Ngathingjhui
There are about 230 villages in TangkhuI Naga territory. Each village is being ruled or headed by a village chief called headman (awunga) which means angh/king.when a village was first discovered, the first settler was being conferred the title of headman i.e., the village chief or king. He was an anointed king of the village. There after the crown of the headman ship is given to the male descendants of his clan. Therefore the crown of headman ship is hereditary. Nobody can violate this customary practice which means no other clan can claim the crown of headman ship. Since headman is the chief of the village, all powers such as revenue, administration, judiciary etc are vested in him. To become the next headman it is the wish of the father to give the crown to the living son or eldest grand son (his son’s) and so on before he dies or if he feels himself too old to rule. On the other hand, we can say that it is purely the concern of the headman's family or clan's. There is no such criteria like minimum or maximum age/educational qualification/married or unmarried/what nots to become a headman. He is a headman by blood. Every village has their own set of village self-government called village panchayat court. The members of this village panchayat court are known as VAs (Village Authorities). This VAs are the members/representatives working under the headman. Each clan sends one representative. The total members of VAs depend on the size (number) of clans in the village. This is one of the unique features of the Nagas which is why the government of India has recognized the uniqueness of the Naga history and situation. If am not mistaken the Tangkhul Wung Region (TWR) is also given its name/nomenclature from the technical word A WUNGA.
Coming back to the point i.e. the crying voice of the people of Kalhang village, let me share the story in brief to the best of my knowledge. Kalhang village is situated to the north of Ukhrul district Manipur on the national highway 150, forty-four kms from Ukhrul town. The present village headman is AS.Wungnaothem. He is the eldest son of Late As Wungyik. He is a young energetic man of about 25 years. When he was about 2 to 3 years old, his father died. So his uncle AS Khathing (father's younger brother) took the charge of headman ship. In true sense AS Khathing took only the charge not the real crown of headman ship. As the time passed, AS Wungnaothem grew up/matured he was given the crown of headman ship by his mother on the coronation day on the September 18, 2005. In the mean time AS Khathing is a government employee serving in police department. He cannot serve the government a well as the village because one servant cannot serve two masters at a time. Since the day one of his coronation, some of the village people, taking undue advantage of his age, inexperience, ignorant, what nots, these people tried to form another village self government called (CHAIRMANSHIP) by giving false allegations like misappropriation of money, too young to become headman, inexperience etc. Actually this self-style chairmanship party wanted to snatch away the powers of headman as far my knowledge is concern. The question of above stated allegations does arise because not even a year has passed when AS Wungnaothem started functioning as headman and how can people give such false allegation from day one. Until and unless the headman gives his assent/permission nobody can open a village self –government, what ever the nomenclature may say, chairmanship/development committee etc; they can not proceed further legally or officially. That is why the Tangkhul Naga Long, Atung Lnngphang, SDO Chingai, DC offices do not recognize them. Only the legal headman AS Wungnaothem is being recognized by the above stated frontal NGOs and government offices. Even after this, the chairmanship party constantly disturb by giving false allegations. Within this very short period (say about 2 years) of his headman ship, how can we expect overnight development from him? We are not extending full cooperation to our new legal headman. He is all the time running from pillar to post for false allegation, case after case. After all he is young and new and he has no any experience in all matters. Actually village leaders, educated people should guide him, give him full co-operation so that he can do something for the betterment of the village.
Whenever he does wrong, since he is new we can correct him, make him good again or if he does wrong beyond the limit/rule, even then we can take necessary action against him according to the custom/rule of the land Since the old VAs of the then headman, AS Khathing did not want to join with the new legal headman. Mr. AS Wungnaothem issued notice and invitation to have first get- together meeting just after few days of his coronation but the old VAs did not turn up. Subsequently, the headman issued another notice and invitation up to three times. But still there was no positive response. Lastly, as per directive of the Atung Longphang Court Mr. AS Wungnaothem served a notice to all the pipas of the respective clans to send their representative or else to call back the old VAs for smooth functioning of the panchayat court. Yet again the old VAs did not respond positively. Therefore, lastly whatever the representatives have been sent by the respective clan's pipa has to be accepted by the headman. Thus the village panchayat court sailed on since September/October 2006 till date. But by giving false allegation and trying to pull down the crown through money power and man power, it has no logic and justification, If justice is not dispensed according to custom and rule of the land, it will become a bad precedent. Today it may be Kalhang village but tomorrow some other villages might imitate from this bad precedent. Therefore the Tangkhul Wungnao Long should be vigil and united because the Tangkhuls are ruled by you (Awungbing).
I do not understand the present system of functioning in all matters in our Naga society. Everywhere there is misused of power and responsibility and the Tangkhuls are no exception to this.
Where should the victim approach or appeal for judicial litigation? Actually, according to Tangkhul customary law when there is a dispute between the villagers (of the same village) the case is to be settled in the village panchayat court. When the dispute is between the headman and V As then it should be settled in the LONGPHANO COURT, or if the dispute is between two different villages of the same zone it should also be Settled in the LONOPHANO COURT. For the whole four zones and final appeal one can make an appeal to the TANGKHUL NAGA LONG, LONOREI COURT (apex court).but the customary court and the underground government are handling those cases in many occasions. Now my question is who will give the final decree in case of final appealing? Is customary court greater of underground court greater? I fail to understand. This restless chairmanship party again presented a petition to the central administrative officer (CAO) office GPRN of Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR) giving the allegation of misappropriation of money.
But the parties were summoned on July 7 2007. After both the parties gave their statements, they were asked to furnish the names of VAs of the existing clans, the names of head of the pipa of each clan and asked them to wait for the final order for few days. It is learnt from the reliable sources that during the process of hearing statement, some members from the chairmanship stood up and said...."money is not the matter, but this headman is too young” some said …”money is not the matter but we want our old VAs seat.” Even in the Kalhang Village Public Meeting, held in mid 2006, a member from the chairmanship stood up and said…”money is not the matter but we want your crown to step down tonight itself." Public members present in the meeting are the eye witnesses. In case of money matter during the time of Mr. AS Khathing along with his old VAs they too have misappropriated public money. Same yardstick should be applied to both the parties if money matter is to be solved. This can be done by sitting together with the third party (mediator).
Now public can judge what is their real intention, whether they really love the village or not. Tangkhul citizens are to judge. I hope the CAD (WTR) will give the right judgment with the wisdom of God. I would like to give one suggestion to the people who are handling different judicial cases in different forums that in any case both parties have their own rights, but one party has more right. Only God Who has more rights. Thus the person to give the final decree is none other than second to God. If you give wrong decree through the power of money, relatives, friends, etc, how will the victim who has more right react? Naturally when he cries God will hear him.
But in return what do you expect from God for your injustice? God will definitely punish you one day, it is certain. Let us be very careful and sincere. I would like to share one more point, i.e., Late David Longvah the then Judicial Magistrate of Kohima district said... "when there is a case, before the day of judgment I used to pray to God and God fore tells me who is right and who is wrong and there after I give my final decree according to what God show me", let us also follow that.
I am not directly or indirectly involved in any group (pertaining to this village crisis, but I being a citizen of Kalhang village, I am also sharing the pain and sorrow of my village. I do not have ill intention to any individuals, but as the village problem is to be shared by all the members of the village, I cannot pretend as though it does not exist. I have to speak out the truth. I was expecting that good sense would prevail and things would be settled amicably. But thing has become worse. I believe the almighty God will intervene and give wisdom to the people to deliver the justice.
