Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders on Monday extended greetings to the people of Nagaland on the occasion of their Statehood Day.
“Greetings to the people of Nagaland on the occasion of their Statehood Day. The glorious Naga culture, rooted in service, courage and compassion, is widely admired. The people of Nagaland have distinguished themselves across many fields. May the state keep moving ahead with prosperity and progress in the years ahead,” said PM Modi in a post on X.
President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her greetings, noting Nagaland’s cultural richness and progress in sustainable development. She wished the people a prosperous and peaceful future.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the state’s vibrant traditions and resilient spirit strengthened India’s cultural fabric. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called Nagaland the “Land of Festivals” and expressed hope that harmony among its tribes and communities continues.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio paid tribute to the leaders who safeguarded Naga identity and urged people to work together for an inclusive and sustainable future.
Nagaland became India’s 16th state on December 1, 1963, with Kohima as its capital. Its formation was enabled by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962, which received presidential assent on September 4, 1962.
Before statehood, the Naga Hills functioned as a district of Assam. After Independence, political mobilisation in the region intensified, with growing demands for autonomy and, among some extremist groups, calls for secession. In 1957, the Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang Frontier Division were merged into a single administrative unit placed under the direct control of the Government of India.
The turning point came when the Naga People’s Convention (NPC), formed in 1957, negotiated a 16-point agreement with the Centre in 1960. This paved the way for Nagaland’s inclusion as a full-fledged state of the Indian Union. Nagaland formally joined the Union in 1963, and a democratically elected state government assumed office the following year, in 1964.
Statehood Day this year coincides with the start of the ten-day Hornbill Festival, which showcases the heritage of all major Naga tribes through traditional music, dance, crafts and cuisine.
(With agency inputs)