On the book “Naga Society and Culture”

It is an undeniable historical fact that the Ao tribe is comprised of two distinct major groups, namely, the Jungli and the Mongsen. That these two groups are distinct from each other can be ascertained from their ancestry, difference in dialect and the difference in the traditional/customary social and political practices of the two groups.

The Jungli trace their origin to the following three progenitors, on the basis of which three clans came into existence:

1. Tongpok

2. Longpok

3. Longjakrep

Of the three, the clan descended from Tongpok is recognized as the ‘Unger’ clan.

So also, the Mongsen group is comprised of the following clans, which are also traced to different progenitors:

1.     Longchar, whose forebear is Longjendi

2.     Imchen, whose forebear is Tsungremjang

3.     Walling, whose forebear is Longmedang, etc.

In the Mongsen group, the clan recognized to be the ‘Tsunger’ (equivalent to the Jungli ‘Unger’) clan is the Longchar. Members of this clan are, therefore, also called ‘Mongsentsunger’.

The settled Ao marriage system being that of clan exogamy, marriage between two persons of the same clan is prohibited and one can validly marry a person belonging to another clan only. Since time immemorial, there is intermarriage among the different clans of Jungli and Mongsen and a person belonging to one clan may marry a person belonging to any of the other clans. For instance, a descendent of Tongpok may not marry a descendant of Tongpok, but he/she may marry another from any of the other two clans of Jungli and all the clans of Mongsen. So also is the case with all the other clans. This was and is the accepted settled customary practice of the Aos.

Despite these, attempts have been and continue to be made by a section of the Aos to club the Jungli and the Mongsen into one homogeneous group. This section, without rhyme or reason, clings to the opinion that the Mongsen is only a sub-group of the Jungli and that the different clans of the Mongsen are only sub-clans of the Jungli clans and this has been a contentious issue plaguing the peaceful coexistence between the two groups. Every now and then, like the false prophets of yore, the proponents of this preposterous opinion claiming false authority in ancient lore and history muddy the water bringing confusion among the ignorant masses and inflame passion.

One such instance is the authorship of a book titled ‘Naga Society and Culture’ by N.Talitemjen Jamir and A. Lanunungsang. In the book, under the chapter ‘The Ao Naga Marriage System’, a table is provided titled ‘Grouping of Marriagable Clans: A Model’, where the authors have arbitrarily clubbed the three Mongsen clans with two of the Jungli Clans: the Imchen clan has been placed under Group A (Tongpok) and the Longchar and Walling clans under Group B (Longpok). Clearly, the intention of the authors is to obliterate once for all the very fabric of Ao tradition and culture, and introduce bitter conflict in Ao society. Already, the intent of the two authors have borne fruit in Mekhuli village, where the Church, going against settled custom, refused to solemnize the marriage between a gentleman belonging to the Longchar clan and a lady from the Walling clan, citing the book as authority. Further ramifications are bound ensue and time is not far off when a member of the Imchen clan which is not an ‘Unger’ (Jungli) or Tsungba (Mongsen) clan may be made an Unger in a Jungli Putu Menden or may claim the post of Tsungba in the Mongsen Putu Menden against the Longchar clan.