Nagaland

Nagaland
—  State  —
Seal
Location of Nagaland in India
Map of Nagaland
Coordinates (Kohima): 25.67°N 94.12°E / 25.67; 94.12
Country	India
Established	1 December 1963
Capital	Kohima
Largest city	Dimapur
Districts	11
Government
- Governor	Nikhil Kumar
- Chief Minister	Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland People's Front)
- Legislature	Unicameral (60 seats)
- Parliamentary constituency	1
Area
- Total	16,579 km2 (6,401.2 sq mi)
Area rank	25th
Population (2011)
- Total	19,80,602
- Rank	24th
- Density	119/km2 (308.2/sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code	IN-NL
HDI	0.770 (medium)
HDI rank	4th (2005)
Literacy	63.7% (22nd)
Official languages	English
Website	nagaland.nic.in

Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur. The state of Nagaland has an area of 16,579 km² with a population of 19,80,602 (nineteen lakhs eighty thousand six hundred two) as per the 2011 census making it one of the smallest states of India. The state is mostly mountainous except those areas bordering Assam valley. Mount Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland with a height of 3,840 metres and its range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Burma. It lies between the parallels of 98 degree and 96 degree East Longitude and 26.6 degree and 27.4 degree latitude North of the Equator.

Nagaland, the 16th state of the Indian Union, was established on December 1, 1963. It is divided into eleven districts: Kohima, Phek, Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheboto, Tuensang, Mon, Dimapur, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren. It is a largely mountainous state. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland. Principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Other economy boosters are forestry, cottage industries, insurance, real estate and tourism.

History

The early history of the Nagas is the story of the customs and economic activities of the Naga tribes. The people were originally referred to as Naka in Burmese languages, which means 'people with pierced ears'^{[citation needed]}. It is also said that the word "Naga" was given by the British which actually means "Naked" (in Hindi "nanga" means naked). The British broadly classified the tribes of Manipur into "Nagas" and "Kukis". The Naga tribes had socio-economic and political links with tribes in Assam and Burma (Myanmar); even today a large population of Naga inhabits Assam. Following an invasion in 1816, the area, along with Assam, came under direct rule of Burma. This period was noted for oppressive rule and turmoil in Assam and Naga Hills. When the British East India Company took control of Assam in 1826, Britain steadily expanded its domain over modern Naga Hills. By 1892, all of the Naga Hills except the Tuensang area in the northeast was governed by the British. It was politically amalgamated into Assam. Missionaries played an important part in converting Nagaland's Naga tribes to Christianity.

Not much is known about the history before the Burmese invasion or before the Naga people were converted to Christianity.

Road to statehood

During World War I, the British recruited several hundred Nagas and sent them to France to work as aides at the front. While in Europe, the Naga, who had always been fractured by tribal differences, began to think that they should work towards becoming unified in order to protect their common interests. On their return to their homeland in 1918, they organized, and thus began the Naga nationalist movement.

After the independence of India in 1947, the area remained a part of the province of Assam. Nationalist activities arose amongst a section of the Nagas, whose Naga National Council demanded a political union of their ancestral and native groups, damaged government and civil infrastructure and attacked government officials and civilians from other states of India. The Union government sent the Indian Army in 1955, to restore order. In 1957, the government began diplomatic talks with representatives of Naga tribes, and the Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang frontier were united in a single political entity that became a Union territory, directly administered by the Central government with a large degree of autonomy. This was not satisfactory to the tribes, however, and soon agitation and violence increased across the state—included attacks on Army and government institutions, as well as civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes. In July 1960, a further political accord was reached at the Naga People's Convention to wit: that Nagaland should become a constituent and self-governing state in the Indian union. Statehood was officially granted in 1963.

Geography and climate

Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet (610 m) and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet (1,800 m). Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12,552 feet (3,826 m) is the state's highest peak; this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Burma. Rivers such as the Doyang and Diphu to the north, the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river of Burma in the southeast, dissect the entire state.

Nagaland is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland is under the cover of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests—including palms, bamboo, and rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum (cultivation), many scrub forests, high grass, reeds, and secondary dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, harts, oxen, and buffaloes thrive across the state's forests. The Great Indian Hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the state.

Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 70–100 inches (1,800–2,500 mm), concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures range from 70 °F (21 °C) to 104 °F (40 °C). In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39 °F (4 °C), but frost is common at high elevations.

Culture and religion

The 14 tribes of Nagaland are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchungrü, and Zeliang, of which the Konyaks, Angamis, Aos, Lothas, and Sumis are the largest Naga tribes. Tribe and clan traditions and loyalties play an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the tribe has its own unique designs and colours, producing shawls, shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings, and bamboo works. Naga Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn Naga reticence of the Naga people. War dances and other dances belonging to distinctive Naga tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some of these are Moatsu, Sekrenyi, Tuluni, Tokhu Emong,and Gan-ngai.

Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. The state's population is 1.988 million, out of which 90.02% are Christians. The census of 2001 recorded the state's Christian population at 1,790,349, making it, with Meghalaya and Mizoram, one of the three Christian-majority states in India and the only state where Christians form 90% of the population. The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. Huge churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung.

Nagaland is known as "the only predominantly Baptist state in the world." Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group, constituting more than 75% of the state's population, thus making it more Baptist (on a percentage basis) than Mississippi in the southern United States, where 52% of its population is Baptist.^{[citation needed]}

Roman Catholics, Revivalists, and Pentecostals are the other Christian denomination numbers. Catholics are found in significant numbers in parts of Wokha district and Kohima district as also in the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur.

7.70% of the population belonging to the non-Naga community practice Hinduism, mainly in the Dimapur and Kohima area.

Languages

Each tribe of Nagaland have its own unique language. Nagas speak 60 different dialects belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. The traditional languages do not have any script of their own. The Christian missionaries used Roman script for these languages.

In 1967, the Nagaland Assembly proclaimed English as the official language of Nagaland and is the medium for education in Nagaland.

English, Nagamese, a creole language form of Indo-Aryan Assamese and local dialects, is the most widely spoken market language. Every tribe has its own mother tongue but communicates with other tribes in Nagamese. As such Nagamese is not a mother tongue of any of the tribes; nor is it written. While English is given more preference and is often spoken widely, than Nagamese, which is not considered, the right language for the nagas.

Demography

The population of Nagaland is nearly two million people. The population mostly consists of Agriculturalist and around 75% of the population live in the rural areas. about one-third of this rural population can be considered to be below the poverty line. Most of them are more or less ignored due to the policy of the Central as well as the state government. Among the people living in urban areas one-fifth of them are below the poverty line.

Population change
Census	Pop.		%±
1951	213,000		—
1961	369,000		73.2%
1971	516,000		39.8%
1981	775,000		50.2%
1991	1,210,000		56.1%
2001	1,990,000		64.5%
2011	1,980,602		-0.5%
Source:Census of India

Administration

District map of Nagaland

See also: List of districts of Nagaland

The Governor is the constitutional head of state, representative of the President of India. He possesses largely ceremonial responsibilities apart from law and order responsibilities. The Legislative Assembly of Nagaland (Vidhan Sabha) is the real executive and legislative body of the state. The 60-member Vidhan Sabha — all elected members of legislature — forms the government executive and is led by the Chief minister. Unlike most states in India, Nagaland has been granted a great degree of state autonomy, as well as special powers and autonomy for Naga tribes to conduct their own affairs. Each tribe has a hierarchy of councils at the village, range, and tribal levels dealing with local disputes.

Districts – District Headquarters

• Dimapur District – Dimapur-Chumukedima
• Kiphire District – Kiphire
• Kohima District – Greater Kohima
• Longleng District – Longleng
• Mokokchung District – Mokokchung
• Mon District – Mon
• Peren District – Peren
• Phek District – Phek
• Tuensang District – Tuensang
• Wokha District – Greater Wokha
• Zunheboto District – Zunheboto

Urban centres

Greater cities and towns

Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Mon, Zunheboto

Urban agglomerations

There are four urban agglomeration areas with population of more than 40,000 in the state:

Rank	Metropolitan/Agglomeration Area	District	2001 Census
1	Dimapur-Chumukedima	Dimapur District	230,106
2	Greater Kohima	Kohima District	99,795
3	Mokokchung Metropolitan Area	Mokokchung District	60,161
4	Greater Wokha	Wokha District	43,089

Greater (non-district headquarter) towns

Tuli town, Naganimora, Changtongya, Tizit, Tseminyu, Bhandari, Akuluto, Pfutsero

Economy

Macro-economic trend

This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Nagaland at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian rupees.

Year	M
1980	1,027
1985	2,730
1990	6,550
1995	18,140
2000	36,790

Nagaland's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $1.4 billion in current prices.

Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland, with more than 90% of the population employed in agriculture. Crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes, and threads. However, Nagaland still depends on the import of food supplies from other states. The widespread practice of jhum, tilling, has led to soil erosion and loss of fertility, particularly in the eastern districts. Only the Angami and Chakesang tribes in the Kohima and Phek districts use terracing techniques. And most of the Aos, Lothas, and Zeliangs in Mokokchung, Wokha, and Peren districts respectively till in the many valleys of the district. Forestry is also an important source of income. Cottage industries such as weaving, woodwork, and pottery are also an important source of revenue. Tourism is important, but largely limited due to insurgency since the last five decades.

Transportation

The railway network in the state is minimal. Broad gauge lines run 7.98 miles (12.84 km), National Highway roads 227.0 miles (365.3 km), and state roads 680.1 miles (1,094.5 km). There is one airport in Dimapur and another is being planned for Kohima, the state capital.

Railways

Railway: North East Frontier Railway

• Broad gauge: 7.98 miles (12.84 km)
• Total: 7.98 miles (12.84 km)

[Data Source: N. F. Railway, CME Office, Guwahati-781011]

Highways and towns served

National highways: 227.0 miles (365.3 km)

• NH 61: Kohima, Wokha, Tseminyu, Wokha, Mokokchung, Changtongya, Tuli
• NH 39: Dimapur-Kohima-Mao-Imphal (134.2 mi/216.0 km)
• NH 36: Dimapur-Doboka-Nagonan (105.6 mi/169.9 km)
• NH 150: Kohima-Jessami via Chakhabama-Pfutsero (74.6 mi/120.1 km)
• NH 155: Mokukchung-Jessami via Tuesang-Kiphire (206.9 mi/333.0 km)

State highways: 680.1 miles (1,094.5 km)

• Chakabama–Mokokchung Via Chazuba and Zunheboto
• Kohima–Meluri via Chakhabama
• Mokokchung–Mariani
• Mokokchung–Tuensang
• Namtola–Mon
• Tuensang–Mon–Naginimora
• Tuensang–Kiphire–Meluri
• Wokha–Merapani Road

[Source: Office of The Chief Engineer, P.W.D., Kohima, Nagaland]

Airways

• Dimapur: 43.5 miles (70.0 km) from the capital

Newspapers

• Nagaland Post
• Morung Express
• Nagaland Page
• Eastern Mirror
• [NE-INDIA,regional social network,http://www.ne-india.ning.com/]

See also

• Naga people
• Northeast Indian Railways during World War II
• Battle of the Tennis Court
• Edwin W. Clark
• Indian XXXIII Corps
• Battle of Kohima
• Rani Gaidinliu
• Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 (India)

Further reading

• Stirn, Aglaja & Peter van Ham. The Hidden world of the Naga: Living Traditions in Northeast India. London: Prestel.
• Oppitz, Michael, Thomas Kaiser, Alban von Stockhausen & Marion Wettstein. 2008. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers.
• Kunz, Richard & Vibha Joshi. 2008. Naga – A Forgotten Mountain Region Rediscovered. Basel: Merian.
• Glancey, Jonathan. 2011. Nagaland: a Journey to India's Forgotten Frontier. London: Faber
• Hattaway, Paul. 2006. 'From Head Hunters To Church Planters'. Authentic Publishing
• Hutton, J. 1986. 'Report on Naga Hills' Delhi: Mittal Publication.

External links

• Official website
• Department of IT & Technical Education
• Department of Forest, Ecology, Environment and Wildlife
• Department of Horticulture
• Nagaland - Journey Through The Choir Of Clouds (Documentary)
• Nagaland travel guide from Wikitravel
• A photojournalist in Nagaland