Rungsung Suisa

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Rungsung Suisa (4 March 1907 – 17 April 1971) was an Indian politician.[1][2] Suisa was one of the key figures in the movement to unite Naga-populated areas in Manipur with the Naga Hills (Nagaland).[3] He was popularly known as 'Uncle Suisa'.[4]

Rungsung Suisa belonged to the

Tangkhul Naga tribe.[5] He was the son of Rungsung Luithui.[1] He hailed from Somdal, Ukhrul district.[6] He studied at the Jorhat Christian High School.[1] He was amongst the first youths of the Manipur hill people to obtain matriculate education.[6]

Suisa was one of five hill leaders named by the President Manipur State Darbar to participate in the Constitution-Making Committee in 1946. However, Suisa and the other hill leaders did not attend the first session of the committee.[1][3] On 13 August 1947 he chaired a meeting of hill leaders, at which the assembled demanded that the hill peoples should have the right to secede from Manipur after a five-year period. However, these demands were not heeded by the committee, and in the new constitution the administration of the hill areas was placed under the control of the Maharaja.[3] In June 1948 he was elected unopposed to the Manipur State Assembly.[1][3]

In 1949 he visited Burma, and came into contact with the Communist Party of Burma. His experience in Burma radicalized his political approach, taking a more revolutionary stance in local politics upon his return.[3] He became a member of the Manipur Electoral College in 1951.[1]

Suisa was elected to the

Outer Manipur constituency, obtaining 21,316 votes (26.24% of the votes in the constituency).[7] In parliament, he was represented in various committees.[3] The Manipur Naga Council boycotted the 1962 general election and Suisa was one of the Naga leaders that was detained at Dum Dum for about a year.[2]

Suisa was assistant to the vice president of the Naga National Council 1964–1966.[3] In October 1966, following the deadlock in the peace talks, he presented a proposal to solve the Indo-Naga conflict through confederation, with shared responsibilities between India and Nagaland on foreign and military affairs, but full Naga sovereignty on internal affairs.[2][8][9] He sought to mediate between the Indian government and the Naga leaders.[4][10] Allegedly, Indira Gandhi was open to accept Suisa's proposal.[8] However, the NNC opposed these moves and did not accept his proposal, as it went against their demand of complete independence.[2] Suisa had travelled to London together with Vizol Koso in June 1967 to present the proposal to Zapu Phizo but it was rebuffed by him.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f India. Parliament. Lok Sabha; India. Parliament. Lok Sabha. Secretariat (1957). Who's who. Lok Sabha. p. 467.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-81-8324-181-6
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-81-8324-181-6
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-81-89233-48-8
    .
  5. ISBN 978-93-5029-536-6
    .
  6. ^ a b The Sangai Express. Nagas' demand for integration: A historical perspective - II
  7. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1957 TO THE SECOND LOK SABHA - VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-81-89622-33-6
    .
  9. ^ D. R. Mankekar (1967). On the Slippery Slope in Nagaland. Manaktalas. p. 178.
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-81-85002-61-3
    .
  11. ISBN 978-81-7099-774-0
    .
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