Nagas: More Autonomy And Less Than Independence

Abstract

Northeast India is a multi-ethnic diversified region of India.Since past years the ethnic groups of this struggle for their independence to protect their distict ethno-cultural identity.Among the various tribes Nagas of Nagaland develop a sense of  nationalist consciousness to establish their self-determination and freedom.Due to hegemonic role of the Indian state they have been consistently urging their so called demand of ‘Nagalim’ or ‘Greater Nagaland’. Through a carrot and stick policy, the Indian state tried to ensure that majority of indigenous ethnic communities living in the Northeast join the Indian federation. The Nagas, considered by the colonial rulers as backward tribes, however resisted the assimilative policies of the Indian state. By invoking the right to self-determination on the basis of their `distinct’ ethnic identity and `unique’ history, the Nagas defied the Indian state that sought to make them a constituent part of the post-colonial Indian Union.Therefore Nagas have been indulging in the autonomy movement with its many insurgent organisation as well as with numerous peace talks but until the present time there is no solutions of long term Naga’s struggle.This paper tries to show the long term self determination and freedom movement of Nagas from the mainland India.