Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
So we're back in Camp Hebron--headquarters of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland ( Isak-Muivah) faction. Formed in 1980, they are in a struggle with the Indian government for a greater Nagaland. Their primary demand is the formation of a Greater Nagaland with areas that has Nagas in the Indian states of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and also some portions of Myanmar. NSCN-IM considers these areas to be part of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Singing for the cause of Nagalim--Greater Nagaland.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
This is an NSCN-IM military training session in progress. And that is Azeno looking into the camera. A 22 year-old cadre, she is here to "serve the nation".
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
As I have mentioned in my previous post, the NSCN-IM has been in a ceasefire with the government of India for the last 13 years. Other than minor technical yes or nos not an inch has moved forward in the Indo-Naga peace talks in all these years. And no one seems bothered about it, other than the occasional statements. Since 1997 there have been sixty rounds of talks that have been held in Paris, Bangkok, Zurich, Geneva, some unspecified location, Amsterdam, Hague, Dimapur and New Delhi. As I write this post, the present round of talks is being held in New Delhi.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
The cadres go through a full training cycle for our cameras. They repeat, some sections of the drill for our filming. Don't know how many cameras they have faced before. Inside the camp the cadres seem trapped in time fighting for a sixty three year-old cause that probably holds little meaning in 2010.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
These are some of the cadres at the camp. I don't know if they have much of an option but to stay with the "council".
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Young cadres of the NSCN-IM at Camp Hebron. " We are serving the nation and NSCN-IM is the right choice" --that's their line. Everyone in the camp believes in this.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
After an extensive shoot, once we are done, the cadres are allowed to go back to their camps. They are most happy and relieved to be over and done with this sudden filming session.
Cadres at NSCN-IM HQ, 2010 Photo@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved
Almost at the end of the filming. Self-styled Lt Rex with my cameraman Mukut Medhi.
