’s proposal to replace the generic term ‘any Naga tribes’ with the specific names of the tribes that would qualify for recognition as Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2021, the NSCN-IM condemned what it deemed an “illegal” move by the Government of India to erase the word “Naga” from the Naga areas of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a “blatant insult” to the ongoing Naga struggle.

The NSCN-IM emphasized that the term “Naga” binds the community together, stating, “We will never give it up for anything in the world.” They also warned that Naga MLAs and leaders who supported the bill will be held accountable and labeled as anti-Naga.

Naga unity and future aspirations
On May 16, 2024, the NSCN-IM, considering its significance in the wake of the contemporary political journey, commemorated the 73rd anniversary of the Naga plebiscite day for the first time in Hebron, where communities from Nagaland, Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur gathered to celebrate.

According to one of the NSCN-IM officials, the celebration was a call for everyone to look back and listen and accept the wisdoms of the forbearers and to remind one and all that the Naga forefathers stood in oneness.

During the event, Ngungtim Changmi, President of Tirap Changlang Longding People’s Forum (TCLPF), reiterated the history of how Naga areas were not within India. He asked how many agreements GoI will propose and urged leaders to come together, reflect on past agreements, and forge a united path forward.

“My team and I came from Arunachal Pradesh to celebrate May 16, 1951, but many are unaware of its significance,” said Changmi. Admitting that this was his first time attending, Changmi expressed belief that this would bring the Naga family together and strengthen Naga aspirations.

MT