GUWAHATI, Sept 15 � Angami Zapu Phizo, father of the Naga revolution, enlisted himself as a soldier in the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose after spending 11 years in Myanmar as a businessman. Phizo, who was taken prisoner by the British and placed in the Rangoon prison till 1945, was later released before the declaration of India�s freedom.
Describing Phizo as the pioneer philosopher of the secessionist movement in the entire North-east, Narayan Chandra Bora, retired Additional Secretary, Nagaland Assembly, dwelt at length on the relentless struggle waged by Phizo for Naga freedom � both from India and from Britain.
Bora, who was participating in a discussion in the 198th literary sitting of the Brihattar Panjabari Sahitya Sabha, described how Phizo got the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Phizo belonged to the Merhuma khel (clan) of Khonoma village of the Angami Naga tribe. He had collaborated with the Japanese army in�Burma, but grew disillusioned with the political motives of the newly independent Indian Government.
On August 14, 1947, one day before India gained its independence, Phizo declared independence of the Naga region. Phizo�s influence in the Naga National Council (NNC) increased in the late 1940s, after NNC secretary Imti Aliba Ao retired from politics for an appointment in the Indian Frontier Administrative Services. Phizo became the NNC chairman in October-November 1949 after defeating Vizar Angami of Zakhama village by a margin of one vote. Under his leadership, the NNC inclined towards seeking secession from India. Phizo urged the Naga people to boycott the Indian elections. He met the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1951 near Tezpur in Assam, in March 1952 at Delhi, and in July 1952 at Dibrugarh. He was arrested in Burma for�illegal entry.
In September 1954, Phizo formed the People�s Sovereign Republic of Free Nagaland, with the support of the Chang chiefs of Tuensang. He also reorganised the NNC setup, as the chances of a peaceful settlement declined. He escaped to�East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) in December 1956, from where he went to�London. He continued supporting the secessionist movement in Nagaland, until his death in exile, in�London�in 1990.
The literary sitting held under the presidentship of Ranajit Sutradhar was addressed by Dr Surendra Mohan Mahanta and senior journalist DN Chakravartty.
Members of the Sabha recited poems, short stories and essays in the meet.