Naga insurgency

Also called: Naga movement · Topic: Regional Aspirations: J&K, Punjab, the North-East and Accommodation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 7 "Regional Aspirations"

Meaning

The Naga insurgency is the armed struggle for a separate, sovereign Naga country. Sovereign means fully independent, with no higher authority above it. Angami Zapu Phizo's Naga National Council (NNC) began it in the 1950s, and later groups such as the NSCN carried it on. The Union government called it "the oldest insurgency in the country" [2]. It shows how hard a secessionist demand is to settle, and how India has used special constitutional status (Article 371A) to answer it.

Explanation

Roots: why the Nagas claimed independence

• The NNC's claim: The NNC was the main Naga political body at Independence. It said the Nagas had never been part of India.
• Hydari Agreement (June 1947):
• It was signed between Sir Akbar Hydari, Governor of Assam, and the NNC.
• It gave the Nagas ten years of autonomy (running their own affairs) under Assam.

• Its last clause said the arrangement would be reviewed after ten years. The two sides read it differently:

  • The NNC: a right to choose independence after ten years.
  • The Government of India: a review inside India.

• Declaration of independence: The NNC declared Naga independence on 14 August 1947, one day before India became free. (NCERT dates the declaration to 1951.)

• 1951 "plebiscite": A plebiscite is a vote of the people on one question. The NNC said the vote was overwhelmingly for independence. India did not recognise it.
• Phizo's stand:
• He turned down offers of a negotiated settlement.
• He went into exile and died in exile in the United Kingdom. He never accepted the Indian Constitution.

Armed struggle and the State's response

• Insurgency means armed rebellion against the State by non-state groups.
• From talks to arms: Talks failed. The NNC turned to armed struggle in the 1950s.
• The State's reply:
• The Army was deployed.
• Parliament passed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA). This law lets the armed forces arrest without a warrant and use force in areas declared "disturbed".
• The result was decades of violence. Ordinary people were caught in the middle.

Why it is so hard to end

• Secession vs autonomy:
• Secession is a demand to leave India and form a new country. It is a demand of principle, so the State cannot meet it halfway.

• Autonomy is more self-rule inside India, such as a separate state or special protection. It can be bargained over.

• A split movement:

• Each peace deal left out one group, and that group kept fighting.
• Rebels who rejected the Shillong Accord (1975) formed the NSCN in 1980. Its leaders were Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and S.S. Khaplang.
• In 1988 the NSCN split into NSCN (I-M) (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (K) (Khaplang).

• No single body can bring all Naga groups into one deal.

• Demands that clash with India's sovereignty:

• NSCN (I-M) wants a separate Naga flag and constitution. The Union says the Indian Constitution must apply.
• Greater Nagalim is the demand to unite all Naga-inhabited areas, including parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. These three states strongly oppose it.

In the Constitution and practice

• Statehood as accommodation:
• Sixteen Point Agreement (1960): signed with the Naga People's Convention (NPC), a group of moderate Nagas who chose a settlement within India.

• State of Nagaland Act, 1962 created the state of Nagaland out of Assam [6]. It was formally inaugurated in 1963.

• Article 371A (special provisions for Nagaland) was inserted by the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962 [4][5]:

• Cl. (1)(a): No Act of Parliament applies to Nagaland on Naga religious or social practices, Naga customary law and procedure, civil and criminal justice under customary law, or ownership and transfer of land and its resources. It applies only if the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passes a resolution [4].
• Cl. (1)(b): The Governor has special responsibility for law and order and uses individual judgment after consulting the Council of Ministers. The President can end this by order [4].

• Cl. (1)(d): A 35-member regional council for Tuensang district [4].

• Key milestones in practice:

• Shillong Accord (1975): a section of the underground (the NNC and the "Federal Government of Nagaland") accepted the Indian Constitution and agreed to give up arms. Other rebels rejected it.
• Ceasefire with NSCN (I-M): in force since 1 August 1997 [3]. A ceasefire is an agreed halt to fighting while talks go on.
• June 2001: the ceasefire was extended to 31 July 2002 as one "between the Government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits" [3]. People in Manipur feared losing land, and violent protests broke out there. The words were later dropped.
• Naga Framework Agreement (3 August 2015): signed with NSCN (I-M) in the presence of the Prime Minister. It sets out the basis for a final settlement and leaves the details for later [2]. Its full text has not been made public.
• 2017: a parallel track opened with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a group of seven outfits, which signed an "Agreed Position".

• In the early 2020s, NSCN (I-M), NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) and NSCN (Khaplang) were all under ceasefire [7].

• Status: A final settlement is still awaited. Check the latest position before the exam.

Don't confuse with

• Mizo insurgency: The MNF under Laldenga was one united group. It ended with the Mizo Accord (30 June 1986) and Article 371G. The Naga movement is split, and it has no final deal.
• Shillong Accord (1975) vs Framework Agreement (2015): The Shillong Accord was signed with a section of the NNC. The Framework Agreement was signed with NSCN (I-M).
• Article 371A vs Article 371G: Only 371A (Nagaland, 13th Amendment, 1962) gives the Governor a law-and-order role and sets up the Tuensang council. 371G (Mizoram, 53rd Amendment, 1986) covers "land" only, with no "resources", and requires an Assembly of at least 40 members.
• Secession vs autonomy: Secession means a new country. Autonomy means more self-rule inside India. Nagaland's statehood was autonomy, so it did not satisfy the groups that wanted sovereignty.

Prelims Hooks

• Article 371A (Nagaland) was inserted by the 13th Amendment Act, 1962. Do not confuse it with 371B (Assam), 371C (Manipur) or 371G (Mizoram).
• Under Art. 371A, Parliament's laws on Naga customary law, religious practices, and land and its resources apply only if the Nagaland Assembly passes a resolution [4].
• Hydari Agreement (1947) gave ten years of autonomy. The Sixteen Point Agreement (1960) was with the NPC, not the NNC.
• Order of events: Shillong Accord 1975, NSCN formed 1980, NSCN split into I-M and K 1988.
• The NSCN (I-M) ceasefire dates from 1 August 1997 [3]. The Framework Agreement was signed on 3 August 2015 [2].
• Trap: Greater Nagalim claims areas in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. It does not claim areas in Mizoram or Meghalaya.

Mains Points

• Force vs accommodation (GS-I/II):
• The Army and AFSPA (1958) alone did not end the revolt. They deepened anger among ordinary people.
• Real progress came from asymmetric federalism, meaning some states get more autonomy than others: statehood plus Article 371A.

• This shows that the Constitution can make room for identity claims without India breaking up.

• Greater Nagalim as a federal dilemma:

• Under Article 3, Parliament can redraw state boundaries. But giving Naga areas to Nagaland would cut into the territory of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal.
• The June 2001 Manipur protests show that any deal must take neighbouring states into account.

• One way out: non-territorial solutions, such as cultural bodies for Nagas living across state lines.

• Closing the peace process:

• The split among groups (NSCN factions, NNPGs), the secret text of the 2015 agreement and years of delay all feed mistrust.
• Suggested fixes: a time-bound, inclusive final accord with all groups, and AFSPA withdrawn step by step as violence falls.

Related concepts

• Hydari Agreement
• Sixteen Point Agreement
• Shillong Accord
• Naga Framework Agreement
• Greater Nagalim
• Mizo National Front
• Mizo Accord

Read more

• Secessionist movements: Nagaland and Mizoram