This interview was taken by Rural Post, two days before Th. Muivah’s historic homecoming.
I am Maj. Gen. (Retired) RVS. Shangam (MC, VC). I enrolled with the Naga Army on August 13, 1974. Immediately after enrolling, I was part of a mission to China led by some seniors. I met Avakharar in a Sema village. After meeting him, we left for China in September.
Today, as we wait for Avakharar to come home, I would like to share few anecdotes about him.
Avakharar is a very selfless person and he always gives priority to his comrades, focus on their suffering and problems. On our way to China, I don’t remember the exact date but it was the end week of September, 1974. We were ambushed by the enemy forces when we were passing through the mountainous region belonging to the Phom tribe; we had been going without food for 35 days. We all scattered in the jungle. We did not know where Avakharar was. We prayed and kept on with our journey aided by the weak light from the moon. There we met Avakharar. He asked us whether we had eaten. We said, “no.” He must have been very worried to let us go to bed without food. Forty days without a bite, on an empty stomach. Avakharar took our a small packet of glucose powder from his rucksack. He told Pamrei of Kangpat who was our commander to distribute the glucose powder to all of us who had just returned. So, Commander Pamrei distributed the glucose to sixteen of us. Some of my comrades said that Avakharar gave a spoon each but as far as I recall it was not even half of a spoon. Just imagine how much our share would have been, 16 of us sharing a small packet. It was a tiny white spot in our palm. We covered it with other hand, lest the wind blew it away because Avakharar told us that it was our dinner. Once distributed, Avakharar said the grace for the dinner.
What I am trying to say is that Avakharar must have carried the glucose powder when he was in dire need of it. But, his priority was the younger comrades and those who were not well, who were suffering and never for himself. He cares wholeheartedly for all of us.
When we had to go for battles, we never lose once Avakharar gave orders. We listened to his command and we were never anxious or afraid once he gave his order. We were not afraid of death. His command always came with a force to reckon with.
I don’t recall the month but it was in 1976, we attacked an enemy camp. The army cadres told him not to go but he insisted on joining the attack. There was fighting for quite sometime. When we were about to capture the camp, Avakharar got hurt by a grenade. The enemies were shooting from a bunker higher than us . Had they thrown the grenade it would have surpassed us since we were too close. So, they rolled down a grenade. He saw the incoming grenade but had he stood up, he would be shot, so he laid on the ground and was injured by the exploding grenade. So, they had to retreat.
Avakharar and our comrades were fives days of journey away from our base. When we learnt that he was hurt, five of us including respected VS. Atem, Luita, I and two Chakesang women went to help in taking care of Avakharar. They were taking shelter in nearby a streamlet. When we were almost there, I shouted to my good friend, Markson, “My friend Mark, I am here.” He had been walking up and down waiting for help. By that time, he had not slept for weeks. He asked me, “are you really here or is it a mirage?” I told him that I was real. I told him he could take rest, sleep or sit; I was there to handle things. Avakharar was seriously injured, he could not eat and was just sitting there. But, he was not worried or afraid. He told us that if we were attacked, we would fight back and we would escape. He has always been like this. He was never scared by tough situation but his focus was always on how to guide and cultivate among all of us. Even now, he is not thinking about himself but his focus is on the people, how to bring them in one fold.
In 1986, I was on the way to China with Avakharar. At that time, we saw the highest number of deaths from that batch out of all our trips to China. Many of our comrades died from illness when we reached Kachin. Around 35 of them died. The Kachin 2nd Brigade was in hiding from the Burmese army around nearby the place we were staying. Avakharar led around 15 of us to Kachin headquarter for some solution but we could not come to a meeting point. The Kachins were of the view that there was no point discussing or arguing with Avakharar; they were of the opinion that they could never win over Avakharar. Therefore, the best solution was to force us to return. The Kachin Council Headquarter was located near the China border. Avakharar decided that since it was not working out, it was better to go back. There was also expectation of more attacks by the burmese.
Meanwhile, there was some farmland being cultivated by the Chinese in the neighbouring area. We told them that in case of escalating attacks, we would seek shelter in their hut. Not long after, the CHQ was attacked by Burmese Army and the headquarter was captured. So, when the Burmese army occupied the place where we were staying, we escape to the Chinese side. We lived in that farmland hut for about a month. Avakharar was told to go back. So, we went to the Kachin 1st Brigade. Avakharar ordered three of us to go to China. One of his advice was never to forget God. “Even if you are just three in number, don’t be afraid. Hold on to God steadfastly. Once you reach there, you will stay with the Burma Communists and build contacts with all the Burmese groups who are going through revolutionary struggles in Burma.”
So three of us went to China but I had to be hospitalised for a month and once I was well, I carried out all the orders given by Avakharar. I even stayed for two weeks at the Communist headquarter. We built contacts, we cooperate with all the revolutionary groups from Burma. We built a healthy contacts with all of them. We are still in contact, it is just that we choose not to go to them. They all support us. What I am trying to say is that as long as we followed and carried out the orders assigned to us by Avakharar, we always saw success.
Since then, we got physically separated and met only after the cease fire. I have been in service for 51 years but for 25 years, I have been outside. It is my prayer that whatever I have done will bear fruit. I stand firmly to his teachings which are many. When we were worn out by hunger, he would say, “friends, be patient. We may suffer a lot now but the reward is worth our pain. We may face a lot of temptations and if you fall into it, you may not be able to come out of it.”
Even though we were very young when I joined the movement, I was just 18 but like Avakharar said as long as we stay firm and hold on to God steadfastly, we will surely see result inspite of our hardships.
