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Summary:
After 60 years, NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah, 91, returned to his home village of Somdal in Manipur, India. His visit, facilitated by recent easing of tensions despite ongoing Naga peace process hurdles, was met with a warm welcome. Villagers dismantled a church to create a helipad for his arrival, highlighting his significance to the Tangkhul Naga community. Muivah’s visit signifies a shift in Manipur’s dynamics amidst ethnic tensions, with even Meitei groups extending welcome. However, underlying tensions persist, with some Naga factions and Kuki groups expressing reservations. Muivah reiterated his commitment to a sovereign Nagalim (Greater Nagaland).
News Article:
NSCN (I-M) Leader Muivah Returns to Manipur Village After Six Decades
Ukhrul, Manipur – October 27, 2025 – In a homecoming decades in the making, Thuingaleng Muivah, the 91-year-old General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), returned to his native village of Somdal in Manipur on Wednesday, marking his first visit in 60 years. The event was met with a grand welcome.
Villagers dismantled a 100-year-old church to clear space for a helipad, highlighting the significance of Muivah’s return. “The moment he landed in its space was divine,” declared Mashithi Moinao, expressing the sentiment of many villagers who view Muivah as a “godfather.”
Muivah’s return occurs amidst a complex political landscape. The NSCN-IM’s long-standing demand for a “Greater Nagalim,” encompassing Naga-inhabited areas across several states and Myanmar, has been a point of contention, particularly with the Manipur government. While the Naga peace process remains stalled over constitutional disagreements, Muivah’s homecoming was greenlit under President’s Rule.
Interestingly, Meitei groups, who previously opposed the Greater Nagalim concept, expressed support for Muivah’s visit. However, some Kuki groups remain cautious, and a faction of the Naga community criticized Muivah’s leadership.
Despite the mixed reactions, Muivah reaffirmed his commitment to a sovereign Nagalim.
“We have not surrendered the free existence and sovereignty of Nagalim, and we shall defend the sovereign national decisions of Nagalim to the last, come what may,” he stated.
Local leaders hope Muivah’s visit will improve the village’s infrastructure. This event marks a pivotal moment in Manipur’s political landscape, signaling a potential shift in dynamics amidst ongoing ethnic tensions and the protracted Naga peace process.
First Piper 