Dr Asangba Tzudir
The Need to Revisit History
In a recent poll survey conducted by this paper, 67% of the respondents opined that the Nagaland State Government has not been effective enough in tackling the border issue with Assam. The state government being mute to the issue; the lack of political will, and the lackadaisical attitude on the part of the government were the common refrain. Ironically, on the larger whole the various responses only attest to the lack of knowledge about the historical process which is needed to create awareness and dialogue starting from the genealogy of the problem. Currently, emotions are high but albeit content on the whole.
It is thus necessary to revisit the ancient Ahom-Naga relations during the period of the Ahom kings before the East India Company annexed the Ahom kingdom by the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826 during which cordial relationship was maintained going to the extent of marital alliance to strengthen the Ahom-Naga ties, which initially began with fierce opposition from the Nagas ever since the establishment of the Ahom kngdom. However, the East India Company and their economic interests for expansion of Tea industry in the Assam valley led to creation of legal barriers between the Ahoms and the Nagas disrupting their traditional ties.
Before the annexation, Rongpur (Sivasagar) the capital of the Ahom kingdom was considered a free trade city for the Nagas. However, the Nagas were told not to conduct raids on the Ahom villages inside the Ladoigarh, Dobgarh, and the Naga Bund constructed as the Ahom-Naga boundary in 1633. The Ahom Kings also did not allow settlement of the Ahoms beyond the recognized boundary with the Nagas. During the reign of King Susengphaa (1603-1641) (also known as Pratap Singha), Naga Khats were established and Kotokis on behalf of the Nagas were entrusted to look after the Khats. During the reign of King Sukanpha, the Ahom Kingdom was under attack by the Koch King under General Depu, the Ahom king and his family took refuge in the Naga Hills for three months. Even during the invasion by the Mughals during the early part of 17th Century, the Nagas extended help and provided refuge to the fleeing Ahoms in the Naga hills. In order to facilitate easy contact with the Nagas the Ahom kings constructed Naga Ali found near Namdang bridge in Upper Assam.
In short, one can see the kind of relationship that existed between the Ahoms and the Nagas for centuries during the times of the Ahoms. Today, it is an almost forgotten history, and whenever any border dispute arises from time to time, emotions get charged up while trying to maintain the status quo. However, what is now needed is for a healthy dialogue between the two states. The relationship that was built between the Ahoms and the Nagas, and having mutual respect for the boundary created between the Nagas and the Ahoms should be taken as a point of reference to take back to history and put things in perspective. The root reference to a healthy dialogue lies there.
As such leaving aside the Status Quo, there has to be an acknowledgement of history and its associated historical process as a root reference while addressing the Assam-Nagaland border issue. To this end, instead to confrontations both States should be willing to come together to dialogue.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
