In 1980, three militant leaders, Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah, and SS Khaplang, founded the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). This organization led an armed struggle to establish a sovereign Naga state. The NSCN was formed in opposition to the Shillong Accord, a 1975 agreement between the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Indian government. The NNC, representing the Naga people, had been leading a secessionist movement since the 1940s. In 1988, the NSCN split into two factions: one led by Isak and Muivah, and the other by Khaplang.

The following excerpt from the book by Saksena details the life of Avuli Chishi Swu, one of the first militants to go to China in 1974 for arms procurement and training. Avuli is now among the top leaders of the NSCN (IM). During a discussion about a second trip to China, Avuli said, “Nothing mattered except the fact that I was working to achieve my goal.”

For Avuli, the toughest test of her determination to fight the Indian Army for the Naga cause was her eight-month trek to China in December 1974. “On 6 December 1974, I exchanged my traditional attire for jungle fatigues.” Avuli became part of the historic second batch of NNC members, led by a close aide of Phizo, to go to China for arms training and join the first batch, which had been led there by Thuingaleng Muivah. Angami Zapu Phizo was a Naga nationalist leader of the NNC who, on the eve of India’s Independence, resolved to establish a sovereign Naga state and formed the underground Naga Federal Government in 1952.

“We were twenty women in a group of 375 men led by Isak Chishi Swu, who later became head of the NSCN (IM) faction along with Muivah. Only twelve of us reached China, and among them, four were women. All others perished during the journey.” Isak’s wife, along with eight other women, had gone earlier to the China camp with the first NNC batch.

The worst part of the journey, recalls Avuli, was when she had her monthly period. None of the women had come prepared for the several-month-long trek. “We trudged with blood on our legs and stained uniforms. I salute my male comrades who ignored the telltale patches, pretending they had not seen the bloodstains to save us from embarrassment.” Avuli refused to feel helpless in this situation. She found a way to mitigate the mortification and continued her journey with resilience.

( Paraphrased from the book of Rashmi Saksena an Indian journalist with TOI) PC courtesy: TOI

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