The Alinagar Agreement: An Overview

The Alinagar Agreement is a historic peace accord signed between the Government of India and the Naga National Council (NNC) on 27 February 1961. The NNC was a political organization that represented the Naga people, who lived in the northeastern region of India.

The agreement was signed under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the NNC`s leader, Phizo, after a prolonged period of negotiation. The deal was aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Naga insurgency that had gripped the region for several years.

The key points of the agreement were:

1. The NNC agreed to give up its demand for secession and accept the Indian Constitution.

2. The NNC agreed to work towards creating a new and autonomous state within the Indian Union for the Nagas.

3. The Indian government agreed to grant the new state a significant degree of autonomy in matters of culture, land, and resources.

4. The agreement also provided for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Naga refugees who had fled the region due to the conflict.

The Alinagar Agreement was a significant milestone in the history of India`s Northeast. It brought an end to a long period of violence, which had claimed many lives and led to the displacement of thousands of people. The accord was hailed as a triumph of diplomacy and a testament to the power of peaceful negotiations.

However, the agreement failed to bring lasting peace to the region. The NNC split into several factions, some of which continued to demand full independence for Nagaland. The Indian government, too, failed to fully implement the provisions of the agreement, leading to further unrest in the region.

Today, Nagaland is a state within the Indian Union, with a unique culture and history. The region has witnessed significant economic and social development in recent years, but the legacy of the Naga insurgency and the Alinagar Agreement continues to shape its politics and society.