Phek Village | August 29 : Phek Village is literally named outside the derivative of its original meaning. The name has various reasons behind it following the British occupation of the land approximately six decades back since the formation of the village by the pioneers.
“Phek’ was officially named by the British for their convenience of spelling and pronunciation. Mention maybe made that the original bearing of the Village was “Chekrezdemi”, meaning ‘people of the sentry builders’. According to the elders from the village, before the occupation of the British, Chakhesang were under the administration of the Angami tribe and subsequently named after Eastern Angami as “Phekrekedzema”.
Though spoken languages differed, there wasn’t much hardship in communication, however under administration sector; places were usually named after the Angami word where Chekrezdemi was better called as “Phekrekedzema” possessing the same meaning, and in the meantime the British shortened the name Phekrekedzema to Phek for their convenience which is used in all forms till today.
Indeed ‘Chekre’ means a platform built upward for a sentry to guard the areas or a common platform for the people to have a get together or a meting etc. ‘Dzemi’ means builder of the so called platform.
During head hunting days, it was a compulsion for every village to maintain a local sentry on rotation basis so as to keep the village under safe from the clutches of enemy. Phek Village situated on a valley type mountain was reportedly regarded a safe place to live in. Having its four main entrance gate, Chekre (sentry post) was built up in all the existing gates. It is to be noted that all the four entrance gates left unmaintained for decades, the entire entrance gates were re-construct in its original form during the Phek Students’ Union (PSU) golden Jubilee celebration during January 2009.
With the passage of almost two decades, following the invasion of gospel news arriving on its land it was not regularly maintained, and till date leaving the youngsters unaware of the same. It is to be noted that, following the rumours of “Matumi” Child kidnappers moving within the vicinity of the region in the past one and half year, Phek Village is said to be retrospecting its legacy, to maintain the forefather’s practice and thereby enabling the few researchers to enquire and in the meantime paving way for the revival of this culture.
Also, Phek Village, being the headquarter village is on the verge of expanding its jurisdiction one seventh of its original area within a period of four to five years.
“Phek’ was officially named by the British for their convenience of spelling and pronunciation. Mention maybe made that the original bearing of the Village was “Chekrezdemi”, meaning ‘people of the sentry builders’. According to the elders from the village, before the occupation of the British, Chakhesang were under the administration of the Angami tribe and subsequently named after Eastern Angami as “Phekrekedzema”.
Though spoken languages differed, there wasn’t much hardship in communication, however under administration sector; places were usually named after the Angami word where Chekrezdemi was better called as “Phekrekedzema” possessing the same meaning, and in the meantime the British shortened the name Phekrekedzema to Phek for their convenience which is used in all forms till today.
Indeed ‘Chekre’ means a platform built upward for a sentry to guard the areas or a common platform for the people to have a get together or a meting etc. ‘Dzemi’ means builder of the so called platform.
During head hunting days, it was a compulsion for every village to maintain a local sentry on rotation basis so as to keep the village under safe from the clutches of enemy. Phek Village situated on a valley type mountain was reportedly regarded a safe place to live in. Having its four main entrance gate, Chekre (sentry post) was built up in all the existing gates. It is to be noted that all the four entrance gates left unmaintained for decades, the entire entrance gates were re-construct in its original form during the Phek Students’ Union (PSU) golden Jubilee celebration during January 2009.
With the passage of almost two decades, following the invasion of gospel news arriving on its land it was not regularly maintained, and till date leaving the youngsters unaware of the same. It is to be noted that, following the rumours of “Matumi” Child kidnappers moving within the vicinity of the region in the past one and half year, Phek Village is said to be retrospecting its legacy, to maintain the forefather’s practice and thereby enabling the few researchers to enquire and in the meantime paving way for the revival of this culture.
Also, Phek Village, being the headquarter village is on the verge of expanding its jurisdiction one seventh of its original area within a period of four to five years.
