About Yimkhiung Tribe

The Yimkhiungrü tribe inhabits the Eastern part of Nagaland and is one of the major recognized tribes of Nagaland. Yimkhiungrü tribe is endowed with rich history, culture, customs, traditions and practices. The tribe was the first ever community to commence war upon the Indian soldiers in 1955 at Huker village. The tribe possesses rich history of freedom fight for Naga Independence and immense contribution towards building of New Nagaland.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT AND MIGRATION OF YIMKHIUNGRü TRIBE:

(COURTESY: YTC)

• The Yimkhiungrü Nagas migrated along with the rest of the Nagas from the South-East Asia through the mountains and basins of China, Thailand and to our present location through Burma (Myanmar) along Irrawady and Chindwin rivers. In the course of migration, the Yimkhiungrüs crossed over covering the present Saramati area along the Patkai Range on the banks of Tizü and then the Züngki rivers. Initially the Yimkhiungrüs settled at a place called Tungkhün/Mih-bukpung which is located on the banks of Züngki (also known as Thü-rak-kei) river. It is also to be noted that Züngki river is a collective confluence of several adjoining major rivers. One such river is the Yayi-Langa kei. This ancient settlement is between the present Sikiur and Anatongre villages on the banks of Züngki river. From here, they moved on and established the legendary village called Ke-mi-phu with 999 households which are also considered the parental village of the Yimkhiungrü tribe. Geographically, this place was climatically covered with cloud and mist, with heavy dew drops, and often wet and moist where sunlight always shone late. In the harsh winters, the houses and the surroundings of the village were often covered with heavy dew and moist especially in the morning. This difficult climate was also a major factor for further migrations apart from the expanding population.

• From Kemi-phu, several ancient villages/settlements were established across the Züngki river, which expanded and migrated in all directions in which some of the prominent and ancient villages and settlements among them are ‘Ying-phu and Tung-khün’. In the later stages and generations, another ancient and parental village called the Yimkhiung Awün was established by the very descendants of the early settlers and inhabitants of the ancient and legendary Kemi-phu village, situated North-West of the Züngki river. Yim-khiung literarily means –“Searched, Arrived and Found” that is for the establishment and settlement of the Yimkhiung village, where members of all Home speaking dialects and clans were represented from the beginning. From the ancient Yimkhiung Awün, some of them migrated further and established a well known Langa village across the Hirübwung mountain range and then continued to spread in all directions far and wide, crossing and expanding even beyond the Dikhu river.

• From Yimkhiung Awün, several villages and settlements were also established just as on the other side of the Züngki river. One such village is the ‘Yahko Awün’ (not the present Yahkor village) before the famous mass exodus of the great Langa village. Some of the settlers of the Yahko Awün were Thsan, Yimsokhiung, Mükhe, Rangkhu, Alo, Resümung and others. Incidentally, the forest at Yahko was thick with plenty of wild animals. In one of the areas, there was a salt-water hole which was called Alo and Rangkhu Shih-Ye: where many wild animals came to drink the salt water from the water-hole, located between present Sangphur and Kuthur villages. In one of the hunting expeditions, a wild boar was shot at with a cross-bow by Thsan. However, the animal did not die on the spot. Thsan and other hunting members went after the wounded animal and searched its tracks for six days. On the sixth day, the wild boar was found dead in the jungle down south by some other hunters from the neighbouring villages namely, Yamshu and Yousang, who found the dead boar before Thsan and Alo group. Thsan indicated to the above hunters that it was him who killed the boar. In order to prove his point, Thsan who had earlier picked up a piece of shattered liver of the wounded boar along the track, that was puffed out from the wounded hole of the arrow head (Yinchitung Ku) decided to slice open the animal and checked its liver, which had bled to dead from the wound caused by Thsan.

• They dissected the dead animal and compared the liver which matched the size and the mark of the missing piece of liver shot off by the arrow head of Thsan. Since they could not understand each other’s language, they only made sign languages and gestures. After the verifications and agreeing that Thsan had indeed shot the animal, they decided to divide the animal equally. They were six of them; four from Thsan group and Yamshu and Yousang – the other group. While dividing the meat equally, a seventh piece was left over. After seeing this, they tried to equally divide it into six shares only. They repeated this and again still, one piece remained (seventh one). After this incident, they took it as a blessing of plenty and abundance. They became acquainted and decided to establish a new village within that location which was geographically under Kemi-phu territory. Thereafter, they fixed a date for meeting to establish the proposed village by tying knots of the number of days from a slit cane rope.

• On the fixed date, Thsan’s group led by Zhelo from neighbouring Sangphur village (which was then established at a location called Shih-khün) along with a Mithun headed for the fixed location. However, due to the slow movement of the Mithun which had to be led through mountainous slops, they arrived late at sunset. By then, Yamshu and Yousang group had already arrived. They wondered if Thsan’s group had kept their word and were impatient. They decided to go up the hill to see if they were on the way and gave a yelling call. By then, Thsan’s group had already advanced and neared the fixed location. They heard the call and answered back in Yimkhiung dialect.

• Finally, they met and made sign languages and gestures of a Mithun being brought as decided for the feast during the establishment of the proposed village. Thus, they established another ancestral village called “Tükhean Kiulung – Tükhian khüp” within Kemi-phu area. Zhelo who led Thsan’s group returned to Sangphur village. The group inhabitants were also thus known as “Tükheanrü” from the where the word “Tikhir” is derived – which is incorrect and misleading. Tükhean means ‘when two or more groups get together in an understanding socially and geographically’ – which is also known as “Tükhean Arih”

• It is historically said, as mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, that the village of Keimiphu has a legend where the morning hours were always wet with mist and fog; whose inhabitants would get covered with dew from the moist and fog on their heads and body after going out to the nearby jungles and returning to the village from collecting their daily needs from the forest resources. It was also said to be the same at Tükhean Kiulung/Tükhean Akhüp. Incidentally, there was a place called “Aying kei Shih Ye”- ( a place where wild animals visited frequently to drink salt water) where the vicinity was also covered with dew and moist. Hence, the claim of dew people (Tükhea Liu) as separate or a tribe in definition by our Tikhir dialect speaking brothers from the rest of the Yimkhiungrüs is historically, culturally and socially incorrect and a misnomer.

• To this, it is therefore clear from historical accounts without any distortions, subtractions and additions that the so – called Tikhir tribe never existed, not to speak of the territory as claimed. Since the beginning of the migration/origin of the Yimkhiungrü Tribe, our Tikhir brothers have always been a part and parcel of the Yimkhiungrü family: as descendants from the same fore-fathers and ancestry (Lineage). Like many other fellow Naga tribes within and outside the state of Nagaland, the Yimkhiungrü Naga tribe is also composed of several sub-dialects/home-dialects such as Langa, Chirr, Makory, Tikhir, Longphur, and Phunungrü, who are settled from the foot hills of Saramati mountain of Patkai range in the south to the foot hills of Hyirübwung mountain in the north. Further, the existence of multiple sub-dialects/home-dialects or for that matter language per – se is not exclusive to the Yimkhiungrü Nagas alone, but also exist within other fellow Naga tribes of the state. Hence, socio-culturally, the Nagas in general are gifted and blessed with multiple linguistic heritages.

ESTABLISHMENT OF YIMKHIUNGRü VILLAGES FROM TüKHEAN KIULUNG/TüKHEAN AKHüP:

(COURTESY: YTC)

• After an incident of head-hunting, where a conflict arose within the village, a group of people left to establish a village at Thsürungdo Wung led by Tokiumung, Kejingkhüm and others. From here, they further went up and established Anühdangrü/Anatonger village and proceeded south ward to establish the present Anühdangrü/Anatonger (also known as Kiudo or simply Kiute). After the departure to establish Thsürungdo Awün as mentioned above, Wungphung village/Wapher was also subsequently established from Tükhean Kiulung/Tükhean Akhüp; which was mainly led by descendants of Rangkhu, Mükhey, Alo, Resümung, Yimsokhiung and other members. Subsequently, another village called Yimlung was established just above Wapher village in the neighbourhood. Soon after, Wapher and Yimlung villages were raided spontaneously and some of the members at Yimlung village were poisoned through witch-craft/black magic (Khüzü Kuyuk in Yimkhiung dialect). Not before long, while some remained, a group of people led by Thsünkheam, Thrunghokiu and others left Wapher village across the Züngki River to establish Keiwung and other villages. Yimlung village was later on re-established by Hothrung and Yanshumung and later joined by Shoküm along with his son Wungdo from Kiusorü village. Presently, the two villages are now combined and known as Wapher village in general.

• From Wapher village, the present Shamatore village (Sangmütong) was established within Shipwungrü village jurisdiction after due permission and consent was sought and obtained from Shipwungrü village led by Khupan (Khiphurü clan) and another Khupan (Jankhiungrü clan). As also a custom, a tripartite good-will meeting through a community feast involving the Shipwungrü village and other neighbouring villages namely; Panso (Khiamniungan) and Sangphur villages was held at a place called – “Mihnu Guzyin”. This was done to traditionally maintain peaceful relationship and co-existence. The location of the good-will meeting and feasting is presently located within the army camp at Shamatore Town perched atop a hill. Thus, Shamatore village was allowed to establish as legitimate Yimkhiung village by the Shipwungrü village.

• However, due to frequent raids by the Panso (Kheamniungan) village, completely dishonouring the commitment of the mutually peace treaty, Shipwungrü village began to lose trust and confidence as resolved. A historical fact stands that Sangmütung village was given protection from these raids initially by the Shipwungrü village – the Guardian village. With the continuation and increase in the frequency of raids and head taking of Shamatore village by Panso village; Sangphur village was compelled to step in and protect Shamatore village from further raids and heads been taken by Panso village. In the course of the events, it is pertinent to mention a historical fact that almost 90% women of Shamator village were married off to Sangphur village warriors to strengthen the bond of relationship and harmony between the two villages. Unfortunately, in the course of these developments and events, a mis-understanding and animosity also cropped up between Sangphur and Panso villages- who were otherwise friendly neighbours.

• As in the case of Sikiur A village, it was established separately above the old Thsürungdo Wung, where Tomükam from Sangphur village carried cow for the sacrificial and ceremonial feast; along with Shokheah and Kecham from Pungrungrü village and Ahoshey and Birimung from neighbouring Rürüdrü village also carried other domestic animals for the ceremony.

SOME NAMES OF OUR ANCESTORS:

• Names of our ancestors who established Kemiphu village, the oldest village:

1. Shihtomung

The identities of other founding members or ancient settlers are under further research. Upon confirmation, this would be uploaded for the viewers.

• Names of our ancestors who established Yimchung Awün village:

1. Shitopung

2. Sangpün

• Rikhey

1. Mülahmung/Mülothung and others

       The identities of other founding members in Yimkhiung Awün are under further research. Upon confirmation, this would be uploaded for the viewers.

• Some of the founding members and settlers of the Tükhian Kiulong/Tükhean Akhüp from Yahko Awün village which was within the ancient Kemiphu jurisdiction identified as of now are:

1. Thsan

2. Yimsokhiung

• Mükhe

1. Rangkhu

2. Alo

3. Resümung and others

• Yamshu

• Yousang

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON TIKHIR DIALECT ISSUE:

(COURTESY: YTC)

• During the head hunting days, there was no organized and established government or the institutions unlike the modern days. There were no tribal sentiments or tribal organizations as well. It is imperative to state that the names of the tribe that we hear today are a recent creation and so also their organizations. Every village had their own Chief, who was the monarch-head of that particular village. Until and unless a treaty or a friendly meeting was concluded, one village would probably treat the other village/s as enemy and vice versa.

• However, of late during the later part of the 1950’s, with the advent of Christianity in Nagaland and more particular in Yimkhiungrü area, the people began to convert themselves into Christians and gradually head hunting culture began to be abandoned with the passage of time. In fact, till the early part of 1960’s, Yimkhiungrü people practiced head hunting culture and thus it may be unambiguously inferred that the Yimkhiungrüs were the last among the Nagas to have abandoned head hunting practices. The Missionaries, Pastors, and Preachers who undertook a humble initiative in propagating the spirit of Christianity were from the Sumi and Ao tribes

• Christianity also ushered in a sense of social awakening and responsibilities. And thus, propelled by the bond of brotherhood, the six brothers (Chiyiu, Mokokyiu, Phunungyiu, Tikhiyiu, Langayiu and Longfuyiu – sub-dialects) unanimously pledged to form a common social platform for the benefit of all and sundry and for which a consultative meeting was held at Huker village in the year 1947. Then in the year 1948, a meeting was convened at Kiusorü village and which was attended by more than thirty villages from upper and lower (Pungro) Yimkhiungrü areas and ultimately formed the “Yimkhiungrü Tribal Council”- YTC. Until the early part of 1980’s, though the Yimkhiungrü tribe is a conglomerate tribe of the six dialect groups, secessionist wave and motion was totally absent. Unfortunately, with the passage of time at around the early part of 1980’s, a handful of people from the Tikhir sub-dialect began to form into small group with an objective to secede away from the Yimkhiungrü family and to form themselves into a distinct and separate tribe by employing all kinds of undemocratic violence and unconstitutional methods.

• The people from the Tikhir sub-dialect are and have been an integral part of the Yimkhiungrü tribe. They are bona-fide members of the Yimkhiungrü tribal Council and equally the bona-fide members of other organizations under the fold of the YTC. Thus, the incorporation of their names into Yimkhiungrü tribe was never by force or by malice engineering, but by wilful and voluntary because they are Yimkhiungrüs by blood and not by choice, conversion or adoption. The affiliation records in the YTC, YBBA and YAA – (YSC) etc, ever since the inception apparently shows their active and wilful participation in the Yimkhiungrü family: the reason being from one common hearth and lineages.

• After the creation of Tuensang district from the North East Frontier Agencies (NEFA) in 1948, the Yimkhiungrü villages and areas were fragmented and adjusted under different Administrative blocks/circles, because during those days there were no intellectuals, educated people and competent leaders from the Yimkhiungrü tribe. In 1947, when the Nagaland state delimitation came into effect, again the villages and jurisdictions of the Yimkhiungrü tribe were further fragmented and adjusted under various pockets of the neighbouring Assembly Constituencies such as, the 33 AC Suruhoto (Shihyerü village), 54 AC Tuensang Sardar II, 56 AC Noklak, 57 AC Thonoknyu, 58 AC Shamatore – Chessore, 59 AC Seochung – Sitimi and 60 AC Pungro – Kiphire: as such there is no compactness of the Yimkhiungrü tribe as a whole.

• During the II World War, many Nagas participated as potters and labourers of the Allied forces which gave them opportunity to have a new insight into the system of the modern world of the Western countries. Beside others, inculcation of a sense of nationalism and augmentation of the social – political, self – determination were other ideals they adopted which ultimately led to the formation of the Naga National Organization (NNC) under the leadership of A. Z Phizo. Therefore, in order to bring out the thought into action incorporating the warrior tribe into the dangerous mission was the primary need of the hour. Hence, towards this end, he assigned the leaders of the NNC Sumi Region to hold a mammoth meeting with the leaders and the intellectuals of the Yimkhiungrü tribe. Accordingly, the leaders from the NNC Sumi Region conducted the first meeting of the NNC under Yimkhiungrü area at Pungrungru village in the year 1952, wherein, the first NNC Yimkhiungrü Region (NNC –YR) was eventually formed. As many as 34 leaders and elders from different Yimkhiungrü villages attended the meeting. Gradually, under the charismatic leadership of the above leaders, the NNC-YR emerged as one of the strongest and well organized regions of the NNC.

• Beginning from the year 1953, while other regions were still in the process of formation, NNC YR started collecting taxes in the Region. On 18^th February 1955, the NNC held its Executive Council meeting at Kigwema under Angami region. The meeting was attended by Angh P. Hopong and late Thungti Chang. In the said meeting, a resolution was passed for waging war against the Indian Armies fixing the date on 25 th March 1955. However, four Indian soldiers were slain on the 24 th March 1955 by the NNC YR at Huker village in the morning hour and subsequently in Kiphire in the same evening by mere machetes (Dao); that is – one day ahead of the red-letter day. This was the inception of the “Ist Indo-Naga War” and the first blood-shed against the mighty Indian Army in the history of the Naga Nationalist Movement. Until such time, the NNC was a mere unarmed political wing, but the incident of Huker village and Kiphire town; the wrath and vengeance of the Indian Army was invoked and thereby they (Indian Army) started the full-scale war against the Nagas; without sparing even the innocent public. The war extended over the entire Yimkhiungrü region and continued unabated for many years. That was the reason why the then unarmed political wing, NNC YR was constrained to form a standing armed wing under the name and style as ‘Naga Safe Guard’ to confront the Indian forces under the leadership of Angh P. Hopong and General late Pünsokiu. The war prolonged more intensely and the fiercest battles were fought at Haphu (now Longtokrü village) HQ of Northern Command Naga Army, and lasted for six continuous years – till 1961. Thus far, the Indian armies were being fought by the Yimkhiungrü region for the common Naga cause. The Indian army continued to intensify the operation more and more with the running of time and as such, the confrontation between the Indian armies and the NNC YR became a daily affair. Hence, Angh P. Hopong strongly proposed the NNC High Command to form armed wings of the respective tribal NNC Regions in order to jointly fight the common adversary. Finally, late A.Z Phizo convened the NNC Executive Council Meeting comprising of all tribal regions at Pswensenyu village in Rengma Region. Consequently, the ‘Naga Federal Government’ (NFG)/FGN was formed on 22^nd March 1956 with its separate armed wings known as the ‘Naga Army’ with late Scato Swu and late Kukato Swu as Kedahge (President) and Ato kilonser (Prime Minister) respectively of the NFG and late Kaito as the Commander-in-Chief of the Naga army. Beside, each tribal region was allotted an Angh (Governor) and a Kilonser (Cabinet Minister) portfolio and as representative to the Central government. As for the NNC YR, P. Hopong was appointed the Angh and late Thsamphu as the Kilonser. In the meeting, a resolution was passed to every respective tribal region by the central govt. (NFG) for conferring ranks and files to every capable cadre. Accordingly, despite of his desire to hold the post of President NNC YR, late Kiusumong was appointed the Vice-President and in there ignited a feeling of resentment in him. Consequently, a petty argument took place between late Lakhüm and late Kiusümong. However, despite of the ensuing feuds between the two leaders, the NNC YR went on functioning quite smoothly and progressed in every aspect.

• In the year 1964, Angh P. Hopong assigned late Kiusümong for mobilising the lower Yimkhiungrüs (Pungro) area. He was accompanied by his scout commander captain late Hanjikhiung alias Yantsüthong. Unfortunately, on the contrary, late Kiusümong and his scout commander breached the assignment by rather slicing to death one person by the name of late Ramjikhiung Yimchunger , the then HD GB of Longtsongrü village. During those days, the Brigade HQ of the Eastern Command was based at Phuvkiu village. After committing such heinous crime in the eye of the Govt, late Kiusümong, did not dare to return to the regional HQ. Hence, he began to hatch an anti NNC YR design by mobilizing handful of people for creation of a separate Region by the name and style as ‘Kiusi Naga Region’ at the lower Yimkhiungrü area in collaboration with few Naga Army officers of the Eastern Command. The intention for the creation of a separate region was purely to cover the Tikhir, Makory, Chirr and Longfur dialect areas. However, the region was not approved by the Central Govt. (NFG). That, the above facts were the genesis of the Yimkhiungrü and Tikhir dialect issues. But, late Kiusümong and late Hanjikhiung did not succeed in fulfilling their pre-meditated divisive objective of both under-ground and over-ground levels within the Yimkhiungrü family.

• After the assassination of General late Kaito, the feud between some NNC leaders erupted and as a result, late Scato Swu, Kedaghe, Kukato Swu Ato Kilonser and General Zheheto seceded away from the NNC/FGN and formed the new Govt. As the ‘Revolutionary Government of Nagaland’ (RGN) in the early part of 1960’s and to which late Kiusümong too joined it (RGN). However, the RGN Govt. did not last long; the members of which surrendered en-bloc to the government of India in 1974. Despite of the desperate efforts of handful of individuals in the underground levels to fragment the Yimkhiungrü families, all individuals, families and villages belonging to the Tikhir dialect continued to participate actively and peacefully in the mainstream of the Yimkhiungrü tribe in all sphere of lives with a special reference to their affiliation to the Yimkhiungrü tribal Council, Student bodies, Churches and so forth. Handful of people from the Tikhir dialect tried to mislead and fragment the Yimkhiungrü family by means of persistent efforts to form a new underground group under the name and style TIMACHIRR (TMC. The expanded word of TIMACHIRR was; Tikhir, Makory and Chirr respectively, by wilfully excluding remaining other three dialects of the Yimkhiungrüs namely, Langa, Longphur and Phunung dialects.

• In the year 1980, in the YBBA convention (Mungdang) some Tikhirs submitted a representation to the YBBA demanding for a separate Church Association for the Tikhir dialect. The representation was the first of its kind submitted by the self-style association namely,Tikhir Baptist Churches Association (TCBA) through its executive chairman T. Torupkiu and the same was rejected. In resentment, in the same year few villages of the Tikhir dialect disassociated from the YBBA. In the subsequent year-1981, when the Yimkhiungrü Students’ Conference was held at Sikiur A village, an agenda was tabled for having the students conference after a gap of one or two years. There was chaos and argument among the members of the house and consequently the house was adjourned giving time to the members of the house to discuss among themselves over the said agenda. As the house resumed its session, the agenda was not brought to light by the Executive Chairman by rather jumping upon another new agenda because of which the members of the house became disgruntled. In the meeting some Tikhir members protested. After the meeting, some Tikhir members gathered at Anatonger village for further discussion concerning the said agenda. Accordingly, at Anatonger village, the gathered members discussed the matter thoroughly and resolved to form a new association as the ‘All Tikhir Tribal Movement’ (ATTM). In the year 1982, at Pungro town, the members of the ATTM further tried to mislead the dialects of the Yimkhiungrü tribe namely, Chiryiu, Mokokyiu by forcing upon them to be a part of an association under the name and style as ‘All Timachir Tribal Council’ (ATTC); which was actually merely in word just to fulfil their divisive agenda. However, the members of the above two dialects did not accede by out-rightly denying to extent co-operation to the ATTC. After realizing their futile motif, the association was re-named into the ‘All Tikhir Tribal Council’ (ATTC) and later re-named into the ‘Tikhir Tribal Council’.

• In the year 1989, after the total failure of all their divisive plans and strategies, some Tikhir members eventually resorted to change their course of strategies to achieve their goal through extreme and aggressive means by joining the ‘Tisary Region” of the NSCN (K) and simultaneously, demanded for a separate region for the Tikhir dialect. However, the demand was not granted and as a result in the same year they again defected to the NSCN I/M since 1990. The NSCN I/M approved the ‘TIMACHIR’ region without the knowledge and proper consultation of the members of the Chirr and Makory dialects. Henceforth, under the pretext of National Workers – the NSCN I/M cadres from the Tikhir dialect began to unleash the terror such as physical assault, wrongful instigation, robbery, murder, intimidation etc against the innocent public and the worst affected were the innocent students who were forced to abandon their studies.

SOME WORD COMPARISON AMONG DIALECTS OF THE YIMKHIUNGRü TRIBE:

(Courtesy: YTC)

VARIATION OF CLANS:

The Yimkhiungrü tribe is classified into six major clans. Because of the presence of such variation, the meaning of Endogamy and Exogamy in matrimonial sphere of life has found its prominent place in the society today. The following are the clan’s variation in alphabetical order.