Speech of Eno Akho Meru, Alee Kilonser (FGN) on the 36th Death Anniversary of A.Z Phizo observed at Phizo Hill in Kohima on 30 April 2026.
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isaiah 46: 10)
“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us…” (Acts 17: 26 &:27)
“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” (Isaiah 5: 7)
God in all his glory does not do any wrong nor does he slumber or falter. He appoints the right person at the right time and place to his bidding which is right and just. God does not bestow his vineyard, which is the nation, to those who shed innocent blood. But when the nation descends into greed and decay it falls into the hands of its enemy.
To all those who have gathered here today for the love of our nation and to honour our great leader and father of the Naga nation, I on behalf of the family and kinsmen of AZ Phizo and the Naga National Council and Federal Government of Nagaland thank you and welcome you to this solemn occasion to honour and remember the life and sacrifice of AZ Phizo.
AZ Phizo was a man from Khonoma belonging to the Mehrüma moiety. He was from the Dolie clan of Gwizan ancestry. He was the son of Krusietso Dolie. Born in 1904, AZ Phizo was a descendant of Pukahie Dolie, the son of the elder brother of the great warrior Pelhou Dolie under whose leadership peace was made with the British on the 27th of March 1879 at Mezoma after the Battle of Khonoma. AZ Phizo passed away in London on the 30th of April, 1990 at the age of 86. When the news of his death reached home a Funeral Organising Committee was set up, of which some of the committee members were deputed to arrange for the transport of his body while the others kept up with the organising of the funeral program. Moreover, as the committee went on to prepare for the funeral the question of where our leader could be honourably laid to rest arose; it was by divine providence and the love of his people that this hallowed ground was given as his final resting place.
In his lifetime AZ Phizo had completed and established the foundation of the sovereign Naga Nation. He had established relations with other nations for our country to be reckoned with. Likewise, even in his death he brought all Nagas together once more as if to solidify the Naga National Plebiscite of 16 May 1951. Not every believer is faithful and among the few that are faithful, not all are endowed with integrity. God, in His divine wisdom, greatly uses men of honour and integrity despite their weaknesses and qualifies them as was the case of Moses and likewise, He qualified an honourable man of integrity like Phizo to lead the Nagas in the most difficult of times for our nation.
Phizo and his wife had 9 children of which 3 are no longer with us today. Eli Adinno Phizo, President of the NNC, and 5 other siblings are still alive and well. Phizo had a large family and yet he was a man who dared to stand his ground for his country against all odds. He could have given up and lived a very comfortable life. There were many instances where he could have simply become the greatest stumbling block to the Nation and pursue personal fame, wealth and comfort as tempting offers were put before him. Phizo however, did not falter nor was he ever in a dilemma as to the question of choosing between his nation or a comfortable life by sacrificing his vision. Not once did he falter. Here are some of the hurdles faced and offers which were presented to AZ Phizo which would have undermined, unmake and demolished the sovereign Naga Nation had he accepted or faltered:
1. India offered him the position of governor of Assam.
2. He was offered to become the Chief Minister of Assam.
3. He was also offered the position of a Union Minister of India.
4. When he refused all the above, he was again offered the position to become the President of India.
5. India also asked for him to be an ambassador to Malaya.
6. When he again refused, He was asked to become ambassador to any country of his choice.
7. AZ Phizo was offered a blank cheque which he refused.
8. Goa requested him to lead its state.
9. He was offered chairmanship for a company that was to trade between India and China. He refused.
10. In his dealings with varied peoples and businesses he was cheated, blamed and sued for no fault of his. In all of these instances he did not hold any grudges or malice towards anyone.
11. At one point of time a good friend of AZ Phizo suggested for him to write a letter to the colonial Deputy Commissioner so he could be granted some portion of land in Dimapur. Phizo replied, “Why should I write a letter to a white man asking for land which is our own?” To this day Phízo does not have any land to his name in Dimapur.
12. During the Indo China war, Chaliha, the Chief Minister of Assam helped Eli Adinno Phizo to go to London to ask for Phizo to lead the peoples of the North East but Phizo refused the offer.
Had AZ Phizo fallen for the flowery offers or faltered while facing difficult hurdles our Nation’s history would have been different or rather misplaced. Having had a rich experience of life and of the struggle of the Nagas he, thus, remarked, “Nagas will not surrender in the battlefield, but many Nagas will fall when money is shot through the barrel of the gun.” Today it is my hope and prayer that we will stand fast to our values and principles like Phizo and not fall for money or fame that has led many to degeneracy and bankruptcy of ethics and morals.
Our nation was established on the principle and slogan “Urra Uvie” (Our Country is Ours) and many have been martyred, many more have made the supreme sacrifice. Even women and children have not been spared. Our suffering and sacrifices should not go to waste nor should we forget lest we become visionless and lose our way into decay and degeneracy which may lead us to become a mere footnote in the annals of history. We have come thus far, only because of our predecessors. To forget and not to live as we should, as a sovereign nation, would be a sin and sacrilege towards God. It would mean the demise of our God given values and National Identity as Nagas. Lest we become such a nation, let us remember, honour and live like those honourable men and women who have gone before us. I believe if AZ Phizo was still alive he would be happy to see us living our lives for God, family and country with faith, honour, truth and loyalty as our pillars.
Thirty six years have passed since the passing of AZ Phizo. It was not an easy task to bring back our leader for his final journey home. Today I would like to acknowledge and thank Kuldip Nayar the then Indian High Commissioner in the UK. Despite opposition from colleagues Mr. Kuldip Nayar made it clear that a leader must return home as per the wishes of his people. Gratitude must be given where it is due whether it is friend or foe. Mr. Kuldip Nayar, as the honourable Indian gentleman that he was, did that which was graceful and honourable and we are grateful. I would also like to thank the Phizo Graveyard Management Committee for their untiring efforts in the upkeep and maintenance of our leader’s resting place. For 36 years this committee has unceasingly maintained the grave of our leader which is a testament to their dedication to our nation. We are grateful. May our journey as a nation be filled with the best of intentions for one another as we honour the life and work of the father of the Naga Nation. May God guide us. Thank you!
God Bless Nagaland!
KUKNALIM
Akho Meru
Alee Kilonser,
Federal Government of Nagaland
