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On Tuesday evening, hours after the death of Isak Swu, Nagas took to the streets and held candlelight vigils in many districts in Nagaland as well as Manipur. For the rest of the world, Isak Chishi Swu may have been the leader of an insurgent group that waged war against the Indian government, but for many Nagas spread across India and Burma he was the revolutionary who fought for their dignity and right to self determination.
The Yaruiwo (president) of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN) and Chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN Isak-Muivah) passed away at 12.40 pm on June 28 at Fortis Hospital in Delhi. In the mainstream media reports that followed, he was labeled a ‘militant leader’ and a ‘staunch Naga rebel leader’. But the candlelight vigils and the words of the people who knew him give a different view.
In the eyes of the Indian government, he was the man partly responsible for so much collateral damage and many innocent civilians dying during the insurgency. Which is ironic, since Isak was the gentler one (Muivah was the strategist) who led more of a 'poet's revolution' and was more interested in spreading the word of God than carrying out a violent revolution. "Swu would tell me, 'Even if Nagas have bullets and guns but do not have God, we are nothing'," said Kitovi Zhimomi of the NSCN (KK) at the public memorial service for Swu in Dimapur today.
Born into a well-off family in 1929 in Chishilimi village under Zunheboto district, Swu had the privilege of attending college — a luxury for many North Easterners in the 1950s and 60s. Having graduated in political science from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, Swu could have chosen the life of an officer, instead he joined the fight for the Naga’s right for self-determination.
The Revolutionary leader
Isak Swu (extreme left) and Muivah (centre) with fellow partymen at the Great Wall of China in the 1950s.
“Well educated, Swu’s band of revolution falls within the paradigm of a people-centric struggle in the fag-end of decolonisation, intelligently integrating it with the historical consciousness of the Cold War. The Naga movement has deeply impacted the political practices in South East Asia, especially erstwhile Burma, and has majorly redefined the context of people’s struggle in the larger Indian sub-continent.” says noted Naga Writer, Kekhrie Yhome.
Beside the revolutionary leader Swu was his wife Khulu, a constant yet inconspicuous figure whose companionship gave Swu the strength to lead a people’s revolution. Khulu and Swu are said to have gotten married in the forests where the Naga rebels were camped. With just Rs.300 in hand, Swu married Khulu, who owned a single good mekhela (wrap-around skirt) at the time of their wedding. Their six children were all born in the forests. A story is told of the couple having to flee right after Khulu gave birth to one of their sons, when they received news of the Indian Army approaching their camp. Khulu is said to have wrapped the newborn in old clothes and fled to safety. Feeding on wild roots, vegetables and fruits, caves were the only shelter they could get.
While many of the insurgent leaders in Nagaland have been accused of amassing wealth and building palatial houses through taxation, Swu did not own any property, except for his ancestral land in Chishilimi. “He does not even own a thatch house.” says Khesheli Chishi.
A pamphlet given out at Swu's funeral in Nagaland on June 30. | Photo: Vibi Yhokha
Khesheli Chishi, a peace activist and former president of the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) came in touch with Swu in the 1999 at a conflict resolution workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand. “He always set an example to his comrades and would often tell them, ‘When you are a revolutionary, you must learn to live a simple life and not burden your people,’” says Chishi.
Swu set an example even in routine activities. He would prefer walking rather than hiring a taxi or car. He was always simple yet neatly dressed. While travelling he would always choose the cheapest means of transportation, usually buses, much to the chagrin of his boys.
People who met Swu would always leave with a deep admiration and respect for him. “Chairman Isak Chishi Swu is certainly a person of few words when it comes to talking and discussions. But he is a man of action in his own ways. He is also a person of clear conviction and knows exactly what he is doing. If he was not where he was and what he was during the most politically turbulent period in the Naga political movement, our story would have been much worse than what we have gone through. I would not hesitate to call him a saviour of many political turbulences,” asserts Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR).
“He always gave the same respect and importance to the young and old. He is a good soul, a gentle and caring person. Serving people was one virtue that came quite naturally to him. Serving others came first before serving himself,” adds Khesheli Chishi.
The religious leader
Swu was known for interrupting even the most important meetings, wherever he may be, when the clock struck 12 so that he can pray. “He lived up to being a political leader as well as a Christian leader,” says Chishi. Swu maintained a strict discipline of daily devotions in the morning, afternoon and evening.
For Betoka Swu, a young Naga musician, photographer and entrepreneur in Dimapur, Swu was not just a Naga leader but also a religious leader who was always against violence. “He was a man of prayer. He was one person who would always preach about how blessed we are to have all the resources but yet we don’t work hard, and how it is important for us to be self reliant in building our Naga nation. The saddest part is not being able to reap the fruit in his living years.” says Betoka Swu.
Besides religion, Swu was also a good singer and a big fan of the Gaither Homecoming music. While singing at gatherings, Swu would sing tenor and his political partner Muivah would sing bass.
Members of the Naga tribe in their traditional attire escort the body of their leader Isak Chishi Swu, for condolence services in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
The mortal remains of the Naga leader reached in Nagaland on June 30. The State Funeral Service is to be held at Hebron Camp on July 1 and he will be laid to rest in hiss ancestral land, Chishilimi.
Chishi, who last met Swu in June 2015 remembers the Yaruiwo telling her about his longing desire to go home to be with his friends, and his people. Despite his revolution witnessing corruption and dilution in recent years, and violence and bloodshed in most of its undertakings, in his death Swu is remembered as a ‘good, gentle soul’, whose favorite song was "It's not an easy road" by John W Peterson and who continued to hope for a Free Naga nation. Now with all the NSCN flags and banners out in full display, the sense of his absence is more profound.
Corrections:
An earlier version of this Post has erraneously mentioned that Swu's favourite song was 'Guide me oh thou Great Jehovah’. It is actually 'It's not an easy road' by John W Peterson. Also the article had mentioned that he was a man of clear convictism... It is actually 'He was a man of clear conviction...'.
