T. A. Rongmei
Background
It is considered pertinent to elucidate the chronology of natural phenomena and the evolution of languages that had caused to emerge different racial beings, scattered over the face of the earth, every one according to his language, according to their families, tribes or ethnic groups into their nations. The Almighty God has His purpose to multiply the people and fill the earth. Therefore, He scattered all racial beings over the faces of all the earth.
A brief account of Migration of the Nagas
Nagas belong to the Sino-Mongoloid race. In olden days, they spoke one language. In course of migration, different languages started to evolve according to their families and the tribes as they dispersed and settled down in different places according to their choice. The Naga ancestors who were the settlers of the southern Himalayan region, the Southeast part of the main land of China left their habitation and proceeded towards another territory through the corridor of the Northwestern part of Burma (Myanmar) where they found the virgin land which no humankind had ever occupied. The territory spreads to the western Kachin land on the East, China on the north, Assam (India) on the West and Lushai Hills and Chin Hills on the South.
Separation of the Families/tribes and the territories
The branches of the Naga family tree, separated from one another according to the languages they speak. They departed from one another and went to different directions in search of suitable land for greener pastures.
The first group incourse of their journey they found a land which no one had ever occupied. They settled down in a Hilly region of Patkai and Saramati Ranges, extending to the Huakum Valley along the line of the River Chinwin. This group comprising of the following tribes; viz., the Chirr, the Cheril, the Heimit, theHtangan, the Khaklak, the Kengu, theKaihe, theLainung, the Makuri, the Konyak, the Khainungan, the Kayo, the Pakang, the Phelongri, the Phango, the Phangkam, the Pangmi, the Pangu, the Rangpan, the Rasit, the Saplo, the Shangphri, the Sira, the Somi, the Yimchunger, the Wancho, the Tansa, the Singpho, the Sangtam, the Pochuri, the Phom, the Hewa, the Chang, and the Tikhir. The Territory they occupied had been divided inti seven districts viz. Tirap, Changlang, Mon, Kephire, Tuensang, Longlen and Saigan division (Myanmar). The other group had settled down on the Eastern part of the River Chinwin, adjoining to the Kachin region.
The second group further journeyed towards the southern direction, following the River Chinwin and finally settled down in the Arakan hills and its coastal land. The most significant event during their stay in the Arakan Coastal Land was their association with the Myanmar (Burmese). The Nagas of those days who settled down near the sea coast enjoyed collection of the variety of sea creatures. They made different ornaments out of the collection, such as ear rings, necklaces, precious stones etc. Ear rings were used without gender differences. The Burmese at that time called them ‘NAKA’ which means who pierced their ears’ and use earrings. Since then the world begun to know the Naga as a people. There were many other versions, from different writers about the nomenclature of the Naga. But those versions were not based on the facts according to oral tradition handed down from the forefathers.
The fact that, the foreign writers depended only on the account of unauthenticated informers who were based on their own limited knowledge on the entity of the Naga.
It cannot be ascertainedof the period during which they lived in the Arakan coastal land (Arakan Hills).However, during their occupation of the land in Arakan, there had been many historical events, which had shaped the tradition and culture of the Naga people. The Burmese (Myanmars) were so good and as such nothing of their hostility were unknown .Nevertheless, in coursed of political transition some of the Nagas who have been living in part of northwest of Burma now known as Sagain Division had been treated as unrecognized people without acknowledging their inherent identity. That was why the ancient relationship between Burmese and the Nagas had been in a state of political turmoil. It is told that our Fore-fathers who were living in the coastal land used to face certain strange environment. The sea animals were dangerous. They preyed on the people. Over and above, the strange waves of the sea swallowed many lives. They therefore decided to leave the place and took the other course of migration. They divided into two groups. A bigger group followed the route towards Chin Hills and the other smaller group, the (Rongmei) proceeded towards the Lushai Hills.
The bigger group was again divided into two parties. One party comprising of the following tribes; viz., the Tangkhul, the Anal, the Majol, the Maring, the Lamkang, the Monsang, the Tarao, the Koireng etc., who stayed over the Hills and the plain of the Eastern region of Manipur now known as Chandel District and Ukhrul District, Manipur and some area in the Somra, Myanmar.
The other party went further towards the north eastern part of Manipur and settled down at Makhel Kaibi. They then dispersed again from there and some of them went towards the north direction and stayed over at Kheza Khenoma and dispersed further from there. This group consisting of the following tribes; viz., the Angami, the Ao, the Lotha, the Sema, the Chakesang, the Rengma etc., who settled down and occupied the following Districts namely Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Wokha, Phek, Kohima and Dimapur in the present state of Nagaland.
The group who stayed over the Makhel and its surroundings was comprised of the following tribes; viz., the Mao, the Poumai, the Maram, the Thangal etc. the area which is now in Senapati District of Manipur.
A group of the Kacha Naga known as the Zeme and the Liangmai who were also departed from the Makhel Kaibi went to the western side of the Mao-Maram area. One party went to the Ze and then they established a parental village called Zeme. These people who lived and expanded their territory came to be known as the Zeme derived from the name of the Vilage‘ZE’. The Zemes had settled down and occupied the whole Barrial range covering Peren District now in Nagaland and Kacha Naga Hills with a part of N.C Hills Assam and upper Tamenglong District, Manipur.
Another party who went to the southern hill ranges went to the big hill known as Longdimai which later on came to be known as Makui Longdi (Tiger Hill) and they settled down there. These people came to be known as Liangmai (derived from the word ‘Longdimai’). The Liangmai’s had expanded and occupied the whole ranges of Koubru Hills. Both the Zeme and the Liangmai, in course of their further migration went down to the southern part of the adjoining hills where they finally met the Rongmei’s and becomethe Rongmeiby amalgamating themselves. However the Rongmeis amalgamated from the Zeme and the Liangmai are still now holding the name of their clans unchanged. Therefore, there are many mixtures of the Zeme and the Liangmai in the Rongmei society, and as a result of which there is a close linguistic affinity among the three Tribes.
However, the question of identity of the three Tribes; the Rongmei, the Zeme, the Liangmai can never be compromised on the pretext of close linguistic affinity.
The smaller group that proceeded towards the Lushai Hills known as the Rongmei ‘which had been duly in recognition by the Lushai according to their own terminology, ‘Mi means people, Ruang means the Rongmei’.It is to be noted that in course of further journey of migration They were the most adventurous tribe of the Nagas. They decided to proceed towards northern direction, following Lushai Hills. They established their villages and settled down on the eastern ranges of the Lushai Hills where no human habitation was knownat that time. The living evidences, such as the stone monument, the stone plates erected and built by the Heroes of the Rongmei are stillpreserved and displayed in places like MiruangVeng, MiruangLamlianpui which are now in the Mizoram State. But then as luck would have it, there had been some Lushais, living adjacent to the Chin Hills were not happy with settlement of the Rongmei’s by their side. They tried to chase out the Rongmei and occupy the whole area of the land whichwas under the possession of the Rongmei. The Rongmei fought them back in defense against their land. Finally both the communities agreed upon to divide and demarcate the territory. The final accord was settled with the south for the Lushai and the north for the Rongmei. A line was drawn by the River Tuival (Duigai). After the dispute was settled mutually, the Rongmei begun to move towards the northern directionand occupied the whole areas, bordering with the Cachar Valley (Assam) on the West, the Imphal Valley (Manipur) on the East, the Kacha Naga Hills (Nagaland) on the North and then Lushai Hills (Mizoram) on the South.
Mention may be made here with that there are two minor tribes, namely the Inpui (Puimei) and the Cheru living inclusively within the territory of the Rongmei. They are also part and partial of the Rongmei Community even though they have no close linguistic affinity like that of the Zeme and the Liangmai.
Relevant references:-
(1) A discussion on the Nagas (S.E Peal, The Nags and Neighbouring Tribes J.A.I. 1874, Vol. III PP476-8
(2) White Paper by Naga Hoho.
(3) IsakChishiSwu’s Naga Migration.
(4) Oral information handed down from Forefathers.
