Zapu Phizo
Zapu Phizo, commonly known as A. Z. Phizo or Angami Zapu Phizo, was a Naga nationalist leader with British nationality. Under his influence, the Naga National Council asserted the right to self-determination which took the shape of armed resistance after the Indian state imposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in 1958. Nagas regard him as the "Father of the Naga Nation".
Early life
Zapu Phizo was born on 16 May 1904 in Khonoma to an Angami Naga family. He belonged to the Merhüma clan of Khonoma. He had collaborated with the Japanese army in Burma. His face was heavily twisted following a childhood paralytic attack.Political life
As the British were preparing for their withdrawal from India, Phizo separately met the indigenous Assamese, Garo, Khasi, Lushai, Abor, Mishmi and Meitei leaders in an attempt to convince them to form independent countries of their own, instead of joining the proposed Union of India. However, his efforts failed. On 14 August 1947, one day before India gained its independence, Phizo declared the independence of the Naga region.Rise of Phizo in the NNC
Phizo's influence in the Naga National Council increased in the late 1940s, after the NNC secretary Imti Aliba Ao retired from politics for an appointment in the Indian Frontier Administrative Services.Phizo was incarcerated in Calcutta's Presidency Jail in 1948 on charges of stirring trouble in the Indo-Burma borderland. After his release from the jail, he became the fourth president and the main ideologue of the National Naga Council. Phizo became the NNC Chairman in October–November 1949 after defeating Vizar Angami of Zakhama village by a margin of one vote. Under his leadership, the NNC inclined towards 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. He also met with Jaipal Singh in 1952. He was arrested in Burma for illegal entry.
Formation of the Federal Government of Nagaland
In September 1954, Phizo formed the "People's Sovereign Republic of Free Nagaland", with the support of Chang chiefs of Tuensang. He also reorganized the NNC setup, as the chances of a peaceful settlement declined.In 1955, the Angami leaders T. Sakhrie and J. B. Jasokie broke off with Phizo at a meeting in the Khonoma village. Phizo got Sakhrie murdered in January 1956. On 22 March 1956 he formed the "Naga Central Government", which was later renamed to "Federal Government of Nagaland" in 1959. The new organization had an underground Naga army.