In a moment steeped in both history and emotion, Thuingaleng Muivah—one of the last living architects of the Naga autonomy movement—returned to his native village of Somdal in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on October 22, 2025, after more than five decades away. The 91-year-old general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN-IM, was welcomed home by thousands of supporters, tribal elders, and representatives from a cross-section of Naga organizations, marking a homecoming that many in the region had long thought impossible.
Muivah’s journey back was anything but ordinary. According to The Indian Express, he arrived by helicopter at the Ukhrul district headquarters in the morning, flying in from Dimapur, Nagaland, where he currently resides. The Tangkhul Long Ground, the ceremonial heart of Ukhrul, was packed with a massive crowd—men and women in vibrant Naga attire, schoolchildren waving the Naga flag, and elders carrying spears and wearing feathered headgear. The air was thick with excitement and anticipation, as the community prepared to receive a man whose life has been inextricably linked to the quest for Naga self-determination.
For Muivah, this return was not just a personal milestone but also a symbolic affirmation of identity. As Thingreiphi Lungahrwo, president of the Tangkhul Shanao Long, explained to The Indian Express, “From a Naga perspective, we are very much rooted in our villages, which researchers call ‘tiny republics’. We are connected to our land and our village. Even if you have lived far away for very long, your village pulls you back. Our Naga movement itself is based on the issue of land. As a person, his (Muivah’s) roots and identity emanate from his village. It is an affirmation of his identity and his return has been a long unfulfilled wish.”
The homecoming was more than just a reunion with his birthplace. It was a convergence of the personal and the political, a moment that resonated deeply with the Tangkhul community and the broader Naga movement. Nobert Tai, president of the Tangkul Hau Art and Culture Association, captured the prevailing sentiment: “Words can’t express how we feel; we are filled with love for our ‘Ato Kilonser’. He is a legend. It is a historic moment; we are all heading to his village after this.”
Muivah’s story is inseparable from the history of the Naga struggle. He left Somdal in 1964 to join the underground movement for Naga autonomy—a movement that would see him traverse not only the dense forests of Northeast India but also countries like China, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Netherlands. As reported by Lokmarg and the Associated Press, Muivah was a founding leader of the NSCN, established in 1980. The organization later split in 1988 into two factions: NSCN-K, led by SS Khaplang, and NSCN (I-M), led by Isak Chisi Swu and Muivah. These divisions reflected deeper disagreements over how to engage with the Indian government, particularly on the issue of dialogue and the future of Naga identity.
The Naga insurgency itself dates back to the 1950s, when demands for an independent homeland for the Naga people—an Indigenous group spread across several northeastern Indian states—first erupted into armed conflict. Decades of violence and political turmoil followed, but in 1997, the NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement with New Delhi, ushering in a period of relative calm. Yet, as The Indian Express and AP note, the peace process has since stalled, with key demands—such as a separate flag and constitution for the Naga people—remaining unresolved. Muivah, as the last surviving founding leader of the NSCN, has been at the forefront of these negotiations, embodying both the hopes and frustrations of his people.
His return to Somdal comes at a time when the Naga talks with the Indian government are at a standstill, and Manipur itself is grappling with separate conflicts. Academic Yuimirin Kapai observed, “Muivah is returning home at ‘the lowest ebb of the underground movement’. Even more than in Nagaland, the Nagas in Manipur had long hoped for a political settlement which would give them more autonomous administration of their own territories. But that hope has been fading as the years pass by… So there is hope among political workers that Muivah’s visit will enthuse people and help bridge the gaps that have developed between them and political workers.”
The homecoming was meticulously planned. On arrival, Muivah participated in a public meeting attended by the headmen of all Tangkhul villages and representatives of key Naga organizations, including the Naga Students’ Federation, United Naga Council, Naga Hoho, and Naga Women’s Union. According to R S Jollyson, vice-president of the Tangkhul Naga Long, Muivah will spend a week in Somdal before traveling to Senapati, another Naga-majority district, for a public meeting on October 29.
The emotional weight of the occasion was further amplified by a special ceremony planned for October 27, when Somdal and every Tangkhul village will light torches and bonfires—a gesture Lungahrwo described as “a symbol of our closeness and the warmth of Muivah’s homecoming.”
This was not Muivah’s first attempt to return home. In 2010, his planned visit was blocked by the then-Manipur government, resulting in violent protests at Mao Gate and leaving at least two dead and over 80 injured. The scars from that episode still linger, but this time, as The Indian Express and Lokmarg report, there was little resistance to his visit, perhaps owing to his advanced age, the changed political climate, or the region’s yearning for reconciliation.
For many, Muivah’s return is a reminder of both the resilience and the challenges facing the Naga movement. As reported by AP, he is currently leading peace talks with India’s federal government, seeking greater political rights for his people. Yet, with negotiations stalled and the future uncertain, his presence in Somdal is seen as a rallying point—a chance to rekindle hope, reaffirm identity, and perhaps, set the stage for renewed dialogue.
The sight of schoolchildren waving the Naga flag and elders embracing Muivah spoke volumes about the enduring power of belonging and the unbroken thread of memory that ties generations together. In the words of one community leader, “It is an affirmation of our identity and our return has been a long unfulfilled wish.”
As the bonfires light up the hills of Ukhrul and the songs of welcome echo through Somdal, the Naga people are reminded that history is not just about the past—it is also about the dreams and struggles that shape the future.