The literal meaning to the word ‘Nagalim’ and ‘Nagaland’ is a word that could be found in many writings to date. The word and meaning nearest to ‘Nagaland’ can be summed up as a political definition, presumably while trying to define its meaning and content adhering to its context. It could be that it was being coined at a time when the statehood was also achieved. It could still be said that this definition would have been given by some local political leaders or more so by some stalwarts by virtue of their service at that time of the period. Such a word and meaning to be found is very exhaustive by nature. This is very clear as far as we’re to take on by the open books and reassuringly, when that state was given to shape to declare Nagaland as a state under Indian union. They couldn’t have thought of giving other names but this.
In addition to this, to explore more on to the ideas at that time could have been very exhaustive to give in its minutest detail. Here are some words closest to its meaning and usages as, hillsmen, tribesmen, naked people, head hunters; NEFA and NHTA to describe about the Nagas and their neighbouring area as described y various authors. We’re even surer, a geographer need to study this by taking time according to its topography. We want to study Naga history, but yet again it is in a very sorry state of affairs. This again, so annoyingly, can be found in part. It’s for this reason that due attention must be given.
Those people who coined to the word ‘Nagaland’ couldn’t have thought of a better word to define the people and the land but to add this phrasal word ‘land’ to the word ‘Naga’. In literal terms, the word ‘Naga’ is a prefix to the definitive word ‘land’. ‘Land’ here implies the bare earth on which the people dwell. Its definitive terms can be said as economic activities where every being toil for their livelihood and for other purpose that comes out in bulk.
But here, a closer study reveals more than this meaning. Even prior to statehood, its naming of Nagaland could have been in use, meaning the land that belongs to Naga people were in place who were predominantly into agriculture, hence not a few found words. We can safely say that Nagas were once a nomadic race before finding a settlement as of now. And as a wandering lot, Nagas were good at hunting apart from cultivation and farming. That’s why we talked of today as fishing and hunting familiar to stockades and granaries as their economic pursuit developed. Undoubtedly, everything was within their reach.
However, they lived and led a good life in spite of their hard and difficult daily routine works, though their menus never ran short. They could manage this from nearby gatherings. Whenever food production ran short, it could be supplemented from jungle as raw food were in plenty. Today, we walked of fruits and green leafy vegetables as nutritional items apart from rice and edible food.
Minerals, if any, haven’t found a proper place as it should be. Only some mentions such as coal and oil deposit can be found at present. With regard to oil production, it is still in its initial stage to locate and explore. If we’re to go by the yardstick of the available natural resources of a country, we’re bound to run short from this production as it is unevenly distributed in its nature-locations. the point is, the wealth and income of the people is primary. The mainstay of the population is determined by this factor. The prerequisite is the strong economy.
There are several questions to this. We’re from a resource scarce land. The supply curves don’t meet demands and wants. The determining factor is lacking. The fate of the people is at stake, what should be done? The talk of the day ids an overburdened governance with the prices in the market soaring and soaring! What is the panacea for this? Where do we go from here? What are the conditions to be set / further, what is the survival instinct for this?
Coming to the word about the ‘Nagas’ and ‘Nagalim’, a word is due with regard to its definition. It should be meaningful and should have real meaning. In its real sense of the term, the word ‘Nagalim’ can mean to say having an indigenous word that’s definitive by nature. We talked of today as Naga homeland. It’s bounded by mountains and rivers only. We’ve heard of artificial boundaries now and then, but these are hindrances only-created by man. We should be able to see all things .we dreamed of such a possibility and reality in our lives.
Literally, ‘Nagalim’ is not only about a single word or meaning. It has other derivatives. From a local context, its usages are manifold. It has two connotations. The first connotation or the prefix given here on Naga is a phrase that can be used before the forming word ‘Lim’ as the second part itself has shown by its content. Only after adding the latter phrasal word ‘Lim’, it can b said as a complete meaning.
A more definitive word is due on this. It could have other meaning as well. And accordingly, the definitive word as well as subjective word goes hand in hand from an Ao dialectical standpoint. The word ‘Lim’ from Ao dialect mean to say to cover a vast tract of land that’s only divide by rivers, tributaries and mountain. The fact is, the settlers are the inhabitants themselves by traversing many distances. They could have overcome so many difficulties. They’ve wandered from one place to another in search of their livelihood. They’ve to go far and wide until a final settlement. It can therefore be conclude that the word Nagalim can mean to say Nagas’ Lim, meaning, people living in that land-the inhabitants. Without land, people could not have survived only on seas or oceans.
Imkong Imchen
Island Colony
Dimapur: Nagaland
