On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Ungma village became the sacred ground for a convergence that may well be remembered as a defining moment in the Naga journey. What began as a routine meeting convened by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), bringing together the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and the Tribal Hohos (THs), unfolded into something far more profound, a communal act of imagination, conviction, and spiritual awakening.
Just the mention of “Ungma” evokes layered perceptions among Nagas familiar with our history. Some may have arrived with preconceived narratives, shaped by past political tensions or regional biases. Yet, what transpired at Ungma did not conform to any script. It was not orchestrated from above, nor was it dictated by any central authority. It was, instead, a grassroots expression of indigenous diplomacy, an offering from the Ao Senden and the Ungma Kosasanger Puso Menden (Ungma Village Council) to the Naga people.
Related | At Historic Ungma, Nagas Unite in Rare Call for Reconciliation and Unity
This was not the first such gathering. On July 24, 2025, which was 14th meeting convened by the FNR in 2025, the Angami Public Organization (APO) hosted a similar meeting at Jotsoma, chosen for logistical reasons. Likewise, Ungma was selected for its proximity to Mokokchung town, but what emerged was far more than convenience, it was a revelation of communal will and spiritual depth.
From August 21 to 23, Ungma observed a “Sungkum Shipang”—a Genna, a sacred closure of the village gates. This act signified the gravity of the occasion and the sanctity of the village’s commitment. It was not a symbolic gesture alone; it was a lived reality. Every citizen, men, women, and children, participated in preparing the village, ensuring cleanliness, order, and discipline. Each person knew what it meant to be a citizen of Ungma, and what it meant to host a moment of historic significance.
As the NPGs, THs, and FNR entered the village, they were met by rows of men dressed in traditional attire, each waving a white flag, an unmistakable symbol of peace. About 500 meters from the main village square, women and children joined the procession, echoing the same tempo of welcome and unity. It was a choreography of hope, not rehearsed but deeply felt.
Then came the moment of surprise and solemnity: the unveiling of a monolith prepared by the Council. The Convener, FNR was given the honor of unveiling it, and the inscription read:
“This stone is a testament of our united commitment to Naga Reconciliation—A Journey of Common Hope on the basis of our historical and political rights, through forgiveness and healing.”
Naga Political Groups, Tribal Hohos, Forum for Naga Reconciliation
For those who doubted Ungma’s intentions, the monolith spoke with clarity and conviction. It was not a monument to division, but a declaration of unity. It did not echo orders from the top, but emerged from the purposeful imagination of a people who believe in the Naga future.
In the meeting that followed, two representatives from the Ungma Council addressed the gathering. Not once did they speak against the “Other.” Their words were focused on the Nagas as a whole. One speaker spoke fondly of his late father, a Captain in the undivided Naga Army. He reminded us, “We are already independent. We declared our independence on August 14, 1947.”
But he did not speak of independence as a relic or a museum artifact. He spoke of it as a lived experience, something to be practiced, not merely remembered. We have inherited a legacy of resistance, and now we must create a legacy of practice.
This sentiment echoed throughout the meeting. Speaker after speaker, from the NPGs and the THs, affirmed that the Naga movement is not dead. It is alive. And it must move forward without preconditions. The call was not for uniformity, but for unity. Not for erasure of difference, but for convergence of purpose.
Related | Naga People’s Front Hails Reconciliation Move at Ungma
There was an unknown power at work that day. It was not political strategy or diplomatic maneuvering. It was the power of the Holy Spirit. It moved through the village, through the people, and through the words spoken. It was a spiritual force that transcended agendas and ideologies. It was the Spirit that binds us to our deepest truths and calls us to our highest aspirations.
Ao Senden did not host this meeting to assert dominance or to claim moral superiority. It hosted it as an act of faith. Faith in the Naga destiny. Faith in reconciliation. Faith in the possibility of healing
August 23, 2025, at Ungma was not just another date on the calendar. It was a moment that matters. It was a moment when the Naga people, through their representatives, their elders, their children, affirmed that the Journey of Common Hope is not over. It is ongoing. And it must be nurtured with imagination, humility, and courage.
The monolith now stands as a testament. But more than stone, it is the spirit of the people that must endure. The spirit that says: we are one. The spirit that says: we will not be defined by our divisions. The spirit that says: we will walk together, not because we agree on everything, but because we share a common hope.
This reflection is not a conclusion. It is an invitation. An invitation to every Naga, wherever you are, whatever your affiliation, to participate in this journey. To move beyond suspicion and cynicism. To embrace the possibility that reconciliation is not a dream, but a discipline.
Let us remember that reconciliation is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of commitment. Commitment to listen, to forgive, to heal, and to build. It is not easy. It is not quick. But it is necessary.
Ungma has shown us what is possible when a village believes. When a people act. When the Spirit moves. May this moment be a seed. May it grow in every village, every heart, every conversation.
And may we, the Naga people, continue this journey, not as strangers to one another, but as co-authors of a shared destiny.
Also read | Final Indo-Naga Agreement Must Rest on Sovereignty, Not Past Accords: NSCN
Conclusion
Once again, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ao Senden and the Ungma Kosasanger Pusu Menden. The spirit they have offered, through immense sacrifice, is truly priceless. Their unwavering commitment has lifted the Journey of Common Hope to greater heights, inspiring generations.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation remains profoundly thankful to the press fraternity for their consistent and courageous coverage throughout these many years.
Not least, we acknowledge the general public. Despite our shortcomings, your steadfast support, through encouragement and prayers, has sustained us. For this, the FNR remains ever grateful.
May the memory of August 23 at Ungma continue to stir conscience, renew our courage, and guide us toward the horizon where reconciliation is not only remembered, but lived.
This commentary was provided to Ukhrul Times by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation on August 26, 2025.