Part 1: Introduction - Asalu, the long lost capital of Naga Hills, forgotten and its heritage left to be yet discovered. Although the British fondly mentioned it as the adobe for Ursula Graham Bowers, a lady of steel and dynamic in Character, whose information helped the allied troops to defend the borders from the Japanese Army, under the command of General Sato, or as mentioned by Arthur Swindson, a mean, heartless soldier, who would rather die then face defeat, for he was a true Samurai.
Asalu, a hamlet atop a hill lost in time, and forgotten by the Assamese as well as their Naga brothers, still the Nzeme Nagas hold on to a promise which has never been kept, by both the British as well as India, a promise which Nagaland has failed to take care off and despised y the Ahoms, as a race that ate any meat that came to them, a promise we all call “hope.”
Part 2: Yes, we are told great tales and folklores and the tribe that revolted against the British under a father like Jadenong and Rani Gaidinliu, we worship and boast of their deeds and sacrifice, but not a word from where they hailed from. Asalu and Magalung, saw the birth and death of National heroes even prior to the Indian Independence, but the hamlet once visited, was never again sought after, for it feels like the time has stopped, as the village still remains the same, untouched and forgotten.
Now Christianity being the new religion for they were animistic and the mysticism of black magic and satanic prowess was what they were bounded with, is now a place full of happiness and simple living. Unfortunately it is difficult to forget the Nzeme Nagas and their plight, for schools are more of a cowshed and electricity is still a dream, a vision. The area of Asalu with its satellite villages such as Laisong and Magalung, has been conveniently tucked away as a region under the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Body, by the Assam Government and the only place for trade is a small railway station below the foothills called Mahor, where till today, broad gauge train tracks are not constructed and upgraded, yet the Indian Government talks about a train route that will run right through from Assam, Silchar and Manipur and only a few kilometers under the state boundary of Nagaland. The Railway department is still like its Union Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, a big joke.
Zeme or Zeme Nagas were spread right through to Half Long and Jatinga the place where Zeme ancestors prayed at and worshiped their Gods, for it was a place where the birds committed suicide. Now we may have the logical explanation for such uncanny behavior, but try telling that to the Zeme Nagas of NC Hills, for that is all they have left to hold on to, their heritage and belief.
The structure of an old fort like court house still remains, although situated deep in the jungles now, but the British with their architectural abilities and gifting, has kept the walls still standing and a nostalgic aroma of the British still remains. The Battle of Kohima has been recorded in History and the war cemetery visited by both the Allied troops as well as the Japanese, to pray for the last time for a grand father, father or husband lost, but again there is no mention of Asalu, the old capital of Naga Hills.
Part 3: History puts it as the gateway for the British to overcome the fierce Khonoma, Jotsoma and Mezoma warriors, under the leadership of the British officers like Col. Tandy (whose maps) are still used for disputes due to its accuracy) and Captain Jenkins, entered the Naga Hills from this point, moving right up to Kohima and setting up a post there. The capital was still not Kohima, but had been shifted from Asalu to Samaguting, which we now call Chumukedima or the old word being Nichugarh – the house below. It was much later that the Capital was at long last shifted to Kohima, now the Capital of Nagaland. Ursula, the great adventurer married a British officer at Magalung and later died at London, but not before naming their daughter, in Zeme Dialect, Hiyangile, and witting out her last wish for his worldly possessions being sold and given to the Villagers she loved so much, and where her daughter had visited many a times.
Asalu or Asaloo, owes nothing to the Nagas nor the Assamese, for they have learned to survive and fend for themselves, since they had been forgotten by the Nagaland Government and shunned by the Assam Government. Sad it may be and poor they may be, the people of Asalu have not lost their pride and prestige and their heritage can never be diminished nor bought, for it is priceless and too valuable to own. After a brief visit with the Daughter of late Ursula Graham now late Ursula Graham Bowers, I understand the value of my heritage and culture, for a thousand races may come and go, but ones heritage and culture can never be forgotten. A heritage, much written by the British historians, and later destroyed by the people of Sibsagar, Assam and the Bureaucrats at Kohima, so as to hide the truth, but unfortunately no one can dismiss the fact the a place called Asalu still exists, for the British maps of pre-Independence and then the Indian maps of post – Independence do not lie.
Conclusion: In conclusion, we speak of development and Communitization and the most recent being the Intangki Reserve on the issue of who owns it, but the truth lies right there under our very noses, a small hamlet called Asalu. Once the people of Nagaland understand and realize the ownership of Asalu, then Intangki Reserve will follow suit. I have only one thing to say to the Student bodies and the Tribal HOHO’s, claim Asalu and the rest will be yours. The Politicians will never go deep into history for they gain nothing, but as a Zeme, we have everything to lose, once we have lost our heritage, our history and our culture, what is there to live for- nothing. Is this what we have to pass over to the next generation? I hope not.
The End.
Produced and written by
Kedi Haralu
