Flag of Nagaland

Last updated

Flag of Nagaland
Unofficial flag of Nagaland.svg
Use Cultural events, insurgent groups
Proportion2:3
Adopted1956;69 years ago (1956)
DesignSky blue flag with a white star of Bethlehem and a rainbow in simplified colors.
The flag of Nagaland draped over the mortal remains of Kevilevor Phizo, Zapu Phizo's son on 28 April 2013 in Kohima. NNC President Adino arrive and mouners laid wreaths at kevelevor's mortals remain--.jpg
The flag of Nagaland draped over the mortal remains of Kevilevor Phizo, Zapu Phizo's son on 28 April 2013 in Kohima.

The Flag of Nagaland is the flag used to represent the Naga people. [1] Currently it does not have official status in any area where the Nagas live, but it is allowed at cultural events. [2]

Contents

The color of the flag is medium sky blue which symbolizes the sky. A rainbow arch section, simplified to red, yellow and green, runs across the centre. In the upper corner, next to the staff, there is a white Star of Bethlehem. Both symbols represent Christianity, the faith and identity of the majority of the Naga people. [3]

History

The flag was flown for the first time in the Parashen-Rengma area of Nagaland on 22 March 1956 by the Naga National Council, led by Zapu Phizo. It was adopted as a symbol of Naga nationalism and has been used by insurgent groups seeking self-determination for over seven decades. [4]

Following the Naga Peace Accord that sought to end the long insurgency, the Naga representatives formally requested an official status for the flag, as well as a separate Constitution (Yehzabo) for the Naga people. However, so far the Indian government representatives have remained adamant on the issue, refusing to grant a co-official status to the flag such as the one that was granted between 1952 and 2019 to the state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Hence the Naga flag issue has stalled the peace process. [5] [6]

Bibliography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jammu and Kashmir (state)</span> 1952–2019 state administered by India

Jammu and Kashmir was a region formerly administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019, constituting the southern and southeastern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India, Pakistan and China since the mid-20th century. The underlying region of this state were parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, whose western districts, now known as Azad Kashmir, and northern territories, now known as Gilgit-Baltistan, are administered by Pakistan. The Aksai Chin region in the east, bordering Tibet, has been under Chinese control since 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jammu & Kashmir National Conference</span> Political party in Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is a regional political party in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir union territory and Ladakh. Founded as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference by Sheikh Abdullah and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas in 1932 in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, the organisation renamed itself to National Conference in 1939 in order to represent all the people of the state. It supported the accession of the princely state to India in 1947. Prior to that, in 1941, a group led by Ghulam Abbas broke off from the National Conference and revived the old Muslim Conference. The revived Muslim Conference supported the accession of the princely state to Pakistan and led the movement for Azad Kashmir.

Armed Forces Act (AFSPA), 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in "disturbed areas". According to the Disturbed Areas Act, 1976 once declared 'disturbed', the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months. One such act passed on 11 September 1958 was applicable to the Naga Hills, then part of Assam. In the following decades it spread, one by one, to the other Seven Sister States in India's northeast. Another one passed in 1983 and applicable to Punjab and Chandigarh was withdrawn in 1997, roughly 14 years after it came to force. An act passed in 1990 was applied to Jammu and Kashmir and has been in force since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Northeast India</span> Ongoing militancy in Northeast India

The Insurgency in Northeast India involves multiple separatist and jihadist militant groups operating in some of India's northeastern states, which are connected to the rest of India by the Siliguri Corridor, a strip of land as narrow as 14.29 miles (23.00 km) wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashmir conflict</span> Territorial conflict in South Asia

The Kashmir conflict is a territorial conflict over the Kashmir region, primarily between India and Pakistan, and also between China and India in the northeastern portion of the region. The conflict started after the partition of India in 1947 as both India and Pakistan claimed the entirety of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a dispute over the region that escalated into three wars between India and Pakistan and several other armed skirmishes. India controls approximately 55% of the land area of the region that includes Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, most of Ladakh, the Siachen Glacier, and 70% of its population; Pakistan controls approximately 30% of the land area that includes Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan; and China controls the remaining 15% of the land area that includes the Aksai Chin region, the mostly uninhabited Trans-Karakoram Tract, and part of the Demchok sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naga Conflict</span> Ongoing conflict in northeast India

The Naga conflict, also known as the Naga Insurgency, is an ongoing conflict fought between the ethnic Nagas and the Government of India in North-East India. Nagaland, inhabited by the Nagas, is located at the tri-junction border of India on the West and South, north and Myanmar on the East. Finding its roots in colonial history, this conflict is as old as Independent India, the country it seeks secession from.

The Indira–Sheikh Accord, also known as the Indira–Abdullah Accord, was an accord between Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister of India, and Sheikh Abdullah, leader of the Plebiscite Front. The accord decided the terms under which Abdullah would reenter the politics of Kashmir. It allowed Abdullah to become the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir again after 22 years and enabled competitive politics in the State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Socialist Council of Nagaland</span> Naga separatist group of Northeast India

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is a Naga militant and separatist group operating mainly in northeastern part of India, with minor activities in northwest Myanmar (Burma). The main aim of the organisation is allegedly to establish a sovereign Naga state, "Nagalim", which would consist of all the areas inhabited by Naga tribes in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar. Despite the name, the group does not endorse the ideology of "National Socialism" as practiced by Nazi Germany. Rather, the group's name is derived from their belief in the nationalist goal of a sovereign Naga state, combined with their belief in socialism. Due to the area the Naga traditionally inhabit being relatively isolated, the combination of the terms "nationalism" and "socialism" together do not have the same association with Nazism as it does in the Western world. India claims that China and Pakistan provide financial support and weaponry to the NSCN. Drug trafficking and extortion are believed to be other major sources of income for the NSCN.

An interlocutor is someone who informally explains the views of a government and also can relay messages back to a government.

Naga nationalism is an ideology that supports the self-determination of the Naga people in India and Myanmar, and the furtherance of Naga culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Jammu and Kashmir</span> Flag of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir between 1952–2019

The State flag of Jammu and Kashmir was a symbol used in the former Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between 1952 and 2019, under the special status accorded to the region by Article 370 of the Constitution of India. It was a red-and-white flag with a representation of a plough and three constituent regions of the state. After the abolition of Article 370 in August 2019, this flag lost its official status.

Secession in India typically refers to state secession, which is the withdrawal of one or more states from the Republic of India. Whereas, some have wanted a separate state, union territory or an autonomous administrative division within India. Many separatist movements exist with thousands of members, however, some have low local support and high voter participation in democratic elections. However, at the same time, demanding separate statehood within under the administration of Indian union from an existing state can lead to criminal charges under secession law in India. India is described as a ‘Union of States’ in Article 1 of the Indian constitution I.e "Indestructible nation of destructible states" by its father of constitution Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar where a state or Union territory of India cannot secede from India by any means and the Central Government has more powers than the respective state governments and can forcefully change the names and boundaries of the states without their permission at any time when needed for self interest and for the maintenance of integrity.

Longri Ao (1906–1981), also known by name Longritangchetha, was an indigenous Baptist missionary from the North-Eastern state of India, Nagaland. He was a missionary to the Konyak people and a peacemaker. He is known to have risked his life to restore peace in Nagaland, and to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and underground leaders fighting for Nagaland secession from India.

The Shillong Accord of 1975 was an agreement signed between the Government of India, also referred to as the Federal government, or Union government, or Central government of India, and Nagaland's underground government, also referred to as the Naga Federal government, or Naga guerillas, or Naga rebels, to accept the supremacy of Constitution of India without condition, surrender their arms and renounce their demand for the secession of Nagaland from India.

The Naga Peace Accord is a peace treaty, signed, on 3 August 2015, between the Government of India, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), to end the insurgency in the state of Nagaland in Northeast India. The Government’s interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, R. N. Ravi signed it on behalf of the Government of India, whereas Lt. Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman and Thuingaleng Muivah, General Secretary signed on behalf of the NSCN, in presence of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. N. Ravi</span> 15th Governor of Tamil Nadu

Ravindra Narayana Ravi is an Indian politician and former bureaucrat serving as the current governor of Tamil Nadu. Ravi served as governor of Nagaland from 1 August 2019 to 9 September 2021 and as Governor of Meghalaya from 18 December 2019 to 26 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Nagas</span>

The history of the Nagas dates back centuries, but first appear in written records of Ahom kingdom during the medieval period of Indian history. Aside from developing contacts with the Ahom kingdom, which was established in 1228 in Assam, the Nagas generally lived an isolated existence from the outside world. This changed in the 19th century, when the Burmese Empire launched several invasions of Assam between 1817 and 1826, which led the Nagas to briefly fall under Burmese rule. However, the neighboring British Empire annexed Assam in 1828 following the 1826 Treaty of Yandabo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</span> Indian political party

The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is a political alliance between several political parties in Jammu and Kashmir campaigning for autonomy for the region by restoring special status along with Article 35A of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah is president and Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami is the convener and spokesperson of the pact.

References

  1. "Explained: History of Naga flag and how significant it has been earlier and now". Indian Express. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  2. "Talks for Naga Accord: NSCN I-M returns to table, claims it can use flag at cultural events". Indian Express. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  3. "Flagging a concern: Why a legion of flags should fly high with the nation". Telegraph India. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  4. Of Naga Sovereignty, Yehzabo and Flag - Morung Express
  5. "Ahead of Naga peace talks, NCN-IM reiterates demand for flag, constitution". Hindustan Times. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  6. Amid Massive 'Tiranga' Drive, Naga Flag Hoisted In Parts Of Nagaland, Manipur - NDTV