Bounded by the State of Assam in the north, Tuensang in the east, Zunheboto in the south and by Wokha and Assam in the west, Mokokchung District lies between 25° 56’ to 27° 40’ north latitude and 93° 53’ to 94° 53’ east longitude. The climate of Mokokchung is moderate and pleasant throughout the year with the minimum temperature of 10°-15° C in winter and a maximum of 28°-30°C in summer. The average rainfall of the district ranges about 1600mm- 2500 mm. With a total area of 1,615 sq. km. representing 9.74 percent of the total area of the state of Nagaland (16,579 sq.km.), Mokokchung occupies the sixth place among the eleven districts of the State. The district headquarter Mokokchung, situated 1,325 m above sea level, is 152 kms away from State Capital Kohima and 254 kms (approx) from Commercial capital Dimapur.
History and People
During the British period, Kohima Sadar and Mokokchung were the only subdivisions of the Naga Hills district according to 2011 Census. After Independence, in 1948, Tuensang was created as a separate administrative centre and became a subdivision of NEFA under a separate Assistant Political Officer in 1952. Later, in 1957, Tuensang subdivision was bifurcated from the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and merged into the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area (NHTA) along with three districts of Kohima, Mokokchung and Tuensang. The area under the erstwhile Mokokchung district came under the British administration for the first time in 1876 when the headquarters of the Naga Hills District were set up at Wokha. Mokokchung was created as a subdivision in 1889 and remain so till 1956. It was upgraded as a district in 1957 out of the erstwhile NHTA, then under Central Government.
The district came into existence when Nagaland attained its statehood on December 1, 1963.
The entire District of Mokokchung is conveniently sub-divided into Ranges namely - Tzurangkong Range adjoining the plains of Assam mostly along the valley of Dissai and Jhanzi rivers just before they flow into the plains of Assam; Japukong Range - the outermost Range stretching from North-east to South-west lying to the interior south of Tzurangkong Range; Jangpetkong Range (formerly Changkikong)- a parallel Range east of Japukong Range; Asetkong Range – a Central Range running from east to west lies between Melak and Menung rivers, and therefore, it resembles an island and hence the name Asetkong (Island); Langpangkong Range – the easternmost range skirting along the course of Dikhu river which forms a natural boundary line of Mokokchung with Tuensang and Mon districts. This range is spread like a bed or table (Langpang) and so the name has been aptly given to this range; and Ongpangkong Range – the southernmost range forming an irregular boundary of the Ao area with that of the Lothas and Semas to the south and with the Sangtams to the east. It is called as it is higher (Ongpang) and cooler than the other ranges.
The nomenclature of the district originated from the name of Mokokchung village. According to 2011 Census Handbook, the name literally means going away (chung) in defiance (mokok) of the wishes – a group of early Ao people who had scattered to different places away from their original settlement in defiance of the wishes of their parent village, namely Koridang, came to a new place and established a new village which they named as Mokokchung.
According to Mokokchung District Human Development Report (MDHDR, 2014), the Ao tradition gives an account of their origin from ‘Longtrok’ (six stones), from which emerged six persons, who came to be the progenitors of the Aos. The first settlement known to the tribe is ‘Chungliyimti village’. As the village became overcrowded in due course of time, a large number of them migrated across Dikhu River and settled in the present territory of Ao.
Thus, these people were called as ‘Aor’ or ‘Ao’ meaning ‘going ones or gone’. There are two divisions of Ao tribe, the Mongsen and the Chungli, who not only speak dialects which differ but also have minor differences in their customs and like all other Nagas, the Aos have Mongoloid features. The villages are generally built on the highest hills and fortified for defence. Ao villages, according to A.W.Davis (Census of India, 1891, Assam Vol.I) are a small republic. Traditionally, the Ao celebrated two premier festivals in a year related to agriculture – one was the sowing festival called Moatsü and the harvest festival called Tsüngremmung. Moatsü is celebrated in the first week of May every year after the sowing is done. The festival provides them a period of recreation and entertainment after the stressful work of clearing fields, burning jungles, sowing seeds, cleaning up the Tsübu (wells) and repairs and construction of houses by elders of the Putu Menden, stretching over a week. The Moatsü festival is also marked by songs and dances.
Tsüngremmung celebrated in the first week of August every year, when the fields are ripe and ready for harvest. Tsüngremmung is also a time for thanksgiving to God for an abundant blessing in the lush fields. The essence of Tsüngremmung is sanctification of the self and society for obtaining blessings from God.
Flora and Fauna
Mokokchung district is a hub for biodiversity. A variety of animals, herbs and plant species is found to co-habit in this region. Milak, which is the longest river, starts right at the Deputy Commissioner’s residence at Mokokchung town runs through the hills of the district in northward direction then turns westward to the plains above Amguri, where it is known as Jhanzi in Assam. Dikhu (Tsüla in Ao) is the biggest river in the district that rises from Sema area, flows westward into Ao area (west of Longsa village) then turns northward forming the boundary between Ao on one side, and the Sangtam, the Phom and the Konyak on the other, finally draining into Brahmaputra in Assam.
Tsurang River is another tributary of the Brahmaputra that flows from the lower ranges of Tsurang valley.
Other River includes Menung, Tzüvi river (mother water), Tzüza (baby water); Tsürong, Nanung, Tsümok etc.
Among other, birds like Kaliji Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Common hill Partridg, Green and Royal Pigeon, Common Jungle Fowl, Emerald Dove etc are found in the District while wild animals like Flying, Five striped Pam and Himalayan squirrel, Barking Deer, slow Lorries, Cape hare, Palm Civet Indian Fox, Stump Tailed and Rhesus macaque and hoolock Gibbon etc are common.
Mokokchung district offer many tourist attractions. One hot spot is Longkhum Village, with its unique natural features and history.
The village is located at the highest altitude of the district. Some important spots includes Longlangpa (‘long- rock and langpa – bridge’) - a rocky bridge in the vicinity of the village which has the track of the two legendary lovers of ancient Ao tribe Etiben and Jina. ‘Fusen kei’ is one of the two caves, located underneath Longlangba, which yet remain unexplored by and large. Local legends suggest it is about 25 km long. ‘Mongzu Kei’ (Eagle caves) is the other cave located at the edge of the cliff where the legend suggest that after the dead, the departed soul take the form of an eagle, and on its way to the land of deaths, takes shelter in those caves.
‘Longritzu Lenden’ (boundary between dead and living) or the river valley of the departed soul, located little below the cliff is supposed to contain an underground rive. Another spot is ‘Tangkum marok’ (the cup of life) is a spring that is supposed to possess mythical healing powers for the enhancement of life.
Ungma Village is the oldest and the largest of all the Ao villages and the second largest village in Nagaland, next only to Kohima village (Bara Basti) and seeped in history. It is said that the whole Ao tribe founded this village when they first entered the land from their ancestral home at Chungliyimti (now within the Sangtam NagaTerritory).
Chuchuyimlang is one of the tourist villages in the district where Moatsü is particularly celebrated elaborately.
Another tourist village is Mopongchuket Village with spot such as Monuments (Jena Monument and Etiben Mitsa) and Longrang Tenem. Süngkotenem, a hillock located at the fringe of the village have great significance for the villagers because many of their legends are associated with the spirit/God of this hillock. A Süngkotenem Awatsüng (pond) at the lower part of the hillock is of great significance and legend suggests that the spirit of pond was the provider and protector of the village. A Süngkotenem Festival also held annually with great fanfare.
E.W. Clark, the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (presently called International Ministries) was responsible for the introduction of "The Gospel" among the Aos in particular and Nagas in general. He first reached Molungkimong Village and later Molungyimsen. Along with these villages, the First Baptist Christian mission Centre in Nagaland, Impur, serve as a pilgrimage centre.
Vital Statistics
According to 2011 Census, the District had 108 villages out of which 107 villages are inhabited and 1 uninhabited. It has three statutory towns, namely, Mokokchung Town, Tuli Town and Changtongya Town and one Census Town namely Tsudikong under Tuli administrative circle. Mokokchung town became a statutory towns during the time of 1961 Census while Changtongya and Tuli Towns were notified after Census 2001. The sex ratio in the district has increased from 919 (females per ‘000 males) to 927 during 2001 and 2011 respectively.
At 94,622 persons, the District was placed 5th Place in terms of population and 4th Place in terms of density of population (121 persons per sq. km). The village with highest population was Ungma at 9,443 persons while the lowest was Puneboto Compound at 36 persons.
The District had the distinction of being the most literate districts in Nagaland at 91.6%.
Administration: The district is looked after by a Deputy Commissioner under whom there are nine administrative revenue circles each headed by either an Addl. Deputy Commissioner/ Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) or an Extra Assistant Commissioner.
The names of the administrative circles are Longchem, Alongkima, Tuli, Changtongya, Chuchuyimlang, Kubolong, Mangkolemba Ongpangkong and Merangmen.
Mokokchung Town is directly under the Deputy Commissioner and is not included in the above administrative circles.
The District has six Rural Development Blocks namely - Longchem, Mangkolemba, Changtongya, Kubolong, Ongpangkong (S) and Ongpangkong (N).
District Executive Force
According to Nagaland Police directory, initially there was only one police station in the district headquarter at Mokokchung Town, established during the erstwhile Naga Hills District. Subsequently, a post of Sub-Divisional Police Officers was created for Mokokchung but the police units of the district continued to function under the Superintendent of police, Naga Hills, Kohima. In the year 1964, a temporary post of Superintendent of police was created for Mokokchung District but mostly functioned from Kohima. The DEF Mokokchung started to function as a full-fledged unit with effect from 25.02.1966 with SR Dey as the first S.P. of Mokokchung district. Presently, the DEF Mokokchung Officers consists of Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung; Additional SP; SDPO (Mokokchung); SDPO (Tuli) & SDPO (Mangkolemba); and Dy.SP (Reserve). It also has one Office of the Dy. Inspector General of Police (Range) Mokokchung.
The District has nine police stations - Mokokchung PS-I, Mokokchung PS-II; Tuli PS; Mangkolemba PS; Changtongya PS, Kobulong PS; Longchem PS, Tsurangkong PS, and Anaki ‘C’.
There are four Police Outposts at Paper Mill Tuli Police, Chuchuyimlang, Alongkima amd Longsa.
As a border area with Assam, there are also two check post at Watiyongpang (Tuli) and Tsutapela (Merangmen). The District has also one Beat Post at Longthu.
The District also serves as the 2nd NAP Battalion at Alichen which was raised by converting the Mokokchung District Wing of the then V.G. (Village Guard) on August 1 1964. Initially named as 2nd Bn. Spl. Nagaland Armed Police, it was renamed as 2nd NAP Bn in October 1966. The permanent Bn. Hqr. was established at Alichen on May 31, 1969.
The 12th NAP (IR) Battalion at Tuli was Union Home Ministry on March 22, 2006 and subsequently by the Goverment of Nagaland, Home Department on August 17, 2006. The office of the Commandant 12 NAP(IR) Bn started functioning w.e.f 12/10/2006 from the office complex of 9 NAP (IR) Bn Rear HQ, and later Chumukedima was declared as the temporary HQ of the Unit under Dimapur Treasury.
Did You Know
- As an old saying goes, “a single visit to Longkhum village is not enough, for your soul stays behind the first time and that you have to return to the village once more to get it back”.
- The Aos traditionally used the pulp of shizung (sword bean) for bathing and Rüjenjang (soap nut) for washing clothes. During community fishing in olden days, a creeper called arr and leaves of walnut trees were used, not other forms of chemicals.
- Birds in olden days were used as time keepers - Piakbolong for Time of sowing in old Jhum field; Akok makok for Time of sowing in New Jhum field; and Yangpang metsula as Day time keeper.
Mokokchung District Human Development Report 2013, Department of Planning and Coordination Government of Nagaland; Census of India 2011: Nagaland - District Census Handbook Mokokchung (2014); http://mokokchung.nic.in/; http://nagapol.gov.in/police_mokokchung.html; and http://abamimpur.com/.
