Angami Zapu Phizo

Angami Zapu Phizo

Angami Zapu Phizo was a Naga leader from India. He encouraged the Naga National Council to seek secession from India. He is commonly regarded as the "Father of the Nagas." AZ Phizo belonged to the Merhuma clan of the Angami Naga clan. He collaborated with the Japanese army in it's Burma invasion as well. When the British began their withdrawal from India, Phizo met with the Assamese, Garo, Khasis, Abors, Mishmis of Northeast India in an attempt to convince them to form their own countries. When his efforts failed, on the 14th of August 1947, he declared the independence of the Nagas.

Under his leadership, the NNC moved toward seeking secession from India. Phizo urged the Naga people to boycott the Indian elections. He met the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1951 near Tezpur in Assam, in March 1952 at Delhi, and in July 1952 at Dibrugarh.

In 1956, he launched the "Federal Government of Nagaland." The new organization had a military wing to encounter the Indian soldiers, who were accused of human rights violations by the separatists. The FGN continues to exist in Nagaland to this day.

Phizo escaped to East Pakistan in December 1956, from where he went to London. He continued supporting the secessionist movement in Nagaland, until he died in exile in London in 1990.