Sano Meru
Khonoma village, located 20 km, west of Kohima supports a predominant agrarian population of about 3000 people. The village referred to as Khwünoria by the residents is estimated to be around 700 years old, and is surrounded by hills that are as high as 9,000 feet. Extensive rice terraces have been carved out of the hill slopes surrounding the village.
Khonoma’s fame comes chiefly, though not entirely, through it’s standing as a warrior village that repulsed the marauding British forces many times. When the Britishers were to leave India, the famous Simon Commission was sent to the Naga Hills (Nagaland) in January 1929, the member of the Naga Club had submitted a memorandum to the commission that the Nagas should remain sovereign. In the said memorandum there were 26 signatories out of which two were from Khonoma village namely, Nisier Meru and Dr Khosa Zinyü. This is the first official report of the Naga Independence. It also gave birth to Naga nationalist like A.Z Phizo, Khreisanisa, T Sakhrie, J.B Jasokie, Mhiesieu, General Mou to name a few. It is also the birthplace of A. Kevichüsa who was the first Naga to receive a University degree in 1924. Khonoma was also known for producing some of Nagaland’s most respected administrators, professionals and artists.
Khonoma’s historic significance and its relative proximity to the state capital and it having served as a subject matter of study in various fields, its profile is higher than that of the average Naga village for visitors to Nagaland. Thus, the Khonoma Green Village Project was initiated as part of the Government of Nagaland Project, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. It was chosen, apart from its historical context, for its natural beauty and the conservation efforts that has been initiated through the Khonoma Nature Conservation to enforce total ban of burning jungles in accordance to the Government of Nagaland’s Notification, ban of commercial logging in its vast forests, ban of hunting of wild animals and birds in its village territory and the Tragopan Sanctuary which is supposedly the only one in the world. Its Morung system (thehu/ kichüki) and its forts, which are the most prominent stone structures at a strategic point in each khel were some other attractions. Through this project Khonoma was to be set as model village for the environmental values that would improve the quality of life of the people.
This project was supposed to begin in 2003 but due to some late sanction of funds the work began only in March 2004. The Khonoma Green Village Project is to be seen as a “training ground” for the rest of Nagaland. This project is unique in every sense as it is the only one of its kind in the whole country and also said to be the only project that has gone through the Environment Impact Assessment Study done by the well known Centre for Environmental Education, India.
On the Green Village Project, this is what Charles Chasie, Convenor, Executive Committee, Khonoma Tourism Development Board (KTDB) had to say while presenting some points to consider for the Environmental Impact Assessment, “ We want Khonoma as training ground for the whole of Nagaland and North East. God has been so kind to us. We want to show gratitude by using what He has given us to assist others”
The main idea behind this project is to provide an ideal experience for the tourists on their visit to the village such as being greeted by the community leaders and stay in the village guest houses that are simple in design and similar to other houses in the community; where local residents as guides take tourists for hikes and walks to sites of the natural and cultural significance (myths and legends) and tell them about the traditional uses of resources of the area; where traditional stories about natural sites are shared; for tourist to be given chance to learn about how the local community perceives its natural settings, wild life and habitat, and to learn something about the local customs; when after a full day outdoors, tourist are treated to local cooking and have an option to buy handicrafts from villagers, with evening gatherings taking place in community houses or centers, where an exchange of views take place between the host and the guest.
This project’s main purpose has a bigger picture at hand with the aim to set this village as an example for the rest of the North East to follow- as the village with the success of the project will experience the changes that can and would lead the way to long lasting bonds between the community and their visitors and the best solution to tackle the often felt but under- articulated sense of isolation by the communities.
The project is underway and it is wearing a new look already. How it unfurls and fulfills its objectives and visions is for the future to tell, but even now, if you love adventure Khonoma, the Green Village welcomes you with open arms.
