The Origin:
The work Tikhir a compound go two words derived from Tikhir dialect “Tuhia” meaning “Dew” and “Liu” a suffix when connotes “People”. In the remote past when a group of people after years of migration from South-East Asian country via China and Myanmar entered the present Nagaland State and settled at a particular called “Tiamephu”, they observed that dew enveloped the surroundings of this entire settlement. They also had to wade through these dew covered plants and trees every now and then to attend to their daily needs and in course of time these people were called “Tükhualiu”, meaning “dew people”.
However with passage of time, when the Britishers made inroads unto the then Naga Hills and the survey of the un-administered area was done, Tukhialiu was altered to Tikhir. The neighbouring Naga tribes addresses the Tikhirs differently, e.f. Tükhemi by the Semas, Tikhirüby the Sangtams, Chillihie by the Khiamniungans, Taikhüphü by the Changs, Tükherü by the Yimchungers, etc.
The term Tikhir and Tukhialiu are synonymous, whereby Tukhialiu simply implies the original root of the term Tikhir and therefore Tukhialiu as a tribe, since time immemorial, continued to exist/prevail till the early 19th century when the Britishers were found wanting to correctly spell and pronounce the word “Tukhialiu” and therefore simplified and coined the term Tikhir. Since then it came to be used as the official name of the Tribe in all areas of records and references.
From an objective historical perspective, the history of the Nagas, specifically on the ancient past is shrouded in mystery. However, from every available source it is inferable that the entire Nagas migrated from different places of South-East Asian countries at one point of time or the other for the simple reason that Nagas share a common cultural and physical affinity with those of South-East Asian countries. The Tikhir Nagas, also a component of the Naga family/race, migrated since the earliest times from South-East Asian countries, is categorized in the second group as available sources indicate. This second group, after years of migration from one place to other, after crossing Tunai (Chindwin) river, finally entered the western side of the present Nagaland through the Patkai range. This second migrating wave/Group consisted of the tribes e.g. Ao, Chang, Chirr, Khiamniungan, Makhor, Pochury and Tikhir.
After crossing Myanmar through the Patkai range the Tikhir first settled at a place called “Taimephu” which simply means “THE HANGING BRIDGE”. This place is located between the dual rivers of Zingki and Yayi under Shamator Sub-Division which is about 5 kms away South-West of Waphur village. Another coeval settlement associated with TIkhir is located in the historical site at Tongkhin. Legends say that Tikhir originated/walked out of this stone cave at Tongkhin. Nevertheless, the remnants and finds of evidence of material culture like pottery, beads, ornaments, etc at Tongkhin definitely justifies that in a remote post Tikhirs inhabited this place. This place is on a hillock 1 km South of Anatongre Village under Kiphire Dist.
At Taimephü, there witnessed a rapid and an enormous increase in household and population because of which a sizable group left this place to establish another Village nearby called Tukhiakiupong meaning “Village of the dew”. Again another group from this same village established a village called “Powong” having 999 household, below the present Sukiur Village, so also wongpong presently known as Waphur was established. This process of germination of Tikhir villages went on for centuries and as a result a good number of villages presently under Shamator and Thonoknyu sprouted tracing its pedigrees to Taimephu.
At Tongkhin, many groups in waves, at one point or the other left this place and began to establish new villages towards the far south of Tongkhin. Since Tongkhin offers a vivid picturesque visual profile of a vast area to the west and south, it is believed that a group selected some particular location from here and established villages. So this place was used as viewing point for selecting locations for establishing new villages. With the passage of time many villages were established and presently the majority of the villages under Kiusam and Pungro areas trace its origin to Tongkhin,
During this process of expansion and settlement of new villages many centuries back, trade was established between the neighboring tribes villages, especially the Yimchungers and Khimniungans, and friendship between individuals were formed. Due to this friendship, many Yimchungers and Khimniungans came to live in Tikhir Village for various reasons like disputes or poverty in their native village or because of inter marriage. Like wise many Tikhirs joined the Yimchungers and Khiamniungans villages. These Tikhirs living the in the villages of the other tribes have joined that society of their own free will. All the Chirrs and Makhoris of Pungro area traces their origin to Tongkhin and Taimiphu. So all the villages under Pungro area are inhabited by a mixture of the Tikhirs, Chirrs and Makhoris.
The ancestral domain of Tikhir area is contiguous stretching from Shamator-Lengkong in the north till Saramati peak in the south-east sector. It is bordered by Myanmar in the east, Yimchungers in the North, Khiamniungans in the north-east, Sangtams in the west and the Pochurys in the South.
Yutsu N Tikhir, Former President (TTC)
Cum-Advisor Board, chairman
