Chizokho Vero
Meluri | November 26
The Pochury and Rengma communities on Sunday gathered here for a cultural regale, filled with folk dances and songs, indigenous games and a skit on their migration story. This was a celebration to uphold their history and to mark brotherhood between the two “inseparable communities” which claim to descend from the same family and blood group since time immemorial.
In a grand celebration of the second Pochury- Rengma Day here, the need to establish a Pochury- Rengma village at Dimapur was strongly felt by Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Law & Justice, Yitachu and Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture, R. Khing who addressed the gathering. The purpose is to create a meeting point for two communities and to help strengthen its ties.
“We are in the right direction if we continue to uphold this spirit of brotherhood and help each other without hesitation to take our relation forward,” said Yitachu. Commenting that the Pochury Nagas in Myanmar and the Rengma Nagas in Assam are struggling without a definite jurisdiction, Yitachu also appealed to the Rengma and the Pochury Hohos to give attention to the issue at hand.
We are in a better position and they are at a disadvantage but the situation may reverse and it is our duty to help them obtain a clear jurisdiction, he urged.
Also speaking on the occasion, R. Khing stressed on the importance of fostering and strengthening ties between the two communities so as to make the relationship stronger from generation to generation.
He also opined that these kinds of gatherings should be set as an example of unity and understanding among other Naga communities too. He also stressed on the need to identify areas where the two communities can work together for a common cause.
Khenga Rengma, President Rengma Naga Peoples’ Council, Diphu, Karbi Anglong, Assam, in his greetings highlighted the history of the two communities and maintained that the origin of the Rengmas and Pochurys can be traced back to the same stock.
However, he stated, due to geographical factor, the two tribes lived in isolation across the nation and international border under different administrative units.
“Though we live in physical isolation, our moral, spiritual mind should not be separated because our forefathers descended from the same family”, he maintained. He also stated that such kind of gathering should not be observed merely for the sake of commemoration, but should percolate down to the masses of the two communities “so that our next generation shall reap the harvest of what we have shown today”.
The first Rengma-Pochury Day was held on November 25, 2010 at Aghonshü under Tseminyu sub-division. Ghachu, President Pochury Public Forum, Sawathang Kez Seb, President Rengma Hoho also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Yitachu and R. Khing jointly unveiled the monolith which was erected to commemorate history and strengthen the brotherhood between Rengmas and Pochurys. Chulekhu ex-President PPF chaired the function while welcome address was delivered by PPF general secretary Sierhosie. Vote of thanks was proposed by PPF vice president Tsolemong.
