Naga groups converge for bridge-building to move forward

IN A HISTORIC MOMENT, major Naga political bodies—the Naga Political Groups (NPGs), representatives of the Naga Tribal Hohos, and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR)—came together at Medziphema, Nagaland, on June 24, 2025 and resolved to embark on bridge-building of the Naga people toward fulfilment of common Naga aspirations.

Stressing the urgent need for the Naga groups to converge and move forward together, representatives of the three groups “gathered in an atmosphere marked by openness, humility, and a shared longing for the Naga people to advance together—firm in the conviction that the path forward lies in the collective act of building the ‘Naga Bridge’,” the FNR said in a statement on the convergence of the three groups.

“This symbolic bridge is not merely metaphorical, but foundationally grounded in the historical and political rights of the Nagas, affirmed in the Simon Commission’s report (1929), the Naga Declaration of Independence (1947), and the Naga Plebiscite (1951). These rights are not relics of the past, but living testaments to a people’s enduring assertion of identity, dignity, and self-determination,” the statement added.

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The FNR also mentioned that “the Naga Political Groups, with commendable self-reflection, openly acknowledged the human condition—marked by fallenness and finitude—and expressed contrition for past failures. They emphasized the urgent need to converge upon one inclusive common table, transcending factional divisions, to embark on the shared task of bridge-building.

“This table is envisioned not as a platform of competition, but of communion—where trust is mended, differences are engaged with integrity, and a common journey toward our future is launched. The Tribal Hohos articulated the danger of persistent polarization and called upon all parties to transcend divisive habits. “This is not the time to put one another down,” was a repeated exhortation. “It is time to lift one another up.”

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“Such words remind us that we are not adversaries contending for dominance, but co-heirs of a sacred trust. This trust—bequeathed through history, faith, and struggle—calls us to serve a story greater than ourselves: the restoration of our people through truth, justice, and reconciliation,” the statement added.

Resisting the temptation of mere rhetoric, and choosing instead the path of actionable commitment, three resolutions emerged from the deliberation, according to the statement:

First, a collective call was issued for all Naga Political Groups to convene at the forthcoming meeting. This next assembly is envisioned not as a repetition of old patterns, but as a watershed moment—an opportunity for inclusive dialogue and coordinated forward movement for an inclusive solution upon one common Machan.

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Second, the gathering appealed earnestly to all other Naga Tribal Hohos—irrespective of region or affiliation—to extend their moral and cultural support toward the fulfilment of common Naga aspirations. This appeal is made with mutual respect for each community’s distinct identity and legitimate concerns.

Third, the meeting endorsed the initiative to undertake “A Common Journey”—a pilgrimage of presence, listening, and accompaniment to diverse districts and localities across Naga areas. This initiative seeks to deepen grassroots participation, build trust among the people, and foster a shared imagination of what unity looks like in practice.

Emphasizing the urgent need for unity and action, the convergence of the three groups firmly stressed the need to embody the promise of transformation.

“Together, we rise—not to rehearse the politics of explanation, but to embody the promise of transformation. Let this be the chapter where courage becomes action, remembrance becomes renewal, and bridges become our inheritance”.

A total of 28 Tribal Hohos, including Tirap-Changlang-Longding People’s Forum and 12 Naga Political Groups, attended the event, the FNR stated.