The Naga
The early history of Nagaland witnessed socio-economic and political
links with tribal peoples of Assam and Myanmar. Even today there is a
large population of Naga people in Assam. After the invasion of
Myanmar troops in 1816, the area adjacent to Assam came under direct
rule of Myanmar. There was a lot of turmoil at that time in Assam and
Nagaland because of oppressive rule and strong arm tactics by the
authorities. The British East India Company took control of Assam in
1826 and gradually expanded their territory over modern Nagaland. By
1892, all of modern Nagaland except the Tuensang area in the northeast
was governed by the British. It was politically merged into Assam,
which in turn was for long intervals a part of the province of Bengal.
Christian missionaries contributed an important part in converting
Nagaland. Many Naga tribes embraced Christianity and particularly the
Baptist belief.
Following the independence of India in 1947, the area stayed part of
the province of Assam. Nationalist activities surfaced among Naga
tribes, who demanded a political union of their ancestral and native
groups damaged government and civil infrastructure, and attacked
government officials and Indians from other states. The Union
government sent the Indian Army in 1955, to re-establish order. In
1957, the Government began diplomatic talks with representatives of
Naga tribes, and the Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang
frontier were joined in a single political entity which became a Union
territory - directly governed by the Central government with a
substantial degree of autonomy. This wasn't acceptable to the tribes,
however, and soon turmoil and violence fermented across the state -
included attacks on Army and government institutions, as well as civil
disobedience and non-payment of taxes. In July 1960, a further
political accord was reached at the Naga People's Convention that
Nagaland should become a constituent and self-governing state in the
Indian union. Statehood was officially granted in 1963 and the first
state-level democratic elections were held in 1964. Insurgencies were
crushed in the early 1980s. Violence had re-erupted and there was
conflict between rebel factions till the late 1990s. On 25 July, 1997,
the Prime Minister, Mr. I. K.Gujral announced that the Government
after talks with Isaac-Muivah group of the National Socialist Council
of Nagaland (NSCN) declared a cease-fire and halt to operations taking
effect from 1st August, 1997 for a period of three months. The
cease-fire has since been extended.
Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the
Brahmaputra Mountains in Assam to about 2,000 feet and rise further to
the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet. Mount Saramati at a height of
12,552 feet is the state's highest peak - this is where the Naga Hills
merge with the Patkai Range in Myanmar. Rivers such as the Doyang and
Dhiku to the north, the Barak River in the southwest and the Chindwin
River of Myanmar in the southeast, crosses the entire state.
Nagaland is abundant in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland
is covered by tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests - including
palms, bamboo and rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. While
some forest areas have been cleared for cultivation many areas still
have pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species
of monkeys, sambar, deer, oxen and buffaloes inhabiting the state's
forests. The Great Indian Hornbill is one of the most famous birds
found in the state.
Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels.
Annual rainfall averages around 70-100 inches - concentrated in the
months of May to September. Temperatures range from 70 degrees to 104
degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, temperatures usually don't fall below
39 degrees Fahrenheit, but frost is common at high elevations.
The tribes of Nagaland are Lothas, Angami, Ao, Chakhesang , Chang,
Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sumi, Sangtam,
Yimchungru, Tangkhul, Zeliang of which the Angamis, Aos, Lothas and
Sumis are the largest tribes. Tribe and Clan traditions and loyalties
play an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving is a traditional
art passed on down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the major
tribes has its own unique designs and colors, producing shawls,
shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings and bamboo
works. Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn
modesty of the people. War dances and dances belonging to distinctive
tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some of these are Moatsu,
Sekrenyi, Tuluni and Tokhu Emong. Greater than 80% of the people live
in rural areas. Nagas speak 60 different dialects belonging to the
Sino-Tibetan family of languages.
Nagamese, a variant language form of Assamese and local dialects is
the most widely spoken market language. One interesting part is every
tribe has their own mother tongue language and these tribes
communicate with each other in Nagamese. As such Nagamese is not a
mother tongue of any of the tribes and nor is it a written language.
English, the official state language is widely spoken in official
circles and is the medium for education in Nagaland.
The Chin and the Naga compose about 3 % of the population of Myanmar.
Most of Naga people live in India, such as Naga Land of northwest
India, states of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. On the Myanmar side of
the border there lives a much smaller population of some 100,000
Nagas. They spread around western Sagaing Division, from Patkoi range
in north to Thaungdyat in south, from Indian border in west to River
Chindwin in east.
The Naga burn their fields and grow rice, millet, corns, taro potato
and so on for cultivation. Some fields are terrace-styled for growing
rice and taros. Men's tattoos show his village and tribe. Women do not
cover their breasts either but wear tattoos since when they are little
girls in villages of animism. At some of Naga villages under strong
influences of Christianity or Burman culture, tattoos are
disappearing. Black carpet woven with black fur of dogs with red
rectangular-shapes embroideries used to be the typical design. Today
Naga people use wool instead of dog fur. Shells used in the textiles
with different pattern show the person's social status, experience of
head-hunting and wealth. Yet now the textile with head-hunting glory
pattern are inherited to the younger generations who has never hunted
and its meaning are becoming history.
Naga's biggest festival is the New Year festival of January, called
Kaing Bi and organized by Naga festival committee who choose each
year's festival location and details under the control of central
government. All Naga tribes send a few delegates to this occasion,
thus it is the perfect opportunity to see a variety of different Naga
people at once.
At the same festival one year before, midnight of New Year's Eve, Naga
chief made a pray pouring Naga wine at the festival site. When the
pray was over, youngsters killed cattle, pigs and chickens with big
knives, which were carried away by females and cooked to be served as
Naga dishes at the festival. When festival starts, white and red Naga
wine made of rice are served in bamboo glasses. Before and after this
grand festival, various villages of Naga held their own small
gatherings with children and others.
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