C. Mopen Konyak
1. Main points:
(a) Teinok–Naoman boundary
(b) Naga Hills–Sibsagar District boundary
(c) Assam–Nagaland boundary
(d) Cycle of administration changed; Boundary never changed
(e) Ahom–Naga to negotiate.
2. Historical Facts
As and when cycle of the time permits, history repeats in glorious detail and many hidden precious things will appear. There are three sequences of time – past, present and future. Present links past and future. In case of plant, flower links seed and fruit. In case of humanity, son links grandfather and grandson. When looking back through ages, the history began in this way. Longdoung, king of Shangnyu village in present Mon district had married princess Shengyin, daughter of Wanching king. They were blessed with three princes, Teinok, Naoman and Tainao. Prince Teinok became king at Sibsagar. Whereas prince Tainao had gone to the East where he established a vast empire. His descendants are ever increasing in tens of thousands. History is the foundation and dignity of human society. A society without history is like a castle in the air and sinking sand.
3. Tenok–Naoman Boundary
There was no boundary between Teinok and Naoman being brothers of the same loin and womb. Naoman thought at best that there must be boundary between them lest generations quarrel for the land. So Naoman had sent a royal invitation with messengers to Teinok. And Teinok came down to his brother Naoman with a host of royal advisors, heroes with equipments and subjects. Naoman entertained Teinok and all followers with the best of royal food and drinks. The next day, Naoman addressed Teinok, “Teishong Shahnyu!” meaning Elder brother, the Tiger. This is the way and discipline of Konyak Kings. Teinok lent his royal ears.
Naoman said, “Our time will pass away in peace and tranquility. We do not know what will happen after us in the time of our generations we must make boundary between us.” Teinok agreed. Asked Naoman, “Bring a straight bamboo.”Noman brought the bamboo. Teinok had lid the bamboo on the ground and said, “I have no time. You make boundary according to two ends of this bamboo. It must be horizontally straight. Naoman was exceedingly glad in his heart for being fulfilled his wishes. He carried out the instruction of Teinok, his own elder brother. He served order to all subjects over the empire for immediate construction of boundary. Thus, the boundary from Lumding to Lido was constructed. Years’ time ws taken for completion. It is horizontally straight and elevated enough for the basement ground.
4. Construction of N.E. Railway
British officials were all round experienced as they had come from the civilized world. They too recognized the boundary which had been before the British administration. Construction of N.E. Railway was completed in 1919. The portion from Luming to Lido was constructed according to the Teinok–Naoman boundary line. British government had thought that the N.E. Railway would be the common boundary of Naga Hills and Sibsagar district.
5. Planted Boundary Pillars
Free Naga tribes were adjacent to the British Naga Hills. Heroism and hero-worship were strongly prevailed over there. Besides, British Nagas has recourse to head hunting, plunder, heroism, and vain glory. Moreover, British government ha come to have known that free Nagas and British Nagas were friends and closely related. They had reciprocal diplomacy and understanding between them. Therefore, circumstantially British government was compelled to have second thought for security of the N.E. Railway and its employees, because it had to be protected. By the order of the time they had purposely encroached into the land of Naga Hills. And planted “Triangular Stones” with inscription N.H.S.D.B., the abbreviation being, “Naga Hills Sibsagar District Boundary”, at two miles distance from, parallel and to the East of N.E.R. Many of them are still existing in their own points. Some of them have been destroyed. These triangular stones are bearing no serial number. Whereas, in the pillars between India and Myanmar, each pillars is bearing serial number. There are some elders who exactly know the points of some existing pillars.
6. Opening of Tea Gardens
All tea gardens to the East of the North-Eastern Railway were opened with permission of the Naga landowners. At request by proprietors and agents of tea gardens, jungle and forest of tea gardens were cut by respective Naga landowners. Out of gratitude, tea gardens provided rest houses, wherever Naga footpaths reached tea gardens, for Naga wayfarers and travelers. Simple Naga landowners, who did not seriously think for the land, did not demand tax from them (tea gardens). By acknowledging the ownership of the Nagas, tea gardens themselves were paying tax to the Naga landowners. When they had paid tax, they felt quite free and secure. Meanwhile, the Naga Movement emerged like a lion entering into a widow’s house. They took back all Naga villages to the state of nature where, “Might is Right” was ruling. “One day at a time,” was the way of their activities. They prohibited all kinds of taxation in Nagaland. Many leaders whom they had overheard little suspicious were eliminated without verification of the matter. In this way both payees and payers stopped talking about tax for the security of their own lives.
7. Areas Taxed by Shangnyu Village
Towns such as Tinsukia, Naharkatia and Sonari have been established within the traditional boundary of Shangnyu village. In term of Assamese, Shangnyu village is called “Shangloi Nagas”. The ghat money (tax) from Tinsukia, Naharkatia and Sonari was coming to the Deputy Commissioner, Mon till 1972. Shangnyu village was receiving the ghat money from DC’s Office. It was also stopped by the Naga Movement when they had served taxation prohibition order. Had they used wisdom and philosophy in place of emotion, how blessed we would have been now.
8. Ahom–Naga on Boundary Negotiation
Ahoms are the original people of Assam. All others are refugees, Bangladeshees, foreigners and strangers. Baruas were brought from Bengal by the then Ahom king to deal in Chado for him. Dwelling in Assam, they have become rich, money lenders and allround plenty. Suffice it to say, they are the parasites who are exploiting and dominating their hosts, the Ahoms. They do not know anything about culture, custom, past history and Ahom-Naga relation. For ages, there was no dispute between Ahoms and Nagas. They honoured co-existence of each other side by side as good neighbours. There was a sincere matrimonial relation between Ahoms and Nagas. Boundary issue can be settled by the joing sitting of Ahom-Naga. Representatives from Ahom and Naga (elders only) should meet some day and peacefully negotiate about the common boundary fro settlement. When both sides (parties) will not come to term, in sweet will, without blaming each other, should agree to take oath, that is, an ordeal for divine judgement as per Ahom-Naga customary law. There should be no lawsuit for this issue.
