Naga Politics

Politics of Nagaland carries a chequered as well as tearful history. The State and its people have witnessed prolonged bloody armed conflicts between the Nagas and the Indian security forcers, mutual distrusts among the Naga political leaders, internecine factional fights among the various groups of underground factions and irreparable loss of peace, prosperity and lives of the people. Naga peace has received numerous fatal injuries and its wounds are still bleeding despite various efforts applied by the peace loving Naga people to resolve the Naga issue. The Naga people have suffered a lot and they have been living under the reign of constant fear and terror. Their political future is yet uncertain and their economic front has been jeopardised to a great extent. Corruption among the Naga politicians, bureaucrats, government servants, contractors etc. is rampant. The emergence of an affluent class in the Naga society due to mismanagement and misappropriation of the government funds has paved the way for growth of materialism and consumerism among the rich on the one side, and created utter dissatisfaction and disappointment among the poor and deprived sections, on the other. Uneven distribution of economic benefits has converted the classless Naga society into class-divisions inviting social tensions and conflicts. This book presents a critical and analytical account of Naga politics examining the factors involved in gimmickry of Naga politics right from the arrival of the British in the land of the Nagas till date. It also investigates into the events and affairs related to working of democratic processes in Nagaland and efforts of the political and public leaders including the Church authorities to resolve the Naga issue and make the Naga peace stable. The book is useful to both the general readers and the students who want to specialise themselves in the field of Naga political affairs.

Chandrika Singh (b. 1944) took his M.A. degree in Political Science from the Magadh University in 1971 and obtained his Ph.D. degree from the same university in 1979. He joined the Sao Chang Government College Tuensang in 1971 and worked there as a Lecturer. Head of the Department and lastly Vice Principal. Thereafter, he joined the Nagaland University as Head of the Department of Political Science in 1997 where he is still holding this position. he has been the member of Board of the Post-Graduate Studies, School Board and Academic Council of Nagaland University. He has published books like Political Evolution of Nagaland (1981), Emergence of Arunachal Pradesh as a State (1989), Socialism in India (1986), Communist and Socialist Movement in India (1987), Indian Nationalism and National Movement (1995), and Constitutional Battles in India (2001). He has also contributed a number of research articles in several leading journals and magazines. Besides these, he has presented papers in various seminars and conferences at regional and national levels. While living in North-East India for nearly three decades he is a specialist in politics of the North-eastern region of the country.