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Summary:

This article from The Hindu discusses the recent visit of Thuingaleng Muivah, a prominent Naga leader, to his home village of Somdal in Manipur after a 60-year absence. Muivah, considered a hero by many Nagas, leads the NSCN (I-M) group, which seeks a unified Naga homeland encompassing parts of India and Myanmar. His visit, facilitated by his ill health and the changed political landscape following the 2023 ethnic conflict in Manipur, has reignited hopes for a resolution to the long-standing Naga peace process. Muivah’s return is deeply significant for the Naga people who view him as a key figure in their struggle for self-determination, symbolized by the aspiration for a separate Naga flag and constitution. He remains committed to the Naga cause, emphasizing its enduring importance.

News Article:

Naga Leader Muivah Returns Home After 60 Years, Hopes Rise for Peace Deal

Ukhrul, Manipur, October 26, 2025: After six decades, Thuingaleng Muivah, the 91-year-old leader of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), has returned to his ancestral village of Somdal in Manipur, marking a momentous occasion for the Naga people and sparking renewed optimism for a lasting resolution to the Naga political issue.

Muivah, revered as “Avakharar” (Godfather) by many Nagas, had been barred from entering Manipur due to concerns over the NSCN (I-M)’s goal of a unified Naga homeland, encompassing territories in both India and Myanmar. The changed political dynamics in Manipur following the ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023, coupled with Muivah’s ailing health, paved the way for his homecoming.

Thousands of villagers greeted Muivah upon his arrival by helicopter on October 22nd. His return after so long is seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing Naga peace process. The NSCN (I-M) signed a Framework Agreement with the Indian government in 2015, but progress towards a final settlement has been slow.

Muivah’s supporters hope his presence will catalyze a breakthrough, leading to the realization of a separate Naga flag and constitution. Speaking in Somdal, Muivah reaffirmed his commitment to the Naga cause, stating, “Generation comes and goes, but the nation stays. The issue we are fighting for is greater and older than most of us.”

The Naga issue has been a long-standing point of contention in the region. Muivah parted ways with the Naga National Council (NNC) after they signed the Shillong Accord in 1975 and formed the NSCN in 1980. The NSCN (I-M) was formed in 1988. His followers pray that the Naga homeland with a “separate Naga Flag and a Naga Constitution or Yehzabo” becomes a reality for the man who walked out of the NNC when it signed the “compromising” Shillong Accord in 1975.

Analysts suggest that Muivah’s return could provide the necessary impetus to bridge the remaining gaps between the NSCN (I-M) and the Indian government. As of today, officials have declined to comment.

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