We strongly condemn the derogatory remarks on the Zeliangrong Tribe and personalised inflictions on the President of the Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland raised by the Youth Organisation of WSH. It is an open attack on the solidarity of Naga fraternity and brotherhood. It is a matter of great surprise that none of the elders from other tribal Hohos expressed their discontentment on such an unethical statement.
WSYF and ZYO entering into a deadlock over the issue or Zeliangrong Baudi and WSH shouting at each other do not change the realities. Rongmei from Manipur or Assam or Zeme or Liangmai for that reason, can through our customs settle anywhere in the Zeliangrong area. The status of Zeliangrong as a sub-tribe comes into question if we have borrowed the traditions of other tribes or if our rituals and kinship pattern, other customs and practices are not distinct from each other. Don’t let ignorance get hold of you like it did with your predecessors, you may look at yourself for self-realisation. JH Hutton had clearly mentioned in his monograph on Sema Nagas that most of the attire and customs have been borrowed from eastern and southern Angamis or Lothas or the Aos. Unlike you, we proudly claim that we do not have any such borrowings in our traditions and customs. We are a cohesive tribe with distinctive identity.
As President of the Zeliangrong Baudi, Shri. K Akhang endeavoured to curtail conflicts and apply rationale approach and sensibility in resolving indifferences and disputes. Under certain situation if any unprecedented violence occurs, it is the collective responsibility of the elders from both sides to keep a check so that it’s people do not get strayed and inflate the situation.
How we wish that a little more wisdom and sensibility prevails among our counterparts within the Sema Tribe! We can address the issues contextually, as we had done before. In this course, the sentiments of each other may be hurt. But the perception on the issue is more important than the emotional inflictions that may at times inadvertently creep in, in a subdued manner or may be prominent. The statement of the Western Sumi Youths can only be seen as a desperate attempt to disintegrate the Zeliangrong people in particular and Nagas in general.
When the term Naga itself is not coined by the Nagas and when there is no agreement, we do not want to go by the earliest records of the Epic period, or of Kalidasa as ‘Nagadhi’ or rulers of the Himalayas. The mistaken identities or terminologies cannot be construed as a base of argument. Only anthropological evidences, customs, rituals and other homologies of characteristics alone matter.
We urge the larger body of the respectable Sumi Hoho and the elders to teach its subordinate organisation (WSH) on the history of the Nagas. Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei are from the single ancestral stalk. We have a contiguous territorial boundary that encompasses three states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. This is by inheritance, perpetual succession and lineage. Every Zeliangrong has the right to settle anywhere in our territory as per our customs and traditions. Therefore, no other tribe can raise a finger on Shri. K Akhang to question his place of origin leaves alone WSYF. Only Zeliangrongs have the right to question any of its community members.
Shri. K Akhang is the GB of Samjiuram Village. Earlier, he was the Village Council Chairman chosen by the people. He was elected as the President of the Zeliangrong Baudi, Nagaland as per its constitution, the apex body of the Zeliangrong tribe of Nagaland from Peren District that represents the tribe in the Naga Hoho. We have no doubts about the paternity of Shri. Akhang. He is a Zeliangrong and a born Naga. Like our Chakesang or Pochuri brothers, Zeliangrong is one cohesive tribe.
Before making any statement, younger generations should have understanding on one’s own Tribe and other tribes as well. To challenge each other by uttering derogatory words without understanding its meaning and its impact will bring shame on the Nagas in totality. The Press and Electronic Media have Web Portals and one has to think of the perceptions and signals that the outside world gets about the Nagas.
The esteemed Sumi Hoho should ask the youth to maintain the dignity and the esteem of Sema Community and not to make such derogatory statements. Let us not dig out at each other’s past. We have never insulted any of the Sumi Hoho leaders. When the law is taking its course, let us maintain peace. Always remember that we all are to face each other on many other public platforms. It is not an individual that the Western Sumi youth have insulted, but it is an insult to the customary institution of all Nagas including Sumi Hoho itself and the Naga Hoho. It is nothing but spitting on one’s own face.
Media Cell
Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland
WSYF and ZYO entering into a deadlock over the issue or Zeliangrong Baudi and WSH shouting at each other do not change the realities. Rongmei from Manipur or Assam or Zeme or Liangmai for that reason, can through our customs settle anywhere in the Zeliangrong area. The status of Zeliangrong as a sub-tribe comes into question if we have borrowed the traditions of other tribes or if our rituals and kinship pattern, other customs and practices are not distinct from each other. Don’t let ignorance get hold of you like it did with your predecessors, you may look at yourself for self-realisation. JH Hutton had clearly mentioned in his monograph on Sema Nagas that most of the attire and customs have been borrowed from eastern and southern Angamis or Lothas or the Aos. Unlike you, we proudly claim that we do not have any such borrowings in our traditions and customs. We are a cohesive tribe with distinctive identity.
As President of the Zeliangrong Baudi, Shri. K Akhang endeavoured to curtail conflicts and apply rationale approach and sensibility in resolving indifferences and disputes. Under certain situation if any unprecedented violence occurs, it is the collective responsibility of the elders from both sides to keep a check so that it’s people do not get strayed and inflate the situation.
How we wish that a little more wisdom and sensibility prevails among our counterparts within the Sema Tribe! We can address the issues contextually, as we had done before. In this course, the sentiments of each other may be hurt. But the perception on the issue is more important than the emotional inflictions that may at times inadvertently creep in, in a subdued manner or may be prominent. The statement of the Western Sumi Youths can only be seen as a desperate attempt to disintegrate the Zeliangrong people in particular and Nagas in general.
When the term Naga itself is not coined by the Nagas and when there is no agreement, we do not want to go by the earliest records of the Epic period, or of Kalidasa as ‘Nagadhi’ or rulers of the Himalayas. The mistaken identities or terminologies cannot be construed as a base of argument. Only anthropological evidences, customs, rituals and other homologies of characteristics alone matter.
We urge the larger body of the respectable Sumi Hoho and the elders to teach its subordinate organisation (WSH) on the history of the Nagas. Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei are from the single ancestral stalk. We have a contiguous territorial boundary that encompasses three states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. This is by inheritance, perpetual succession and lineage. Every Zeliangrong has the right to settle anywhere in our territory as per our customs and traditions. Therefore, no other tribe can raise a finger on Shri. K Akhang to question his place of origin leaves alone WSYF. Only Zeliangrongs have the right to question any of its community members.
Shri. K Akhang is the GB of Samjiuram Village. Earlier, he was the Village Council Chairman chosen by the people. He was elected as the President of the Zeliangrong Baudi, Nagaland as per its constitution, the apex body of the Zeliangrong tribe of Nagaland from Peren District that represents the tribe in the Naga Hoho. We have no doubts about the paternity of Shri. Akhang. He is a Zeliangrong and a born Naga. Like our Chakesang or Pochuri brothers, Zeliangrong is one cohesive tribe.
Before making any statement, younger generations should have understanding on one’s own Tribe and other tribes as well. To challenge each other by uttering derogatory words without understanding its meaning and its impact will bring shame on the Nagas in totality. The Press and Electronic Media have Web Portals and one has to think of the perceptions and signals that the outside world gets about the Nagas.
The esteemed Sumi Hoho should ask the youth to maintain the dignity and the esteem of Sema Community and not to make such derogatory statements. Let us not dig out at each other’s past. We have never insulted any of the Sumi Hoho leaders. When the law is taking its course, let us maintain peace. Always remember that we all are to face each other on many other public platforms. It is not an individual that the Western Sumi youth have insulted, but it is an insult to the customary institution of all Nagas including Sumi Hoho itself and the Naga Hoho. It is nothing but spitting on one’s own face.
Media Cell
Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland
