Location: Nestled in the south of Nagaland, Kohima is located at 25º40'N 94º07'E 25.67ºN 94.12ºE at an average elevation of 1261 metres (4137 feet) above sea level and covers an area of 1,463 sq. km. One of the oldest of the eleven districts of the State, Kohima was the first seat of modern administration as the headquarters of the erstwhile Naga Hills district that was initially under the British and naturally become the capital of Nagaland in 1963 when the State was formed.
Kohima has the advantage of being centrally located – having boundaries with Dimapur district on the west, Wokha district on the north, Peren district on southwest, Zunheboto and Phek districts on the east and the State of Manipur to the south. The District Headquarters, Kohima (1,444.12 metres) town is located on top of a high ridge and winds all along the top of surrounding mountain ranges. ‘Kohima Village’ called ‘Bara Basti’ or ‘large village’, which is the largest village in Asia, forms the northeastern part of Kohima urban area (KSHDR, 2009). The district has a pleasant and moderate climate and generally pleasant throughout the year with an average rainfall 2000 mm.
History and people: While the British India administration first established a post at Samaguting (Chumukedima) in 1866, and Wokha was occupied as the district Headquarter of Naga Hills in1876, it was later shifted to Kohima in 1878 and remained so thereafter (Census of India, 2011).
After Statehood, Kohima district has been divided thrice - in 1973 to create Phek district, in 1998 to create Dimapur district and in 2003 to create Peren district. The Pughoboto area was also transferred to Zunheboto district in 1989.
According to Census 2011 document, the name, Kohima, was officially given by the British as they could not pronounce the Angami name Kewhima or Kewhira (Tenyidie for "the land where the flower Kewhi grows"). It is called after the wild flowering plant Kewhi, found in the mountains. Earlier, Kohima was also known as Thigoma.
Another version quoted in Kohima State Human Development Report (KDHDR, 2009) informed that Kohima was adopted by the British from ‘Kewhimia’ which means the ‘people of Whio’. According to local legend, the Angami Naga village formerly named Kewhira was chosen for settlement by a man called Whio. The first version is also given in Kohima District Administration Website.
The Angamis and Rengmas are the indigenous inhabitants of Kohima district and thereby form the dominant tribes of the district. Like all other Nagas, Angami and Rengma have Mongoloid features. The people are generally healthy and well-built. Angami and Rengma are adept artisans and skilled craftsmen. They weave beautiful designs on their hand-woven mekhelas and shawls. However, the district is very cosmopolitan in nature with the presence of a large number of other communities.
Kohima has a large number of festivals linked to sowing, harvest and the weather. The important festivals of the district are the Angami festival Sekrenyi celebrated in the month of February and the Rengma festival Ngada celebrated in the last week of November.
Vital Statistics: Till 2001 Census Kohima district had an area of 3114 sq.kms with 12 administrative circles. Later, in 2003, Peren district was carved out of Kohima and 6 administrative circles were transferred to the new district. Consequently, during 2011 Census, Kohima district had an area of 1463 sq. km. representing 8.82% or seventh place among the eleven districts of the state in terms of area.
As of 2011 Census, with 267,988 people, Kohima was the second most populated district in Nagaland, behind Dimapur.
With an average literacy rate of 85.23%, it was placed 4th among the eleven districts of Nagaland.
The district has 105 villages in 2011 Census which are all inhabited. It has two statutory towns, namely, Kohima Town and Tseminyu Town and one Census Town namely, Kohima Village.
The village with highest population was Tesophenyu, under Tseminyu Circle with a population of 11116 persons. Village having lowest population was Tsogin Hq under Tseminyu Circle with 31 persons.
Flora and Fauna: With a pleasant climate throughout the year, Kohima is a tourist paradise and the best time to visit Kohima district according to between October and April. With its diverse flora and fauna, Kohima offers its visitors variety of interest.
Major crops of the district include Paddy, Potato, Ginger, Maize, Soyabean, Ricebean, Vegetables and horticultural crops like Banana, Passion fruit, Guava, Temperate fruits. Mount Japfü is the highest mountain peak in the district.
For the nature lover and adventurous, it offers eclectic trials of flora and fauna to explore.
The State only in-situ Zoological Park was also located here before it was shifted to Dimapur. The Puliebadze Wildlife Sanctuary in Kohima District covering an area of 923 ha was maintained is a natural habitat for Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii), the state’s bird.
There is the historic village of Khonoma, the first Green Village in India, Mount Japfü, the second highest peak in Nagaland. Other places of special interest includes The State Museum, Kohima Village, the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, the World War II Cemetery, the World War II Museum, the Civil Secretariat, the Cathedral, Phizo’s grave.
This valley of eternal charm with its emerald green rolling hills, Dzükou valley popularly known as “Valley of flowers of the North East,” interspersed by gentle flowing stream, is tucked away at an altitude of 2,438.4 metres. It is about 30 km south of Kohima. It is a trekker’s delight.
The hilly terrain of Dzulekie, located 40 km west of Kohima at a height of 2133.6 m, is dotted with Mithun (Bos Frontalis) or Bison peacefully grazing on the wayside and the fields and its stream well known for rare species of Rainbow Trout.
Tseminyu is known for its old sites of abandoned villages with the remains of graveyards, gravestones, broken pottery etc offer perfect sites for archaeological tourism and preservation. Since 2000, the Hornbill Festival which celebrates the song, dance and culture of the entire State in a week of festivities, is being celebrated annually in December as a State festival. The Hornbill festival is celebrated at Kisama, a location close to Kohima town. It now features as a major national and international event.
Administration: The district is looked after by a Deputy Commissioner under whom there are 8 administrative circles each headed by either an Additional Deputy Commissioner/Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) or an Extra Assistant Commissioner. The district headquarter of Kohima is situated in Kohima town under Kohima Sadar administrative Circle.
According to Kohima District Administration Website, the present Administrative Headquarters in the district are: Deputy Commissioner's Office, Kohima; Additional Deputy Commissioner's Office, Tseminyu; Additional Deputy Commissioner's Office, Chiephobozou; Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Office, Jakhama; Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Office, Sechu; EAC Hq. Kezocha; EAC Hq. Botsa; and EAC Hq. Chogizun.
During 2011 census, Kohima had four Rural Development Blocks - Kohima, Chiephobozou, Jakhama and Tseminyu. Later Sechu-Zubza; Botsa and Chunlikha were added taking the total to 7.
Kohima District Executive Force (DEF)
According to Nagaland Police Directory, detail history of SP Kohima establishment are not traceable. However, the first police post was establishment at Kohima during First World War to assist district administration during war-time. This temporary post was continued even after the war. In 1933, the first Police Station was establishment at Kohima at the present North PS. Police officers in rank of Dy. S.P. were reported to have been posted to Kohima for proper administration but there is no proper record. In the year December 28, 1953 with the establishment of SP office, Kumar Randip Singh, IPS was posted as the first SP Kohima of Naga Hills.
Presently, DEF Kohima Officers are Superintendent of Police, Kohima; Additional SP; SDPO (Kohima); Dy.SP (Establisment), Dy.SP (Reserve) & Dy.SP (Traffic)
There are 8 Police Stations in Kohima namely: Kohima North PS; Kohima South PS; Khuzama P S; Tseminyu PS; Chiephobozou PS; Sechu (Zubza) PS; Kezocha PS; and Women PS. The district has also 4 police outposts at Chandmari; Science College; Zubza; and Para-medical.
Besides, the Kohima also serve as the office HQ of various establishments under home department such as Nagaland Police Headquarters; Office of the Dy. Inspector General of Police (Range); Office of the Dy. Inspector General of Police (NAP); Office of the Inspector General of Police (INT); and Office of the Dy. Inspector General of Police (NPTO).
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS
The 4th NAP Battalion at Thizama was created in October 1968 and the unit was raised at Chumukedima on 09/11/68 under the Commandant of 1st NAP Battalion.
The battalion got separate command on 05/10/1969 and was deployed at the border of Assam and Nagaland in January 1970 with its Head quarter at Longnak.
The unit was shifted to Thizama from Longnak on September 1972. Since, then the battalion is permanently stationed at Thizama till date.
The 10th NAP (IR) Battalion at Zhadima was sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govement of India in July 7, 2001 and subsequent order by the Govt. of Nagaland in December 16, 2001.
Do you know?
- The Women Police Station, Kohima, formally inaugurated on October 16, 2016 at the premise of North Police Station, Kohima, is the first Women Police Station in Nagaland. The jurisdiction of Women Police Station covers the entire district of Kohima.
- The authorship of the famous epitaph, "When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say, For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today," commemorating the fallen of the Battle of Kohima in 1944 is attributed to Classical scholar John Maxwell Edmonds (1875–1958). The evocative epitaph is thought to have been inspired by the epitaph written by Simonides to honour the Greek who fell at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.
Sources Kohima State Human Development Report (KDHDR, 2009), Department of Planning and Coordination, Government of Nagaland. Census of India 2011 - District Census Handbook: Kohima (2014), Directorate of Census Operations, Nagaland Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. http://nagapol.gov.in/police_kohima.html http://kohima.nic.in/ http://kohimapolice.com/
