History of Nagalnad

Nagaland became a state on December 1, 1963. Its status as part of India or as an independent entity beforehand has been disputed since 1956, and there are agitators for independence within the region.

On October 2, 2004, a series of attacks, including two bomb explosions, in the states of Assam and Nagaland killed at least 57 people and injured over 100. Officials have blamed two groups of separatist rebels, the United Liberation Front of Asom and National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).

Nagaland has no written history. Till the nineteenth century when their lifestyles were first recorded, the Naga’s lived a life centered around agricultural and headhunting and the various rites and rituals connected to the two activities. The Naga people belong to the Mongoloid ethnic group. Every tribe, clan, has its own myths of the origin of the Naga people, tracing between them their first homes, it is suggested that their love of marine shells points to a bygone settlement near the sea, their spears (with ornamental barbs curling outward from a shaft) suggested some relationship with the resident of the Philippine Islands and Indonesian people, generally by the use of the lion loom, these are not substantial evidence to build a history of ancient times, but it does give hints on what may have happened.

The derivation of the word Naga is obscure. Some say it its been derived from the Sanskrit word Naga, a mountain, hence mountain man. Some linked it to be from the term warrior and some thought it was from the Hindi word Nanga, meaning naked and some believed it was derived from the word Naga, meaning snake. The most likely derivation is from the word Nok, which means people in some few local dialect. The name, however was not in general use among the Naga’s. It was given by the people from the plains and was used indiscriminately. When a Naga ask another Naga where he is from, the questioned is phrased “Which village do you belong to?” or “What tribe do you belong to?” even today.

Never were the Naga’s under any administration before the British Empire, though many writers claim to be, the British established rule over Assam and gradually annexed the Naga hill area to the British Empire. It is likely that the Naga’s bore their share of suffering during the troubled years at the end of eighteen century too. In the year 1832-33, Raja Ghambir Singh of Manipur, who had the ambition of achieving the permanent conquest of of the Naga Hills, marched through through Naga territories from Imphal. The British Government was not happy about this, but in a general way submitted some portion of the Southern Nagaland, now extending up to Mao under Manipur, to the Manipur rulers. The British put an end to headhunting and the inter village raids and the Naga’s settled to a more peaceful life of cultivation and trade. In 1887, after the the local officials were given authority to act as arbiters in inter village feuds to enforce their their powers, Kohima was established as the chief administrative centre of the area, with a sub centre at Wokha; a strong police force was posted in the interior; house taxes were collected. This was the beginning of of an effective administration in the Naga Hills, which was established in 1881. In 1888 a new sub centre was opened in Mokokchung.

On the other hand, the American Baptist Missionaries started their station at Molung among the Ao tribe and started educating the Naga’s and evangelizing the Naga people. Education was an integral part of the mission and converts were educated in their schools. Literacy was the stamp of authority that gave Christianity supremacy over traditional customs and belief. What the missionaries taught was to have a drastic effect on the traditional social fabric of Naga society. The missionaries had little understandings of the working Naga society and made little or no effort to look beyond the surface. When they saw, using beliefs as a yardstick was promiscuity, heathenism, barbarism and ignorance, converts were compelled to make a complete break with the tradition; they were forbidden to drink rice beers, take part in traditional singing and dancing, sleeping in the Morungs, or participating in any of the traditional co-operative activities of the community. They were actively encouraged to emulate their converts in every ways, dress included and to renounce their heathen brethren. The missionaries are even believed to have destroyed traditional artifacts. Many of the administrators of the time disagreed with the missionaries methods and feared they were destroying Naga culture. They would have preferred Naga culture unchanged. They failed to realize that by romanticizing the Naga’s as noble savages they were being a paternalistic as the missionaries. They themselves were not blameless. Their administration had introduced a market economy that brought an end to Naga self sufficiency. The only way up for Naga’s was through education which at the time was being provided by the mission schools. The product of these schools dressed like the sahibs, and spoke, read and wrote their languages. They were the ones who found employment usually in the service of the Government and started to earn salaries. In the new climate where new aspirations had replaced the old, their success did not go unnoticed. Their example was emulated by increasing number of Naga’s. Often these boys and girls went to Assam to continue their education. Some even went to colleges as far as Calcutta and Bombay. Naga’s were to come into even more contact with the outside world and new ideas with the coming of the two world wars.

The first world war did not have much impact on the the Naga’s, though Naga warriors were recruited for the Labors corps in France, the response of which was remarkable. The second world war, however, had a more devastating and far reaching effect. The Japanese penetrated up to Kohima under the Naga Hills District and the Naga’s faced the sufferings, dangers and disaster of the modern battle. The Naga’s gave invaluable support to the allied forces. Despite floggings, torture, execution and the burning of their villages, they refused to aid the Japanese in any way or to betray the allied troops, instead they guided the allied columns, collected information’s, ambushed the Japanese patrols, carried out supplies and helped the wounded in the battlefields.

As far back in 1918 an organization was formed by A group of Naga’s who returned from France, Its members were Christian’s educated Government officials and headmen from various Naga villages called the Naga Club. This was the first attempt at consolidating a Naga identity and solidarity. Their activities which included a cooperative store and holding discussions were informally supported by local British administrators. During this period the Indian Independence movement had begun to gain momentum and the British Government was negotiating the future of the country. The Naga’s club felt that in order to preserve the Naga’s tribal identity they should be allowed to decide their future for themselves. They feared that Naga culture would be engulfed by that of the plains people which they had come to see as the antithesis of their own. As, Second World War ended, the Naga Club and the tribal councils that had been formed along its lines had merged and evolved into an organization called the NNC (Naga National Council) which dedicated to reforming Nagaland from the scratch of the war and advocated Independence for Nagaland. It held that the Naga’s being fundamentally different from the mass of the Indian people and had lived independently before the British conquest of their territory. Therefore, their inclusion into the Indian Union would be an artificial and forced one. A delegation led by Mr. Z.A.Phizo met with Jawaharlal Nehru to reiterate this stand. The Indian Government maintained that the Naga Hills were an integral part of the British India, and the Naga Hills District was handed over to India with the rest of the British India.

When it became evident that Independence would not be allowed, nine members of the NNC signed a Declaration of Independence. This move was ignored by the Indian Government. The NNC then started negotiations with the Governor of Assam, Sir Akbar Hydari. They reached an agreement with him called the ‘Nine Point Agreement’ but it was more of a compromise. The NNC gave more importance to the clause that gave them the right to reconsider their status within India after ten years. The NNC believed that this gave them the option of choosing Independence. For the Indian Government such an option did not even exist. The fundamental difference of opinion between the NNC and the Indian Government led to armed revolt and many years of insurgency that continues to this day. The NNC held a plebiscite in 1950 which resulted in a majority supporting the NNC stand. In 1952 talks between Mr. Z.A.Phizo and Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru ended without any results. In 1955 fighting broke out after NNC leaders were arrested. The NNC went underground and in 1956 proclaimed the Naga Federal Government with a President, Parliament and Ministers under the leadership of Mr. Z.A.Phizo. The first flag of the Naga federal Government was unfurled in 1956 at Phensinyu, a Rengma village. In the following years a virtual undeclared war was fought between the Indian army and the Federal Government. Unfortunately, the innocent Naga’s bore the brunt of the hardships. Villages were relocated. Without any prior warnings, the villagers would be ordered out of their houses and the village torched. Innocent villagers were often tortured and beaten if suspected in aiding the insurgents. On the other hand, the insurgents also killed Naga’s suspected of collaborating. Businessmen, Government servants, villagers ordinary citizens are often compelled to ‘donate’ grain and cash for the cause of the Naga’s. By the end of the 50’s and 60’s many Naga’s had wearied of the violence and the disruption of their lives and longs for PEACE till this day.

An organization of Naga leaders called the NPC (Naga People’s Convention) was formed for negotiation the settlement for peace. They held meetings attended by large numbers of villagers and delegates representing all the Naga tribes. It was decided that the Naga’s should opt for statehood within the Indian Union. In 1963 the Naga Hills districts of the state of Assam was granted Statehood. From then it was to be called Nagaland. The NPC became a political party called the NNO (Naga national Organization). It formed the first Government of Nagaland after gaining majority in the elections. The Federal Government refused to settle for anything short of total independence and continued to fight the Indian Army. It also targeted the Naga’s who had led the movement of peace and statehood and attempted to assassinate leaders. There was still no peace in Nagaland. Negotiations initiated by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council with Reverend Michael Scott as mediator resulted in a cease-fire in 1964 but the basic differences between the NNC and NPC remained irreconcilable. In 1966 negotiations broke down. The cease fire had brought an end to the war like situation in the state but sporadic encounters between the NNC and Indian Army continued. In 1972 the Indian Government formally terminated the cease fire. By that time NNC had forged links with China and other insurgency movements in neighboring Burma (Myanmar) where some of them based their camps; but, dissent within the organization had grown and by 1975 a faction of the NNC living within Nagaland signed a Peace treaty known as the Shillong Accord with the Government. Another factions calling itself NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) led by Mr. Muivah, condemned the move and continues to fight for independence. Today the NNC and the NSCN have further both split within themselves into splinter groups each competing for supremacy and legitimacy as the official representative of the Naga independence movement.

Kohima: Nagaland

Kohima is a hilly town which serves as the capital of India’s north eastern border state of Nagaland. It shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is the second largest urban hub in Nagaland after Dimapur-Chumukedima.Kohima is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status alongwith Dimapur and Mokokchung.

In 1944 during World War II the Battle of Kohima along with the simultaneous Battle of Imphal was the turning point in the Burma Campaign. For the first time in South-East Asia the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies which they then retained until the end of the war.

Kohima has a large cemetery for the Allied war dead maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission.The cemetery lies on the slopes of Garrison Hill which was the scene of intense fighting.The verse carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery When you go back
tell them of us and say for their tomorrow we gave our today has become world-famous as the Kohima poem.

Tourist Attractions of Nagaland

Kohima

The state capital, Kohima, is located on National Highway No.39, at less than three hours drive from Dimapur. Kohima is a picturesque hill station perched at an altitude of 1,495 metres above sea level. It bears the symbolic memorial of the second world war, cohere the officers made supreme sacrifices, called the War Cemetery. The Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill is an important landmark, as it happens to be one of the largest cathedrals in the entire north-east and houses the biggest cross in the country, made of wood.

Nagaland State Museum
The State Museum in Kohima showcases a rare collection of articles of different tribes which refer to the history and traditions of the Nagas.

Sales Emporium
Located in the heart of Kohima, the emporium sells a variety of Naga art and handicraft items.

Zoological Park
The zoo in Kohima has some rare species of animals and birds, including the rare Blythe’s Tragopan.

Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary
Located at a distance of 37 km from Dimapur, this sanctuary has some rare species of birds.

Khonoma
Embedded in stories of bravery and gallantry, is the village of Khonoma (10 km from Kohima). The Khonoma gate sings the tragedy of British infiltration into Naga Hills.

Dzukou Valley
The Dzukou Valley lies to the south of Kohima at a distance of 30 km and at an attitude of 2438 m. Nature seems to be in her best mood, smiling, as shown by the tons of fully bloomed flowers including Lilies (white and yellow). This is one of the best trekking spots in the north-eastern region.

Japfu Peak
An ideal place for trekking and scaling Japfu is located at an altitude of 3,048 m above sea level and it provides a fabulous views of Kohima.

Mokokchung and Zunheboto, located 160 and 150 kms respectively from Kohima, are picturesque towns, worth a visit. Mokokchung is a major cultural centre of the Ao Nagas.

Festivals in Nagaland

The festivals are mostly related to agricultural operations. The important thing about the Naga festivals is their corporate character. The community as a whole participates in the celebrations. There is a definite programme stretching over a specified period in which all the village folk join.

Moatsu

Among the Aos, the most important festival is Moatsu, which is celebrated after the sowing is over. The festival last six days. On the first night of the festival sexual intercourse was forbidden. Every man was required to wear a new belt, for hanging his dao. The unmarried men received belts as presents from their girl friends, the married men got from their wives. During this occasion, the restriction relating to dress and ornaments were relaxed. People could wear even the forbidden ones according to their will.

The most important role, during the festival used to be played by the youths of the bachelor’s dormitory. Before the festival, the morung had to be repaired and cleansed. The dancing drums were also put to order by attaching new skins. On the first day of the festival, the boys belonging to the younger age-groups used to go to the jungle and collect six bundles of paired bamboo strips each. These they handed over to the morung elders, for use according to their discretion. On the second day, all the boys and grown-up males engaged themselves in clearing the village, particularly the main approaches to the village.

That night, the cows and the pigs to be slaughtered on the occasion of this festival were tied outside the morung. On the third day, the cows and the pigs would be killed. The meat was distributed among the boys of the morung and some portion was kept apart, to be given as present. In the evening, the boys would eat the meat outside the morung. Later some old men would come to the morung and would be entertained with meat and rice-beer.

When they would eat the meat, the boys would be singing songs inside the morung. On the fourth day, the people of Mongsen Khel would dance in procession; in all the streets of the village. On the fifth day, the people of Chungli Khel would dance similarly. The women were not to take any part in these dances, but at intervals they served rice-beer to the dancers. The old men also would not dance, but follow the dancer, singing songs. A drummer always accompanied the party and the people would dance to the beatings of the drum. On the sixth day, both the Khels used to dance together.

Economy of Nagaland

Nagaland has basically an agricultural economy. A great ambition of the villager is to have a bumper harvest. One of the important motivation behind the practice of head-hunting in the past, was the belief that it would ensure a good harvest.

A remarkable feature of economy, is that there are no absentee landlords and there is no class of landless peasants. The village society is so organised that the basic requirement of food, clothing and shelter are guaranteed to all the members. The population as a whole, remain gainfully employed in productive activities and there is no surplus labour. During the Kheti season, it becomes difficult to get hired labour and if at all they are available, very high wages have to be paid.

There is, however, a system of providing communal labour by forming what are called ‘field companies’ of men and women of the same age group. Every member of the company gets the benefits of company’s labour by turn. The major source of revenue for the government until recently has been the house-tax. Now it is supplemented by the sale proceeds of forest products and tax of urban commodities.

In tribal area like Nagaland, the obstacles to economic development generally arise out of the prevailing physical, social and economic conditions. The physical condition relate to the hilly terrain, dense forests and difficult communications. The social obstacles are the people’s initial apathy to any kind of innovation, lack of education and primitive methods of production. The economic difficulties are the dearth of capital, absence of marketing centres, and similar other factors.

To these we may also add the political condition arising out of the subversive activities of the underground Nagas. A planned effort in nevertheless being made to circumvent these bottlenecks and develop the area. Preliminary investigation were carried out by the National Council of Applied Economic Research, and this was followed by a detailed examination of the techno-economic data.

In education and road building, the progress has been phenomenal. The urge for education has today replaced the old craving for heads. A girl may refuse to marry an uneducated man in the same manner as, in the earlier days, she refused to accept a partner who had not taken a single head. In the field of education Nagaland is not so developed. Even though there are educated people, they prefer white-collar employment. They hesitate to take agriculture as occupation. Hence, government has to take steps to find suitable employment opportunities for them.

Flora and Fauna of Nagaland

The variations in the altitude, latitude, climate and soil have given rise to a diversity of forest types, ranging from tropical evergreen to temperate evergreen and the coniferous.

Bamboo groves are extensive everywhere. Among the common species, mention may be made of the Naga Bhe and plants such as Mesuaferrea, Careyaarbotrea and Fiscus Electica. On the hill slopes are found oak, chestnut, birch, magnolia, cherry, maple, laurel and fig. Pine trees are found at high altitude areas, varying from 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Wild vegetables, roots, fruits and tubers are found in abundance throughout Nagaland.

Nagaland constitutes a meeting ground for the sub-Himalayan, Indian, Chinese and Burmese type of fauna. Elephants, tigers, barking deer and sambar are found in different places through the state. Monkeys, jackals, wild buffaloes, wild pigs, bear and wild dogs are sparsely distributed through the Naga Hills. Among the ritually most valued species is Mithun. Other common species are lizards, toads, monitors.

The flora of a place is the result of the interplay of a combination of factors – edaphic, climatic and topographic. Being mountainous and having received heavy rainfall for many millennium in the past ages, one would expect the soil of the land of the thickest top-soil layers anywhere in the world. In many a place, the ground has been cut 100m into the mountain side without meeting the underlying rock. It is surprising to see how such a mountainous area with the heaviest of rainfall in the world coupled with the devastating method of Jhum Cultivation could still have such thick top-soil in its land.

Religion in Nagaland

Christianity is the predominant religion with 90% of its population being Christians.The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas.The largest of Asia’s churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.

Church bells echoes throughout the hills during Sunday mornings.Hindus and Muslims constitute the non-Naga populations of the state and each forms 4% of the population.A small minority, less than 2% still practise the traditional religions and are mainly concentrated in Peren and the Eastern districts.

Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group constituting more than 80% of the state’s population.Infact Nagaland is known as ‘The most Baptist State in the World’.Catholics, Revivalists and Pentacostals are the other Christian denominations in significant numbers.Catholics are found in significant numbers in parts of Wokha district and the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur

Society and Culture of Nagaland

The Nagas in Nagaland belong to the indo-mongoloid and comprise of 16 major tribes, as well as numerous subtribes, each having a specific geographic distribution.Nagas speak languages belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family. Though sharing many cultural traits, these tribes have maintained a high degree of isolation and lack cohesion as a single people.

The Aos,Konyaks, Semas, and Angamis are the largest tribe. Other tribes include the Lothas, Sangtams, Phoms, Changs, Khiamnungams, Yimchungres, Zeliangs, Chakhesangs (Chokri/Kheza), and Rengmas.The principal languages are Angami, Ao, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Sangtam, and Sema.

The Nagas have high cheek bones, almond eyes, sparkling teeth and bronzed skin set the Nagas apart. They wear colourful tribal outfits, with bamboo shields sheathed in bear skin and decorated spears. Tribe and Clan plays an important part in the life of a Naga.

Introducation of Nagaland

Nagaland is a state in northeast India. Nagaland is an unexplored destination that offers a variety of tourist attractions that will leave you spellbound. The distinctive highlight of this state is the Naga Hill that runs through it.

The state is predominantly dominated by Naga communities and hence it forms a single cultural region generally definable by common cultural and linguistic traditions . The variations in the altitude, climate and soil have given rise to a diversity of forest types , ranging from tropical evergreen.

More than 90 percent of the populations are Christians. The rest are Muslims or Hindus. The main languages spoken are Nagamese and English. The state of Nagaland, covering an area of 16,488 sq. km. is encircled by Assam in the north and west, by Burma and Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and Manipur in the South.

The state is predominantly dominated by Naga communities and hence, it forms a single cultural region generally definable by common cultural and linguistic traditions. This state was carved out of the territories that were earlier known as Naga Hills – Tuesnsang Area(NHTA), through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. It was inaugurated on 1st December, 1963 by the then President of India, Dr S. Radhakrishnan.

The state lies between 2506 deg and 2704 deg of the equator and between the longitudinal lines 93015 deg E. The Barail range extending from the south-west via North Cachar runs up to Kohima, with its highest Peak, Japvo, attaining a height of 3,048 metres.