Naga History - Introduction
As we all know every Nagas today want to find out and
know the real history of every tribes. So far we do not have a
written history from our forefather, all the history or story
of what we know today is through our parents. When I was a
small child, my grand mum told me about the II world
war also tale of our forefather! From my grant mum tales, I have written few story about my clans and few Liangmai's festival which we do not celebrate today.
I'm not sure but what I know is that all the Naga story/history was passed from generation to generation through mouth like my grant mum told me about my clan n 2nd world war. However, today we are lucky enough to share the story/history of Nagas here in the internet.
It is said that every individual's life is a
continuous response to events of existence as experienced or
perceived by the individual. This definition gives and dignity
to the daily struggles taking place in each one of us. It help
us to struggle with deeper understanding and better
perspective of the moral and ethical issues that are at the
heart of all struggles including our own lowly ones. From the
rich oral accounts originating from our people's legends about
their wanderings through formidable stretches of Asia to their
present homeland, our story are now being collected and
recorded by pioneering Naga authors.
NOTE: So far our site is still
in construction, if you wish to contribute your views or the
story you have heard from elders kindly contact us! No wonder
when I talk as a whole Naga's. All the story inside the page
about Zeliangrong Nagas is base on the book of "The trial from
Makuilongdi (Makhel)" by Namthuibui Pamei. 
In Manipur the
Zeliangrong (ZLR) are called as Kabuis or Kacha
Nagas. Again in Nagaland, Rong is excluded from
Zeliangrong and called as Zeliang.
If you still confused about ZLR you come to the right
place! ZLR is a collective name given to Zeme/Zemai, Liangmai,
Rongmai and Puimei people even thought "PUI" is not included
in nomenclature. The descendants of Hoi of
Makuilongdi (Makhel) were tragically divided and were
made peripheral appendages to three political entities - Manipur, Naga Hills (Nagaland) and the North
Cachar District of Assam. AT
MAKHEL:During their years at Makhel, generations from a single family grew to become clans identifying and separated from the others by naming their first grandfather's name. For convenience and practical purposes, each of these clans chose a specific contiguous site for settlement.
It is an established fact that Makhel is the original home of the Nagas. The Nagas who were settled there was first wave. they were the ancestors of the Angami, Chakhesang, Sema, Zeliangrong, Lotha, Shepoumei, Ao, Tangkhul, Rengma and Maram. They later migrate to their present territories. Historical facts point that they are one and have the same origin.
According to Jaime Saul of Gangteng, South Africa: the Agami left Makhel to settle in their own country to be followed at the later stage by ancestors of the group that was split up in the present Rengma country to form the Rengmas and the Lhota (Lothas). Later the Sema moved out of the Angami country and to the vicinity from where thet began their expansion to the east.
AT CHAWANG
PHUNING:
The people undertook a strenuous journey with their old, their
young and their women finally reached the new site for the
settlement. they divided the land for the clans under the
supervision of the elder who knew the land best. The chosen
chief was given the best area and he was to govern the
settlement. They called him Chawang. His decision was final and
biding on the people. Chawang means
king/ruler/cheif, phuning means level/flat area/plot or site.
The neighbouring brothers who are near to each other
at present like Angamis, Moa, Maram, Poumai and
Luangjang have the same root words or bear the same clan name.
To save time and space we omit Mokuilongdi.
ZEME, LIANGMAI AND
RONGMAI:
According to the oral account of the elders, Makuilongdi was
where the Liangmai, Rongmei, and Zeme were first so called.
The tribes nearest to them i,e Maram, Thangal and Sepoumei
suport these stories. There are different views how the Zeme,
Liangmai and Rongmai got their names. Base on folktales and
folk lore’s and some songs. Namgang who was the first son of
the father borne by the second wife was not legible to claim
the right of chieftainship after the death of his father. So
he left for the left side of the village and became the grand
father of the
Zeme.
Kading was the second some of the father and the first son of
the first wife who occupied the central position of the
village looking after the land of his father and became the
father of the
Liangmais.
Nrembangbe was the third son and the second son of the first
wife of the father went towards the south. He was the one who
led the people to the south and his descendants are now known
as
Romgmeis.
There are more than a dozen stories bordering of fiction and
myth told by village elders. They cannot be authenticated
since their credibility is based on the oral traditional and
therefore corrode by time by nonetheless must be
consider.
The Zeliangrong today occupy the areas
lying between 93 degrees E and 94 degree E longitude and 94.40
degrees and 24 degrees N latitude in N. C Hills of Assam;
Paren subdivision and Jalukie area of Nagaland; Tamenglong
district, Sardar hills of Senapati district, northern part
Henglep subdivision of Churachanpur district, Jiribam
subdivision of Imphal district, Imphal valley and Silchar town
and its adjoining slopes in Manipur - in area totaling about
12,000 sq. km (Manipur: 7885.65, Nagaland: 1304.97, besides
Silchare and Imphal valleys.)
Introduction > Way
Of Living | Naga
Movement
