Preparatory work for the burial site of Naga ancestral remains, being repatriated from the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, was formally launched at the Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima on Saturday with a short prayer service.
“With the prayer service, site clearance and ground preparation for the burial site were formally launched,” Naga Solidarity Park Management Committee Convenor Vipopal Kintso said in a press release.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), along with Naga Tribe Hohos, had called on the Management Committee on October 19 and 30, seeking allocation of a suitable site within the park for the burial of the repatriated remains. Following these requests, and after deliberations and a series of consultations with stakeholders, the committee formally allocated a designated site within the park for the purpose, the release said.
“The decision has been guided by a profound collective aspiration to make the homecoming of Naga ancestors more than an act of repatriation. It is our earnest hope that this historic undertaking will become a meaningful moment of healing, reconciliation and renewed belongingness among the Naga people,” the committee said.
It said the burial of the ancestors at the symbolic site is envisioned as a step towards strengthening Naga unity.
“At a time when our collective identity and unity require renewed commitment, the burial of our ancestors at this symbolic place is envisioned as a step towards strengthening Naga unity, reaffirming our collective identity and fostering a deeper sense of oneness among all Nagas, beyond tribal and artificial boundaries,” it added.
The prayer service was attended by representatives of the Angami Public Organization, Kohima Village Council, Angami Students’ Union, Kohima Village Students’ Union, Northern Angami Students’ Union, Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, Naga Students’ Federation, the Local Arrangement Committee of the FNR, and an architect from Zynorique Initiatives.
The committee said their presence reflected a spirit of collective participation and shared responsibility.
The management committee acknowledged the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders and reiterated that the Naga Solidarity Park belongs, in spirit and purpose, to the Naga people. “It is our conviction that the homecoming of our ancestors must transcend historical divisions and serve as a bridge towards healing, reconciliation, togetherness and a renewed sense of collective belonging,” the release said.
