Nagaland

indiastatestories
Oct 8, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Oct 31

From its early struggles to find its identity to becoming a state in India, the history of Nagaland is filled with challenges and successes. Over time, it grew from a land full of dreams into a thriving state, shaped by the determination and spirit of its people.

Nagaland’s journey to statehood

This begins in the pre-Independence era when the Naga Hills District sought autonomy within Assam. The Naga Club, formed after World War I, articulated the aspirations of the Naga people for self-determination. In 1929, the Naga Club famously submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission, requesting that the Nagas not be included in the Indian constitutional framework after the British left (Naga Club, 1929).

In the mid-1940s, the Naga Club transformed into the Naga National Council (NNC), led by Imti Aliba Ao. The council initially advocated for autonomy within Assam, but aspirations soon shifted towards full self-determination (Chaube, 1999). By August 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru expressed doubts about the viability of Naga territory as an independent entity. This set the stage for prolonged negotiations between the NNC and the Indian Government.

Although Imti Aliba Ao was involved in early nationalist mobilisation, it was Angami Zapu Phizo who soon emerged as the most influential leader of the NNC and steered its push for complete independence (Pashen, 2011). In 1951, under Phizo’s leadership, the NNC organised a plebiscite in which over 99% of participants reportedly supported independence from India (The Hindu, 2019).

The Hydari Agreement, signed in June 1947 between the NNC and the Indian Government (represented by Assam Governor Sir Akbar Hydari), granted Nagas legislative, executive, and judicial powers, with a clause to review Naga autonomy after 10 years. However, differing interpretations of this agreement soon led to tensions (Government of Assam, 1947).

Meanwhile, Zapu Phizo, an Angami leader, declared Nagaland an independent Christian republic on the eve of India’s independence. This bold move challenged the status quo and set the stage for complex negotiations. The Hydari Agreement was ultimately sidelined, and the Sixth Schedule, based on the recommendations of the Bordoloi Committee, was introduced in Nagaland. While the Sixth Schedule granted autonomy to the Naga Hills within Assam, the Nagas continued to push for complete self-determination (Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, n.d.; Government of India, 1955).

However, it should be noted that the Sixth Schedule was never formally implemented in Nagaland. Instead, the Naga Hills–Tuensang Area was brought under special constitutional provisions and placed under direct central administration (North Eastern Council, n.d.).

With the formation of the State Reorganisation Commission (SRC), the NNC’s demands for independence from Assam and India were dismissed. Nonetheless, the NNC continued to seek a separate Nagaland.

As tensions grew, the Indian government enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1958 to suppress Naga insurgency. Peace efforts continued intermittently, culminating in the controversial Shillong Accord of 1975, which was rejected by many Naga factions. This later led to the formation of the NSCN in 1980, which later split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K).

The formation & evolution of Nagaland’s districts

Post the first Naga Peoples Convention in 1957, the Naga Hills–Tuensang Area was established as a new administrative unit within the state of Assam. This marked a crucial step towards the eventual statehood of Nagaland (Government of Nagaland, n.d.). In 1963, Nagaland officially became the 16th state of the Indian Union, with three districts: Kohima, Mokokchung, and Tuensang. These district boundaries were carefully drawn to accommodate the state's tribal communities and ensure administrative efficiency (Nagaland State Portal, n.d).

Over the following decades, factors such as population density and ethnic demographics led to further divisions. Zunheboto and Mon districts were formed in 1973 and 1976, respectively, while Phek district came into existence in 1973, combining parts of Kohima and Tuensang.

In 1997, Dimapur district was carved out of Kohima. Dimapur, the district headquarters, is now the commercial hub and primary gateway to Nagaland.

Further decentralisation occurred in 2004 when Longleng and Kiphire districts were created from Tuensang, aimed at improving local governance. Around the same time, Peren district was carved out of Kohima (Government of Nagaland, n.d.). The rugged terrain and diversity of ethnic groups necessitated such localised administrative setups to enhance governance.

Since 2021, Nagaland has seen the creation of several new districts: Noklak (carved out of Tuensang in January 2021), Chümoukedima and Niuland (from Dimapur in December 2021), Tseminyü (from Kohima in December 2021), and Shamator (from Tuensang in January 2022). Most recently, Meluri district was formed in October 2024, carved out of Phek district. With these developments, Nagaland now comprises 17 districts in total.