Thus, the events of history witnessed and testified that the Rengma Nagas were already present in Rengma Hills, Assam many centuries hence. When the Ahoms forayed into the hinterlands of Assam, the Rengma Nagas were already established in the hills and had a well organized defence system against any external threats. The Rengmas had a powerful and independent Chieftainship system, where the entire inhabitants of the Rengmas Hills were under a Chieftain. Keyhan Phukon was one such powerful Chieftain who was said to have supernatural powers. It is said that he could appear at two different places at any given point of time. During the Burmese invasion of Assam in 1816, 1819 and 1821, Keyhan Rengcho protected Ahom refugees against the mighty Burmese Army and gave them shelter for many years till the Burmese were defeated by British in 1824. For this act of bravery and sacrifice, Keyhan was given the hereditary title of “Phukon” by the Ahom king, Purander Singha. On 10th Dec 1845, Capt. John Butler in his “Travels and Adventures in the Province of Assam” narrated that he met a group of Rengmas at Jenhangri (Deopani) who “In the afternoon…visited us, and presented a fowl and a little rice, for which civility we gave them a bottle of spirituous liquor which they price more than money or any other remuneration.” The Rengmas were widely known for their prowess in war and they continued to maintain this tradition until they were brought under the revenue system of the British in the 19th century
Migration of Mikirs into Rengma Hills
The original home of the Mikirs was Khasi and Jaintia Hills. When the Mikirs lived in Khasi Hills, they were the slaves of the Khasis. Mikirs slaved as the bonded labourers of the Khasi Chiefs and were ruthlessly tortured by their masters. In a usual routine, early in the morning, every Mikir had to queue before their master’s house for their daily work assignment. Thereafter, the Khasi masters with their long, pointed sharp dao (machete) would slice their slaves’ foreheads and count-Wei, Ar, Lai, Saw, San, Hynriew, Hynniew, Phra, Khyndai, Shilphew… and so on till the last slaves had been counted with blood profusely trickling down their faces. Interestingly, the Khasi labourers were counted from the blunt edge of their dao while the Mikir labourers were counted from the sharpened edge and this atrocious and inhuman act made the Mikirs’ lives miserable in Khasi Hills. While the Mikirs were still living in Khasi Hills, there lived a family in Rongpher Village, the wife’s name being Rongpharpi Rongbe and her husband Bere Resebong. During this time, the Mikirs caught a tiger cub and presented it to a Khasi Raja so as to please him and maybe get compassion from him. Soon, the Raja was in dilemma as to how the cub should be fed. The Mikirs suggested that milk be fed. Seizing another opportunity to oppress his subjects, the Raja ordered that milk for the tiger should be collected from every breast feeding Mikir women early in the morning before their own children had been fed. This humiliating process continued for years. One fateful morning, when Rongpharpi Rongbe went to collect firewood in the jungle, a milk collector came running after her and began to collect milk from her breast. In an instance of fury, she killed the milk collector with her axe whereupon she hurriedly rushed home and narrated the incident to her husband. To escape the wrath of the Raja, Rongpharpi Rongbe and her family set off from the village and moved towards the north-east direction along the banks of Kopili river through dense jungle in quest of human habitation. In those days, the Rengmas were living in Nchiben-habing (present Doboka) when this Mikir family entered the soil of Rengmas for the first time. A Rengma family working in the field was taken aback when these strange Mikir people appeared in the fields. They bore tattoo marks on their faces with blackened teeth, wore long tails made of cotton suspended up to the knee, and also prominent perforation of ears filled with silver coloured cone earrings called ‘Nothengpi’. The Mikir man was wearing a short woven jacket and the wife a short woven petticoat. The family consisted of husband and wife and a boy and girl. The family was tired and famished. Meanwhile, the youngest son was crying out of hunger and her mother asked for food from the Rengma family and tried to communicate saying An, An, An… along with sign language since they could not communicate with each other. The Rengmas understood and food was offered. The Mikirs were brought to the village and the entire village men received them with courtesy. In due time, a house was constructed in the village for the Mikir family and they were offered clothes, food and other household items. They were treated with great hospitality by the villagers and were also allotted a plot of land for cultivation.
Shortly, the youngest son died and the mother wept bitterly over the loss. The entire village comforted the bereaved family and a grave was dug to dispose off the mortal remains of the dead boy. However, the bereaved family insisted on cremating the body according to their tradition. At this, the Rengmas named the immigrant family “Mikironyu” which means “men who burn their dead.” In March 1824, when the British expeditionary force came in contact with the Rengmas at Nchiben-habing (Doboka), they asked the Rengmas, “Who are the people living next to your village?” The Rengmas then replied “Mikironyu” which the British officials, Col. Alfred Richards and Capt. MC Moraine noted down in their diaries as “Mikir.” Such was the origin of the term “Mikir”, a derivative of the word “Mikironyu” in Rengma. Thereafter, the British government used the word Mikir in all their official records but after 1970s, the Mikirs re-named themselves as “Karbi”, which means “Hill-men”, and they also re-named “Mikir Hills District” into “Karbi Anglong” on 14th October, 1976.
In due course of time, the enchanting Rengma Hills convinced the Mikir family to settle down permanently in Rengma country. Bere Resebong went back to Khasi Hills and narrated the prosperity of the land and the hospitality they received from the aboriginal people to his Kinsmen. Gradually, the entire Mikir population living in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, North-Cachar Hills and Arunachal Pradesh swooped down to Rengma Hills and occupied south and west of the hills comprising of present Dokmoka, Rongkhang, Hamren and Duar Baguri. Meanwhile, the Rengmas slowly abandoned the western hilly tracts and pushed towards the north while the Mikir immigrants came in myriad numbers and occupied the whole area abandoned by our Rengma ancestors. During the British period, the Mikir Hills with a total area of 1810 sq.km was formed encompassing Hamren area. It is bounded by Rengma Hills on the North and East, Nowgong on the west and North Cachar Hills, Khasi and Jaintia Hills on the South.
Creation of Rengma Hills
The Rengma Hills was created vide the political proceedings section 79 to 80 on 18th April 1841 with a total area of 10,434 sq.kms. When Naga Hills district was created in 1866 with its headquarters at Samagudting, Rengma Hills became a part of Naga Hills district and its administrative centre was Samagudting. Thus, the Rengma Hills and the Naga Hills district were administered under one administrative unit till 1898 even after the district headquarters was shifted to Kohima. Traditionally, the territorial boundary of Rengma Naga Hills lies between Bora Dikharu Nallah and Ban-inkhuparbat and Tarapung Nallah on the North, the Jumuna river and Diphu river on the South, course of Bora Dikharu and Hora Dikharu on the West and in the East it’s contiguous with Naga Hills.
Revenue settlement with Rengma Nagas, 1847: - In 1847, out of the 52 Rengma villages in Rengma Hills, 32 villages agreed to pay revenue of Rupee 1/- per household to British Govt. at Nowgong. Accordingly, 12 Rengma village chiefs paid their revenue into the Collector’s treasury at Nowgong and the remaining 20 chiefs paid their revenue to the treasury at Golaghat. However, against the protest from the Political Officer of Naga Hills District, the Chief Commissioner of Assam issued a notification transferring Rengma Hills from Naga Hills District to the adjoining districts of Nowgong and Sibsagar in 1898 without the consent and knowledge of the Rengma Nagas which was purely for collection of revenue and administrative convenience. To this effect, the Chief Commissioner of Assam issued a notification order for transfer vide letter No. 5646R dated Shillong the 9th December 1898. The transfer of Rengma Mouza from Naga Hills District to Nowgong and Sibsagar district was completed by Notification No. 1436P dated 11th April 1901 and Notification No. 988R, dated 24th February 1903.
Deletion of Rengma Hills from Nomenclature of United Mikir & N.C. Hills district:
After the Independence of India in 1947, both the Rengmas and the Mikirs jointly moved for the creation of a separate district comprising of Rengma Hills and Mikir Hills. The Rengma Nagas gave their fullest support, physically, financially and morally. The Rengmas were given assurances that they’d be given an equal share and opportunity on par with Mikirs if a district council was created. However, to Rengmas utter dismay, when the Autonomous District Council was declared in 1951, the nomenclature of the Council was given as United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District Council and the term Rengma Hills not included in it, thus openly betraying the Rengma community. The Rengmas did not get even a single seat reservation in the council. Thus, the entire Rengma Hills was merged with Mikir Hills and the Council excluded Rengmas from the political and physical map of Assam. The Rengmas are still deprived of government services and other benefits in the district; the original inhabitants of the Hills, the Rengma Nagas, are considered as refugees and second class citizens in their own land.
Distortion of Rengma Naga history and records
After the creation of Mikir Hills District Council, the name of the hills, peaks, rivers and places given by the Rengmas were systematically re-named into Mikirs or Assamese in order to wipe out any cultural influence of Rengma Nagas. This is tantamount to denying the existence of Rengmas in Assam.
HILLS
1. Rengma Hills into Mikir Hills.
2. Chenkenhishong to Singhason.
3. Chambajong to Lumbajong.
4. Thugwen Rencho to Bhalu Parbat.
5. Keyhan Rencho to Kala Pahar.
6. Terulashong to Tokopahar.
RIVERS
1. Tekrong into Doigrung.
2. Kulia into Kaliani.
3. Nengbu into Nambor Nadi.
4. Jenhenri into Deopani.
5. Dipfu into Diphu
6. Chongpvuri into Lumbri.
7. Hiphenri into Langroso.
8. Choterudi into Alongbeti.
9. Dikeru into Dikharu.
PLACES
1. Nchiben-habing into Doboka and Dokmoka.
2. Pore-pong into Barpung.
3. Nkhenlari into Khanari gaon.
4. Guzenlanyu into Khuwani gaon
5. Phentsero into Bepari gaon.
6. Kente phen into Borpathar.
7. Kaji Kehang into Kaziranga (means red earth)
In 1861, the British Government divided the Rengma Hills into two administrative units; East Rengma Mouza and West Rengma Mouza and appointed Rengmas as the Mouzadars of these two units who were given charge of revenue collection. These two Rengma Mouzas were created under the revenue proceedings in February 1861, under section 116-118 and such continued till the end of British rule in India. After the Independence of India, the Mikir Hills District Council took over the two Mouzas and allotted the collection of revenue to Mikirs. Moreover, the East Rengma Mouza was divided into three zones, namely:
1. Jamunapur Mouza (Diphu)
2. Borpathar Mouza
3. Sarupathar Mouza
The West Rengma Mouza was also divided into three zones:
1. Langlokso Mouza
2. Langhing Mouza
3. Langpher Mouza.
Cultural Genocide:
The entire Rengma Hills is covered with graveyards and monolith stones erected by Rengma ancestors living in the hills from time beyond memory. Thousands of abandoned Rengma Naga villages are still found on the summit of the hills, ridges and the foothills of Rengma Hills territory. It is estimated that lakhs of Rengmas have perished in the hills due to encounters with wild animals, mosquitoes, enemy raids, climate and natural forces. Heavy toll on lives often visited the country in the shape of famines and plagues. The ancestors of the Rengmas occupied the Hills through blood, sweat and toil. When the Burmese invaded their country, gallant Rengma warriors defended their country against the occupational forces and the Burmese army was forced to seek peace by offering food, clothes and weapons to the Rengmas. The presence of Rengmas in the hills always created terror for the invading enemies and the hills was secure from marauding tribes. However, when democracy invaded their country, the Rengma Nagas lost their prestige and status before an alien population. Their hard earned land is laid waste before them and they have become slaves in their own native land. Men who have never trodden the path of war, shed their sweat and blood or sacrificed their lives have become masters of the land. Ironically, it’s the democratic form of government which has recognized the refugees as the dominant group and trampled the minority who are but aboriginal people, the sons of the soil. Mikirs now grip the sharpened-shaft of a dao whereas the handle originally belonged to Rengmas. The relationship between the Rengmas and the Mikirs is akin to the Hermit’s story who (the hermit) rescued a snake from the flood but was later killed when bitten by the snake he had resuscitated.
It is the custom and tradition of the Rengmas to erect monoliths in front of his house or outside the village if a man offers a series of feasts to his village men. A man is entitled to drag a monolith during the feast of prestige by killing good numbers of cattle and pigs to be feasted upon by the villagers. Another Rengma tradition is to erect megaliths or boulders around the grave ten days after the burial of a body. Therefore, Rengmas had a thriving megalith culture where erection of monoliths and megaliths around grave-yards were signs of our rich culture in Assam. However, it is regrettable that most of the monoliths and grave-yards in Rengma Hills are being randomly demolished or destroyed by an alien people and government conspiratorially pushing to deny the existence of Rengmas in Assam and thus remove us from the pages of history. The demolition of Rengmas historical monuments and ancient remains is a direct insult and challenge to Rengmas everywhere. Article 49 (A) of the India Constitution guarantees the protection of historical state of every monuments or place, objects of artistic historical interests declared by or under law made by the parliament; and destruction, removal, disposal or exports as whatever the case may be is illegal. Rengmas shall vigorously pursue all means to book individuals who have willfully destroyed our historical monuments.
The Mikir Hills District Council came into existence in 1951 but development in Rengma Hills is still non-existent. There is no road, transport and communication. Rengmas have been groping in the dark without electricity for many centuries till date. In the entire Rengma Hills there’s not even a single dispensary, not to talk of hospitals. The Rengma Hills is also one of the highest malaria prone zones in the North-East, and many people die of malaria each year when monsoon sets in and epidemic breaks out. However, the government does not even bother to send medical teams. General backwardness, non-availability of medical facilities, lack of proper immunization programmes and life saving drugs and lack of schools has led to depopulation of Rengma Hills. The attitude of the Karbi Anglong government is “Since Rengmas are Nagas, let them rot in their backwardness.” This communal mindset and attitude has always governed their mentality. Once the Mikirs have free access to Rengma Hills taking advantage of the general backwardness of its people, the Rengma chapter in Assam would be closed once and for all.
Conclusion:
However, if the Naga people can understand the recorded history of Rengmas of Assam, tackling the contentious Nagaland-Assam border issue and other myriad issues facing Nagas today can be resolved in our favour.
Sd/-
1. Sawathang Kez-Seb, President, Rengma Hoho, HQ Tseminyu
2. Kelesha Kath, President, Rengma Mothers’ Association, HQ Tseminyu
3. Gwachung Chung, President, Rengma GBs Association, HQ Tseminyu
4. Nnolo Tep, President, Rengma Village Council Chairmen Forum, HQ Tseminyu
