Nagalim movement

The Nagalim movement is a separatist movement seeking to create a country for the Naga people in the Naga-majority areas of the Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar.^[1][2]

Flag of Naga people

Proposed coat of arms

History

The Naga people have a long history of resistance against British colonial rule and later the Indian government.^[3][4] The Naga National Council (NNC) was formed on 2 May 1956 to spearhead the movement for Naga independence.^[5][6] A plebiscite was held, and 99% of Nagas voted for independence as a separate country.^[7] In 1947, the Naga National Council declared Naga independence on 14 August, a day before India's independence from British rule.^[8]

Naga National Movement

The Naga National Movement is the political movement that seeks to establish Nagalim as a sovereign state. It has been marked by armed conflict between Naga insurgents and the Indian government.^[9] The movement has undergone several phases, including a ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1997.^[10][11]

Naga National Council

The Naga National Council (NNC) is the political organization that initially^[when?] led the Naga independence movement.^[12][13] It was founded in 1946 at Sanis (in present-day Wokha district) by T. Aliba Imti Ao, Angami Zapu Phizo, T. Sakhrie and other Naga leaders.^[14][15] The NNC's declaration of Naga independence in 1947 led to armed resistance against Indian rule.^[16] Over the years, the NNC has split into various factions, with the NSCN^[17] being one of the prominent groups.^[18][19]

Nagalim's Engagement with Myanmar

The Naga insurgency in India has counterparts in Myanmar, where Naga rebels have been fighting for greater autonomy in the Naga Hills.^[20] The Naga Self-Administered Zone in Myanmar is a result of negotiations between the Myanmar government and Naga rebel groups.^[21] Naga National groups are also aligned with Kachin Independence Army and the Chin National Army, in fighting the Tatmadaw, or the Myanmar's Military.^[22][23]

Proposal of a Federal Wesean State

In recent years, there have been discussions about the formation of a federal Wesean state^{[24][failed verification][full citation needed]} that would include Nagalim as one of its constituent regions. This proposal envisions a political entity that would bring together various ethnic groups in the region, including the Nagas, in a federal arrangement that respects their distinct identities and aspirations.^{[25][failed verification]}