Dr N Janbemo Humtsoe
Wokha
For most people, Wokha is known as the homeland of the Lotha Nagas; a land of hills, valleys, rivers, minerals and rich cultural traditions. Yet, hidden in the pages of British colonial records lies a remarkable chapter that deserves greater recognition. One hundred and fifty years ago, in 1876, Wokha became the British headquarters of the Naga Hills District, a distinction that transformed the history of the region, albeit for only a brief period.
On 23rd December 1874, Captain John Butler set out from Samaguting (present day Chümoukedima) towards Wokha, accompanied by a military guard of around 70 men and a number of coolies. After days of marching through the Naga Hills, they reached Wokha on 3rdJanuary 1875 (Mackenzie, The North East Frontier of India). But Wokha did not receive them with open arms. Wokha was already a large and important Naga settlement when the British expedition arrived in January 1875. Woodthorpe described it as a large village of 437 houses, stretching for about three-fourths of a mile along a narrow ridge. It was this large and independent community that the British expedition encountered when it arrived at Wokha, a village that had long governed itself and was unaccustomed to any foreign power.
According to Lieutenant R G Woodthorpe, the survey officer who accompanied the British expedition, an old headman from Akuk village who was around Wokha at that time approached the British party and expressed his friendship, but warned them not to offend Wokha. It was a telling caution. With 437 houses and hundreds of able-bodied warriors, Wokha was not a small Village. Yet, the Lothas had never before tested their strength against the military power of the British.
The following day, on 4th January, Captain Butler and his party set out towards Mount Tiyi, leaving a group of Kuki coolies behind to gather grass or thatch for the temporary camp. While they were at work, two Naga men approached them and offered to show them a better place to cut the thatches. Unaware of their true intention, one of the Kuki coolies followed. As he stopped to cut an armful, one of the men suddenly struck him from above, severing his head with a single blow. When the killing was discovered, Butler demanded that the Wokha chief hand over those responsible. When his demand was not met, Butler ordered his men to attack Wokha village, and the village was set on fire. In the fighting that followed, 18 persons were reported killed by the British.
The defeat at Wokha represented a pivotal shift in the Lothas’ perception of British authority. For the first time, they encountered the military capabilities of a power distinct from any previously known adversary. This engagement established a lasting impression of the British as a formidable force whose strength could not be ignored. Nevertheless, the Lothas stood in defence of their freedom and dignity with spears and daos, and at times, even with their bare hands. Ironically, the same Captain John Butler who had led the British expedition and played a decisive role in bringing Wokha into the British administrative sphere was mortally wounded during an attack at Pangti in December 1875 and later succumbed to his injuries on 7 January 1876.
The choice of Wokha was not accidental. After years of travelling through the hills, the British officers had come to understand the limitations of Samaguting. It was a low-lying area, closer to the plains than the hills and, in Woodthorpe’s words, “almost out of the Naga’s sight.” Wokha, on the other hand, stood well inside the Naga Hills, at a considerable elevation, and its prominent position made it visible to the surrounding tribes. From Wokha, the British believed they could reach the Angami’s, the Ao’s and the eastern Naga areas more easily, while remaining relatively close to the plains.
Captain Butler also favoured Wokha. He regarded Wokha as closer to the plains and to water carriage, making the movement of supplies and communication easier and the station more comfortable for British officers. After his extensive travels and experience in the hills, he had come to regard Wokha as the most suitable site for the future headquarters. Thus, Wokha offered what Samaguting could not: a higher and more central position within the hills, access to surrounding Naga areas, proximity to the plains, and a location from which the British hoped to extend and consolidate their administration. Thus, in 1876, Wokha became the headquarters of the Naga Hills District, replacing Samaguting. The arrangement, however, lasted only two years, as it was moved to Kohima in 1878.
One of the significant administrative steps taken by the British after establishing Wokha as the headquarters of the Naga Hills District was the appointment of Dobashis, who served as intermediaries between the British administration and the Naga people. In 1876, Ezanthung Ezung of Longsa was appointed as the first Dobashi from the Lotha area. In the same year, Sophamo Ezung of Yonchucho village, Aphamo Khuvung of Shaki, and Ramushumo Jungi of Phiro were also appointed as Dobashis (P.E. Ezung, 2023)
Today, 150 years later, this anniversary is more than just a remembrance of colonial administration. It is an opportunity to acknowledge Wokha's place in the making of modern Nagaland. Long before roads connected the hills, before district headquarters multiplied across the state, Wokha briefly stood at the center of governance for the entire Naga Hills.
150 years ago, Wokha was a very different world. Our ancestors lived freely, but within the limitations of their time, without modern education, healthcare, roads or the institutions we now have. They survived through hard work, courage, resilience and a strong sense of community. Today, Wokha has been transformed into a flourishing town, with schools, churches, institutions, and opportunities that our ancestors could hardly imagined. Wokha at 150, therefore, is not only a celebration of how far we have travelled, but also a reminder of how much is possible when generations build upon what they inherit.
Let Wokha at 150 marks not merely the completion of a historic journey, but the beginning of a new vision- a vision of a Wokha that is more prosperous, educated, connected, sustainable and full of opportunity.
KUKNALIM!
