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Lhota attitude to Independence |
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Tour Aug. 9-15. Lhotas - wanted an Assam Raj. Characteristically because of the money - cf. Mills comparison - Scotsmen. |
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Lhota dobashis - Lhota respecting Pandit - all in favour of fusion with the plains. |
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NNC delegation - Longri and at a wire from Delhi on 5 August - arrived safely interview fixed for 6 or 7. Mayang wired - NNC meet Kohima 13th. Mokokchung members must attend without exception. |
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Great perplexity in Wokha - the Ao M.O. did not know how to interpret this news - was it merely to report back to the NNC? Did is mean a sympathetic hearing? Was it to ratify an agreement with Nehru? Was it to decide on direct action? |
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Out in the Lhota country Independence Day (Aug 15) was just like any other day. The Lhotas did not know it marked the end of a period. A few were anxious about the NNC delegation - no one regarded it as a day. No celebrations, no interest. The lost tumbled hills stretched calmly into the distance, little clouds wandered on the slopes, a pale blue sky had wisps of hair-like cloud - while all the headmen who came to see me were still concerned solely with their village things - passes for buying cattle in the plains, more ammunition for a village gun, permit to shoot an elephant, the new successor to an aging headman, exemptions from house tax. |
