Left to right, Zhato Kimho, President of CPO, Vichutuolie Mere, convenor of souvenir committee, Dr Kevingulie Khro and Sebastian Zumvü during the press conference on July 13. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 13
The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) will mark their 150th year anniversary on November 9, 2024. As a distinct sub-group of the Angami tribe, the Chakhroma people consisting of about 44 villages at present are dispersed across the plains, foot-hills and slops of Dimapur and Chümoukedima district.
Announcing this at a press conference at CPO Hall, Chümoukedima on July 13, the members of the organisation stated that it will be a year-long celebration with several initiatives to take place in the coming months. The venue for the event on November will be held at the Chümoukedima public ground.
Why 1874?
Convenor of the organising committee, Dr Kevingulie Khro, said the year 1874 was chosen as the official date based on written records of the group noted by British official, Alexander Mackenzie.
He maintained that as a group, the Chakroma people have long been existence even prior to the coming of British colonization. However, due to the non-existence of written records, their history could not be documented prior to 1874, he said.
In those head-hunting days, Khro shared that the Chakhroma people had always maintained cordial relationships between the villages of their area. “There was no history of head-taking among the Chakhroma villages,” he stated.
Moreover, Khro mentioned that the British officials themselves referred to them as a group and not by their individual village identity as in other Naga areas.
Original group consisted of 17 villages
According to Vichutuolie Mere, convenor of souvenir committee when their people first came into contact with the British, originally there were about seventeen villages. These consisted of Chümoukedima (Samaguding), Rüzaphema, Thekrejunoma, Medziphema, Pherima, Piphema, Tsiepama, Seithekema, Viphoma, Phekerkriema, Tsiezephema, Tsüüma, Socunoma, Pheqwemah, Bagwema, Mengujuma and Niedzüma villages.
But a few of these villages perished as a result of epidemics and such, Mere said. Over the colonial period and after, several other Naga tribes from the Naga hills came down, settled and set up new villages. Over the course of this migration, the Chakhroma have always accepted and welcomed these newcomers in their land, he added.
A year-long celebration
At present, under the CPO, there are 44 established villages spread across Dimapur and Chümoukedima, Zhato Kimho, President of CPO said. “Our area covers up to Piphema,” he revealed.
In anticipation of the final day, Sebastian Zumvü, secretary of the organising committee noted that the CPO will be organising several initiatives during the coming months. Already the organisation had observed World Environment day on June 5 and in the coming days would perhaps hold blood donation camps, cleanliness drive or similar events, he said.
