Nagaland

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Nagaland

Nagaland (Hindi: नागालैंड) is the farthest-lying state in northeast India. It borders the states of Assam and Manipur to the west, Arunachal Pradesh to the northeast, and Myanmar to the east. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur. With a population of nearly two million people, it has a total area of 16,579 km - making it one of the smallest states of India.

History

The early history of Nagaland is largely undocumented and unknown. The chronicles of the neighboring kingdom of Ahom in Assam notes the customs, economic activities of the Naga tribes. The Naga tribes had socio-economic and political links with tribes in Assam and 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 Myanmar. This period was noted for the oppressive rule and turmoil in Assam and Nagaland. When the British East India Company took control of Assam in 1826, they steadily expanded their domain over modern Nagaland. By 1892, all of modern Nagaland except the Tuensang area in the northeast was governed by the British. It was politically amalgamated into Assam, which in turn was for long periods a part of the province of Bengal. The British noted that the Naga tribes were often engaged in internecine warfare, and the practice of head-hunting - decaptitating captives and civilians for religious ceremonies. The British stopped inter-tribal conflicts, and also put an end to the practice of head-hunting by the use of force and diplomacy. But it was largely due to the work of Christian missionaries in the area that transformed Nagaland. Many Naga tribes embraced Christianity, in particular the Baptist faith. A small group of tribes continue to practise the animist religious traditions that existed prior to the arrival of the British.

After the independence of India in 1947, the area remained a part of the province of Assam. Nationalist activities arose amongst Naga tribes, who demanded a political union of their ancestral and native areas, and greater autonomy and self-government. Extremists demanded secession from India altogether. Sectarian and political violence increased throughout the state - extremist groups damaged government and civil infrastructure, and attacked government officials and Indians from other states. 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 - methods of protest 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 that Nagaland should become a constituent and self-governing state in the Indian union. Statehood was officially granted in 1963 and the first state-level democratic elections were held in 1964.

Geography and climate

Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet. Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12,552 feet above sea level is the state's highest peak - this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Myanmar. Rivers such as the Doyang and Dhiku to the north, the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river of Myanmar 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 vegetation has arisen. Populations of rhinoceroses, foxes, civet cats, tigers, wild dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, deers, 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 feet - concentrated in the months of May to September. Average temperatures decrease with elevation - summer temperatures range from 70 degrees to 104 degrees fahrenheit. In winter, temperatures don't generally drop below 39 degrees fahrenheit, but frost is common at high elevations.

Culture and people

The Aos, Konyaks, Semas, and Angamis are the largest Naga tribes. Other tribes include the Lothas, Sangtams, Phoms, Changs, Khiamnyungans, Yimchungres, Zeliangs, Chakhesangs (Chokri/Kheza), and Rengmas. The principal languages are Angami, Ao, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Sangtam, and Sema. The Nagas' typical characteristics include high cheek bones, almond eyes, sparkling teeth and bronzed skin. They wear colourful tribal outfits, with bamboo shields sheathed in bear skin and decorated spears. Tribe and Clan traditions and loyalties plays an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the major tribes has its own unique designs and colours, producing shawls, hand-woven shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings and bamboo works. Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn reticence of the people. War dances and dances belonging to distinctive tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some of the important festivals are Moatsu, Sekrenyi, Tuluni and Tokhu Emong. More than 80% of the people of Nagaland live in rural areas. Nagas lack a common written language, and speak 60 different dialects belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Small segments of the population converse in Assamese, while English, the official state language is widely spoken. Nagamese, a primitive market language, is sometimes used. However, Nagamese is not a written language.

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. The census of 2001 recorded the state's Christian population at 1,790,349 (90.02% of the state's population), making it 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. The largest of Asia's churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung. Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group constituting more than 80% of the state's population. In fact Nagaland is known as 'The most Baptist State in the World'. Catholics, Revivalists and Pentecostals are the other Christian denominations in significant numbers. Catholics are found in significant numbers in parts of Wokha district as also in the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur. Hindus and Muslims constitute the non-Naga populations of the state and form 7.7% and 1.8% of the population. A small minority, less than 0.3% still practise the traditional religions and are mainly concentrated in Peren and the Eastern districts.

Administration

The Governor of Nagaland is the constitutional head of state, representative of the President of India. He possesses largely ceremonial responsibilities. A 60-member Vidhan Sabha is the state legislature. A council of ministers, led by a Chief minister - all elected members of legislature - forms the government executive. Unlike most Indian states, 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. A Naga Tribunal hears appeals from cases handled by tribal authorities. There is a special regional council for the Tuensang district, elected by the tribes of the area.

Dimapur-Chumukedima - 220,000
Greater Kohima - 93,000
Alichen-Mokokchung-DEF - 62,000
Wokha - 37,000
Tuensang - 30,000

Districts

Major Urban centres

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	Gross State Domestic Product
1980	1,190
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 within it. Principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. However, Nagaland still depends on the import of food supplies from other states. The widespread practice of jhum - clearing for cultivation - has led to soil erosion and loss of fertility. Only the Angami and Chakesang tribes in the Kohima district use terracing and irrigation techniques. 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 owing to the state's geographic isolation and political instability in recent years.

Transport

Nagaland is largely dependent on a few all-weather roads to connect it with other states. An important road connects Dimapur with Kohima and leads to Imphal in Manipur. Another highway links Mokokchung with Amguri in Assam. Passing from Dimpar through Assam is a short stretch of the Northeast Frontier Railway - the only rail transport link in the state. An airport connects Dimapur with Guwahati and Kolkata, and another civil airport has been constructed in Kohima, largely for government purposes. The generation of power and electricity is conducted through diesel power stations, although more than 50% of Nagaland's electricity comes from Assam's hydroelectric power stations. Boreholes in the Workha district have yielded oil, and seepages in the Dikhu valley suggest more oil reserves. Chromium, nickel, cobalt, limestone, low-grade coal and iron ore are mined across the state. The establishment of industries in the state has been hampered by poor transportation and infrastructure. Lack of finance, raw materials, electricity supply and reliable communications are problems that persist even today. In Dimapur, there is a television factor, brick factory, sugar mill and distillery, and more industries have arisen in recent years in other urban centres as well. In Kohima, government machinery is coupled with armed forces installations. The Government is sponsoring an outreach to modern service and manufacturing industries through information technology and modern infrastructure.

External links

Nagaland Official website

Nagaland | States and territories of India | Seven Sister States

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