Lost A Friend And Gained A Mission


This story is about a girl I knew from my childhood. Someone, who taught me a life long lesson. We were the best of friends in high school. On a cold winter day she left for her native place to spend her Christmas holidays along with her family. With slight tears in our eyes, we hugged and bid farewell hesitating not to show her how alone I felt inside. As the holiday passed we started hearing stories of heavy military operations in her native area.

Every day we heard news of civilians being killed and women being raped and every night I went to bed praying for her safety. And as days passed things started to calm, but there was no news about her whereabouts. The days passed and eventually our school resumed classes. In my best uniform I dressed and awaited her arrival but the gates closed and she was nowhere at sight.

Time passed swiftly, I studied hard and for a moment it felt like memories about her were fading. Though at times I used to wonder what could have happened to her. After my studies, I cleared the civil service exams and joined as an SDO to a remote area near the state border. As I was touring on my newly posted region, out of the blue some heavily armed Naga Armies halted my car and requested if they could hop in. Having no other option I said yes and inquired where they wanted to go.

The sergeant said that their commander wanted to meet me so that they could sort out any misunderstandings between them and my administration. Having no other option I headed with them to a nearby village. After leaving my car and the driver behind, we headed towards the headman’s house. There were around twenty fully armed cadres spread out around the compound watching the different roads that lead to the village.

The sergeant guided me to the room where the commander was. Expecting an old man, I was shocked to see that their commander was non other than my old friend Akali. Still brilliant and lovely as before but with an air of strength and detachment. She was equally shocked to see me and to know that i was working for the Government. After the awkward meeting we were relaxed and back to our friendly old selves. We spoke of ordinary affairs like how life as a revolutionary was, how my career was progressing, whether I was married or not, etc.

Since I was anxious, I asked her why she had to join the struggle where life was a risk at every turn. She looked at me compassionately and told me a story of agony. In spite of her dad being in Civil Service, they had to endure a lot, and the harassment and torture her family had to face lead to the death of her father and brother as they succumbed to the injury inflicted, as a result of military operations conducted by the Indian Army.

In a way she was thankful that she had not been raped or had to go through the pain and the hardships unlike the others as she spoke fluent Hindi and English and in a way that helped the Indian Army in translating the local dialect and made use of her as a guide. Unfortunately for her, the Government which employed her father was of no help and the toll it took of her father`s demise killed her mom instantly as well. Within a week of her father's demise her mother passed away.

Coming from a family of patriots she felt that it was time to give her bit to the Nation and thus she enrolled. She trained hard and was now a 2nd Lieutenant in the Naga Army, and was commanding a whole platoon. After a few formal discussions we spent the rest of the day chatting about the past until my time for departure neared. I felt sad that i had to leave but was proud as well, for she was fighting for something worthwhile as a true daughter of the soil.

We shooked hands, and in conviction asked her if she considered me as a foe but she smiled and replied “the invader is not the one with the INSAS but can disguise itself in the form of aid, knowledge, culture and alliance as well” so as Nagas we must learn their traits to combat them more effectively in order to break this chains that binds and misguide us. So be true in what you do, in the best of your abilities and work hard for your people.

With that bit of advice we parted our ways never to see each other again as she breathed her last during a confrontation with the Indian Armed Forces in the midst of a prominent uprising. Her cognizance made me reminisce and I as a Naga promised to myself that i would try my best to uplift and help our people and provide any assistance that can be availed under my Administration.
KUKNALIM

Invite All Friends To Facebook Page In A Single Click - 2015

Facebook is a vital platform to make an online presence for your business or to communicate with your potential clients. But it is not an easy task to make your page grow and retain a generous amount of followers. One crucial task is to send invitations to people in your friend list manually. It is not only difficult but time consuming as well. In this post we will learn how to invite all your friends to like your Facebook page in a single click. In order to carry out the assigned task follow this simple steps.

1. First of all, open your Google Chrome web browser. If you don`t have Google Chrome download it here and install it in your Laptop or PC. Next click the drop down menu located in the top right hand corner of the browser and click "Settings".


2. Now select "Extensions" from the second row of the four options displayed on the right hand top corner, next click the "Get more extension" button at the bottom left hand side.


3. From the search box at the top right, type "Invite All Friends 2.0" press enter, and click "Add to Chrome" from the selected extension i.e. "Invite All Friends 2.0 Facebook".


4. A pop up window will appear at the top, Click the "Add Extension" button.


5. Alternatively add "Facebook Invite All" extension following the same procedure mentioned above.


6. Now log in to your Facebook account, go to your page and click "Invite friends to like this Page" button at the right hand side of your page.


7. A pop up window will appear displaying the people in your friend list, now click the two arrow icons displayed in the right hand top corner of your page, first you need to click the left arrow after that the right arrow. This will automatically select all your friends, it might take a minute or two so wait patiently.


8. Once all your friends are selected a pop up notification will appear, you will need to click the close button.


9. Now click the "Send invites" button at the bottom left, and that will automatically send invitations to all your friends to like your page.


N.B. - By default the Limit is 500-750 friends at a time, so you need to repeat this process a couple of times until all your friends are invited.

Naga Army Blues



I would like to remain anonymous but I have a brother who is in the Naga Army. I was very young when my brother not content watching the atrocities committed in Nagalim joined the movement for a free and united Nagalim. Throughout the years till the Ceasefire he served his calling to his utmost abilities.

And after that he had to retire due to ill health and his inability to serve to the fullest. Now he is married and runs a small business in the outskirts of our village. Whenever I go home I love to sit by the fire listening to his stories of life in the jungles. Though he is very reluctant to talk about all that he saw he does like to tell tales of the humorous side of living in the jungles.

He told me once that he was assigned to supervise some newcomers when he was in the Alee Command of the Naga Army. Since the boys were in a new place and were not familiar to the customs in a foreign land he had to keep them near so in the evening he took them out to dinner with him. As they had to reach an eatery on the 10th floor of a building he decided to take the elevator.

But at the entrance his boys hesitated, and then one by one they saluted and said “Sir Bhitor tey ahibo paribo” and entered much to the amazement of locals nearby. The point being his boys had travelled by foot and boat for more than a month and had never seen an elevator in their lives so they thought they were entering a room.

He also loved to talk about his time when he was assigned a unit near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. It was so remote and isolated that the women there wore nothing above their waists and lived much like our forefathers. When they arrived there first they had a hard time talking to the people there looking them in the eyes for about a month until they got used to it. He had many tales about this far off place.

But the stories I loved most were his stories of how things were back home in Nagalim. He told us how the villagers used to pray for their safety and always shared what little they had with the Naga Army. Even when they went around the village to get a cup of rice from each household for rations he said women used to pray for them and give them dry meat/fish and eggs though they never asked for it.

He told me that he will never forget an old widow who lived in the outskirts of a village and how she used to always greet them with such joy and offered them everything she had and treated all the boys like her own children. One day when the Indian Army arrived suddenly they had to hide outside the village and the old widow was the only one who would hide rice on herself and pretend to be crazy and come and give them food. The Indians never suspected anything and so my brother and the rest of his unit ate even when surrounded by the enemy.

Of course he has shared many more stories of his life fighting for the nation but maybe another day. I wanted to tell this today because I see our Naga people forgetting what previous generations did and endured but never gave up on their belief of a free and united Nagalim and it saddens me that many younger people don’t even know where they stand and are so confused. No matter what you think of those who lead our quest for independence today let us remember that it is the principle that endures not individuals.
KUKNALIM

Among Millions



D.J Threnody as he is known by his stage name is an imminent emcee with a slick and savvy artistry in rapping. He recalls listening to his first joint at the age of nine while coming home from school. Fascinated by the impact he began to learn and explore the genre. At a gala event he was pitched to perform his first show and the firm response he got from the audience inspired him to elevate his pursuit further.

Sharpening his niche and intent in his will, he released his debut "Among Millions". The song is based on a young man striving on his calling despite the treachery and the treason being thrown at him. In the half past three minute joint Threnody flows infinitely and steals every attention of the listeners with his mind-boggling delivery and hard hitting punchlines. Proving his critics that he stands out in the crowd when it comes to displaying his skills.

Winds Of Change


When I was very young, I was very fortunate to be with my maternal uncle during my vacations. Being a legislator in the state Government, I had the freedom of traveling with him on his tours and travel. The fact i really recall is his way of dealing with the people around him. In his entourage, there were all kinds of people and one truth I learned from him was how to treat people around us. To him everyone was equal. He mingled and blended with them even in the most tiring circumstances and shared joys and miseries as well. He treated everyone as a friend (though in my case I got the odd dressing down from time to time). On tour in the district, people always had easy access to share various issues with him and he listened to everyone no matter how absurd some demands were and after careful study he tried to address each problem in a wise and just way. I also noticed that whenever he visited our home he never came along with any escort (can you imagine this happening these days). Whenever he stayed for holidays, we went fishing and hunting, and did all his tasks without relying on his entourage.When my father was posted in Kohima, he used to visit our house often along with his wife and daughter generally without any convoy. I assume he had faith in his people who had elected him and as long as he was sincere and did his job honestly for the welfare of his people he was fearful of no one. We must remember that this was a time when the conflict for self-determination of the Nagas was at its peak. My uncle and many like him were honest, upright and dedicated for the welfare of the Nagas so even the nationalists did not consider them, as threat thus had no reason to object.

Nagaland in those days was full of stalwart leaders on both sides of the political divide. They stood with the people and did their duties with no iota of vanity. Coming back to the present we can compare and see the changes that have taken place. I leave it to the readers to judge for yourselves the pros and cons. Though I will not pick names, I would again like to narrate a tale that I experienced in my maturity.

Once a friend of mine (though I hardly think he will remain very chummy after he reads this) was bound to go on a tour and asked me to accompany him. I was elated to say the least because he was mid-level officer of the govt. I felt it was an honor that someone of his stature could persuade a lowly unemployed person like me. As the tour began we were usually surrounded by his escorts. Being curious, I asked him why we were under security and why he needed protection round the clock. I also asked him whether it was because he had enemies out to harm him. His answer was that although he had no one to fear he kept guards because everyone had them and thus it was a matter prestige. When we arrived at a village in his imported SUV surrounded by gun totting in police vehicles we were pleasantly surprised. The villagers were delighted at the arrival of the VIP and threw a large celebration hoping that his visit would, better improve their lot. The next day he made impressive speeches and handed over all of these to his P.S who in turn put it on ice. While on the next stage of tour he commented the necessity of visiting his constituency whom he felt were idiots and basti wallahs and that any promises he made to them although the implemental was another thing. Since I was his guest, we both ate our meals alone that was especially made and delivered for him alone. His bodyguards and the rest of his entourage made do with whatever was available. He treated the people around him with the utmost of contempt.He even refused to sleep under the same roof of his subordinates. The way he acted in a way that hit at the heart of our peoples was the last straw. And I begged leave and left a very disillusioned man.

The big problem is that this is becoming more and more common. Nagas who were known for their humility and truthfulness are now a dying breed. Instead today we have a society where the rich and powerful look down upon their fellow Nagas and on the other hand most Nagas consider politicians, bureaucrats and other high-level officers of the government as thieves ,unworthy to be called Nagas as they take whatever little we get from India.

In the many years that have passed since my uncle passed away, I have seen that Nagas have become more materialistic. Even in the nationalist setups, the ideologies have been set aside and now wealth is king. If this trend goes on then one day truly but surely the Nagas will be divided into castes where the rich and powerful with their Indianised mentality of haves and have not, making them all pompous and arrogant where money becomes king and power the right-hand man. Though change itself is not a bad thing, sometimes we also must remember what it means to be a real Naga.

Most changes are good for society to progress, but the rise of an Indian mentality amongst the rich is sad. The society is always on the move, it is up to us in which direction we go.

King Chilli And Its Affinity With Naga National Movement

"Raja Mircha" as it is commonly known in Nagamese, holds so much significance for us Nagas. It is called by many different names in our diverse dialects but that is not all. This humble fruit has also played a part in our journey for Nationhood. Though there are many stories related to this seasoning. I would like to share with you a tale narrated to me by friends who have played a part on our journey to self determination.
Once a lady Naga Army went shopping for vegetables to the market in Dhaka. As she was looking through the wares displayed she was pleasantly surprised to see one of our favourite spices on sale. Curious she asked where they came from and what it was called in Bangla. What the vendor replied surprised and made her proud. It seems in Bangladesh it is known as Naga Morish and is brought from a town called Ali Kadam in the Chittagong hill tracks.
On further inquiries, it was found that this place was called the Alee Command Headquarters in erstwhile east Pakistan. Through time, Alee Command evolved into Ali Kadam. Nevertheless when she inquired who these Nagas were, he said Nagas were a group of warriors from a distant place and were fighting with India for an independent homeland.
And since they bought this chilli to Bangladesh and introduced it to the people of the area it was called Naga Morish and also because Nagas could be as deadly as the chilli named after them that even the Pakistani Army had great respect for their fighting prowess.
Regardless of the authenticity of the story one fact cannot be denied and that is in our quest for a free and united Nagalim, we have gone places and made an impact both good and bad and for that we the present generation will be eternally grateful.
Kuknalim.
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