After more than six decades, Thuingaleng Muivah, the 91-year-old general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M), returned to his native village of Somdal in Manipur, India. Muivah, once a prominent figure in one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies, was greeted by a jubilant crowd that sang and draped him in a traditional shawl. His return marks a poignant moment in the Naga struggle for sovereignty, a movement that has sought either full independence or a ‘Greater Nagaland’ uniting Naga people across borders. Born in Manipur, Muivah left his village in 1964 to join the Naga National Council (NNC), later co-founding the NSCN in 1980. The NSCN (I-M) has been accused of extortion and running a parallel government, allegations it denies. Despite a ceasefire with India since 1997, Muivah’s demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution remain unresolved. Critics argue that his movement has lost its former influence, while supporters see him as a symbol of resilience. Muivah’s return, though deeply personal, underscores the enduring but fading aspirations of the Naga people.