Yesonü Veyie was awarded the Distinguished Senior Citizens Award alongside Abeni T.C.K for their outstanding contribution towards the society and the State. The award was presented during the State-level celebration of the International Day of Older Persons 2024 under the theme ‘Ageing with Dignity’ celebrated at NBCC convention hall, Kohima on October 1.
Born to Ehufὕyi Veyie and Vesanülü on 16 February, 1947 at Thipüzumi village, Phek district, Veyie received his early education at Chetheba Government Middle School and Thipuzumi Middle English School, after which he joined Government High School, Pfutsero, passing out his matriculation in the year 1969. He graduated from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, Meghalaya in 1973.
Yesonü Veyie was a dynamic student leader and social worker who tirelessly rendered his services for the Naga society. A courageous and tactful visionary, he lived through the atrocities meted out to the Nagas by the Indian Army; the hardships and horrors the Naga public endured for the national movement; he witnessed the sacrifices of the early national workers.
A former President of the Naga Students’ Federation and the Chakhesang Public Organization, he was the convenor of the Naga Hoho and founding member of Naga Tribes Council. He continues to be in close association with a number of civil societies till today in service to the larger Naga society. Veyie served the premier students’organisation, the Naga Students Federation (NSF) as its President from 1976 -1978 during the National Emergency period in India. The political situation in the entire country was volatile and President’s Rule was imposed in Nagaland state. He would often reminisce on this period with a sense of achievement and fulfillment.
Having built a rapport with the government, his team was able to negotiate several policy shifts which benefited the Nagas. It was a time where the state was young and there were not many Naga officers in the government and promotions in the bureaucracy were driven by nepotism and favoritism. At the first Federal Assembly of his Presidency, a resolution was passed to stop the practice of appointment of contractual employees and employees on deputation to head government departments. This was to ensure that promotion opportunities were not deprived to the Nagas. A subsequent step taken was the submission of a representation to the state government to put an end to the appointment of applicants with MGTEC (Madras Government Technical Examination Certificate) Diploma Certificates to the posts of engineers in departments with engineering wings. The federation saw the need for having qualified people in office to help develop the state. In addition, most of the candidates were non-Nagas on account of which Nagas were deprived of employment opportunities. To improve the quality of education in the state, the NSF pressed the government to stop the appointment of under matriculates as teachers in government schools. The NSF also resolved to put a stop to the appointment of non-local teachers to the few existing government schools except for Mathematics and Science subjects. These moves and representation were undertaken to keep education quality uncompromised, and at the same time to safeguard job prospects meant for the Naga people. As the resolution was honoured by the Government, policies were changed accordingly ushering in the chance for primary students to learn in their local dialects while securing employment for many Nagas.
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The Central Government offices in Nagaland including the Vigilance Office did not have local employees back then. Nor was there any Naga senior police officer. Therefore, in 1977, a five-member delegation was constituted to meet the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. Morarji Desai, and accordingly a representation was submitted on the issue of permitting Nagas to serve in the central government offices so as to ensure proper representation of local people in the state bureaucracy. The meeting resulted in the delayed introduction of IPS in Nagaland, deferred for a period of ten (10) years which was deemed required for Naga police officers to be conferred IPS. Following inspection, the four (4) cabinet members from the center recommended appointment of Nagas to the Central government offices in Nagaland.
The aftermath of an Incident that occurred on a day observed as Lotha Students’ Union Black Day today, which could have turned more catastrophic was averted by the courage and tact of Veyie. Two Lotha students were shot dead in police firing when students were holding a peaceful rally at Wokha town on 17 April, 1977 protesting against the harassment and manhandling of the then SDO (Civil) by the Assam Police and forest guards as he was on duty protecting the land rights of the people in Ralan area. In protest against the killing of the students, the NSF had called for a state wide hartal.
A group of students at ’imapur triggered a series of clashes between local and non-local students and youths. 86 houses were burnt down and about 80 people from both sides were hospitalized for injuries. The situation deteriorated over a period of three days. Even as an enquiry commission was set up to investigate the matter, the situation in Dimapur spiraled out of hand compelling the government to consider handing over the situation to the army. Fearing that this could prove more disastrous, Mr Veyie assuming the office of the president of NSF, solicited the government to give the charge of handling the situation to his office. Through tactful negotiation, the tension was doused and normalcy was restored after days of hartals.
During the turbulent late 80’s and 90’s which witnessed the worst fratricidal strife among the Nagas with frequent factional killings, abductions, ambushes and kidnappings which became regular occurrences, fourteen Naga tribes decided to come together to form an apex tribal body called the Naga Hoho. In the second meeting of the Hoho, in February,1995 at APO Hall, Kohima, Veyie was elected their first Convenor for the tenure extending till 1997. The apex body called for the tribes to nominate a liaison member. However, it could not become functional since communication could not be established with the different factions. Therefore, a ceasefire was felt absolutely necessary to establish a safe platform for negotiation and talks. Letters were written to the underground groups calling for a ceasefire amongst the factions. In 1996, Veyie presented a petition for ceasefire between the undergrounds and GOI to the then Prime Minister of India, H.D. Deve Gowda when he visited the state on 24th October, 1996. In response to it, the Prime Minister offered a ceasefire to all the factional groups following which some semblance of peace was ushered in. During these most trying decades in the history of the Naga people, Veyie had negotiated the release of several people by rival factions, death threats of public leaders, and even the issuance of death threat to his own life by the underground groups.
Mr Veyie’s community service was extended to Chakhesang Public Organization, the apex body of the Chakhesang people as he served as its president for two tenures, 1995-98 and 2006-09. The divine restoration of the Chakhesang – Sumi brotherhood during his first presidency was an event he cherishes.
Another noteworthy mention is Veyie’ as the Convenor of Mediation Committee of the Nagaland Tribes Council is the mediation efforts that have brought the present seven Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) together for negotiation with the Indian Government. Through the interlocutor R.N Ravi, the committee was able to obtain an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19th May, 2017. This initiated the current ongoing political talks for a solution between GOI and the 7 NNPGs leading to the signing of the Agreed Position between the Working Committee, NNPGs and the GOI on 17th November, 2017.
His other engagements and experiences include serving as the first Village Development Board Secretary, Thipuzumi Village, 1978-79; Member, Nagaland Peace Mission, 1978; President, Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers Union, 1979 – 81; Member, Kohima Town Committee, 1982 -1987 ;President, Phek District Congress (I) Committee, 1987-88; General Secretary, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (Administration), 2002-06; President, Chakhesang Hoho Kohima; Member, Nagaland State Security Commission , 2013; Organising Member, Nagaland Tribes Council, 2013; Convenor, Peace Mediation Committee of Nagaland (NTC), 2014 to date.
Veyie’s contribution to the Naga society as a conscientious leader with steadfast commitment to peace building and resolution of issues faced by his people is a source of inspiration to many.
