Dimapur: Two Naga villages — one belonging to the Angami Naga tribe and the other to the Ao Naga tribe — celebrated 25 years of brotherhood at Ungma village under Mokokchung district on Saturday.To reaffirm their commitment for the future, the two villages formally adopted the ‘Ungma Declaration’, pledging to continuously strengthen and carry forward their unique bond of friendship.Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, an Angami Naga, and former CM SC Jamir, an Ao Naga, attended the ceremony held under the theme “To Bolster Amity” as the chief guest and honored dignitary respectively.Nagaland speaker Sharingain Longkumer served as the chief host of the historic event.Addressing the gathering, Rio shared the background of the brotherhood between the two villages, revealing that the bond was the brainchild of himself and Jamir.“The core vision was to build a bridge of friendship with all Aos through Ungma, and with all Angamis and Tenyimias through Tuophema — ultimately radiating that peace to all Nagas,” he said.Rio urged the gathering to introspect, retrospect, and carry forward the legacy established by the two villages, encouraging them to expand this friendship to the wider Naga family.He expressed deep satisfaction at seeing the younger generation actively upholding the tradition through exchange programs and social engagements.In his address, Jamir reflected on the brotherhood between the two villages and called for urgent peace and unity among the Nagas.Recalling his long political journey, Jamir lamented that there was no “ism” among the Nagas in the past, noting that all tribal hohos once worked in perfect harmony under a single apex body.Expressing concern over the present state of Naga society, he warned that tribalism has reached extremes, factions — both underground and overground — have multiplied, and materialism is eroding morality.Jamir made a fervent appeal for a drastic change in outlook and attitude among the Nagas, urging a renewed vision to build a stronger, more peaceful, and prosperous Nagaland.In a symbolic gesture of wider integration, Ungma village donated three plots of land during the programme. These were officially handed over to the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council, and the Tenyimia Union Nagaland by Rio.
