On 16th May 1951, the Naga National Council conducted the voluntary Plebiscite in our land under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo. Nagas used their thumb impression to make their voice heard. It was the finest democratic expression of the collective political will exercised by the Naga people. It was the clearest statement that Nagas had the political consciousness to organise themselves as a people and a nation. The peoples’ mandate was loud and clear with 99.9 percent in favour of independence.

The verdict of the Plebiscite was the peoples’ endorsement of NNC Declaration of Naga Independence on 14 August 1947 and the Nagas’ first political memorandum submitted by NagaClub to the SimonCommission in 1929 that states, “…leave us alone to determine ourselves as in ancient times.” The Naga political position was accorded the peoples’ mandate through the Plebiscite and this exercise further consolidated the struggle in the ‘administeredNaga-Hills’ and the independent’Free-Naga’territoryto continuewithonevoice.

In the long struggle, Nagas have experienced unimaginable atrocities and brutality when external forces  struck the nascent Naga nation on its soil from the 1950s. History bears witness to the reign of terror that  was unleashed and the Nagas bore the brunt together, and together every Naga village resisted the  onslaught based on the power of truth that never failed to ignite the valour and resilience of their love for  the land. Nagas were persecuted, but they could neither be crushed nor destroyed. We will never forget  our history. No force on earth can suppress the voice or erase the memory of a nation. We accord fullest  respect and recognition to our visionary pioneers and national workers who sacrificed their lives for our  collective vision and aspiration.

With much concern, we accept that the Naga political struggle as we have today is characterised by deep  division and discord. The prevailing situation has caused much harm to the struggle and created  confusion, fatigue and insecurity among the Naga people. However, this momentary phase does not  take away the irrefutable historical right and legitimacy of our political foundation. Every Naga has a  story to tell and the story will continue through posterity as truthfully and powerfully as it must, on the  foundation of our peoplehood and nationhood. We acknowledge the unmistakable Hands of God in the  making of our nation and history that reinforces us to face trials with the dignity, ingenuity and audacity  of our forefathers.

As we stand on this threshold, we have before us the 75th Naga Plebiscite Day––the verdict that gave us  the mandate and the voice to stand together with courage in our struggle. We reaffirm our faith in the  vision ofthePlebisciteby observingthissolemn and historicdayin the spiritittrulyandrightfullydeserves.

With thisin mind, The Naga Plebiscite Commission has been set up with the blessings of NNC elders and leadersto collectivelymark the historic day. The Commission stands on the founding NNC principles of the 1940s and ’50s when all Nagas stood together under one institution with one vision. The idea of the Commission isfor all Nagasto stand on the mandate of 1951 Plebiscite and come together to reiterate our rightfulplace inhistory andmarktheoccasion guided bydemocraticprinciples asitwasin thepast.

The Commission is supported by the Planning and Coordination Committee, comprising various Naga  public organizations, entrusted with the task of organising the historic event on 16th May 2025. This year’s commemoration will be a year-long event with various activities planned leading to the 75th Anniversary Year in 2026. We repose full faith in the leadership of the Naga public organizations and  trust every Naga, the old and the young, join the celebration in the spirit of the occasion. We entrust the  young people to step-up and nurture our story handed-down to us with all your hearts, minds, strengths,  and resources at our disposal to ensure that the baton of our birthright, heritage and indelible living  history is passed on to our children for our tomorrow.

Together, we remain strong.

 

Issued by The Naga Plebiscite Commission

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