“Tseminyu is the 5th administrative headquarter of Naga Hills but still remains a Sub-Division. Where is justice?”
Our Correspondent
Tseminyu | July 27
The Rengma community held a public rally on Wednesday to press for the creation of Tseminyu ADC to a District Headquarter on the grounds of its unique historical significance, necessity and tribal consideration.
A memorandum, addressed to Chief Minister of Nagaland was also submitted through the ADC Tseminyu. Given justification for its demand for creation of Tseminyu district, the memorandum pointed out that Nagaland state was created not on the basis of population and territory but out of necessity of tribal consideration on political ground and to meet the sentiments and aspiration of Naga people.
“If we talk about population and territory for creation of a district, in that case none of the districts in Nagaland is qualified because the whole of Nagaland state is less than one district population of UP and Bihar. All eleven districts in Nagaland were created purely out of necessity, not on the basis of population and territory nor MLA seats.
In the same way, Tseminyu ADC should be upgraded to district headquarter on the ground of necessity and on tribal consideration like other cases,” the memorandum urged.
The memorandum recalled history that when Naga Hills district was created with headquarter at Samuguting (Chumukedima) in 1866, Rengma was the backbone for formation of the district because major portion of Naga Hills district was Rengma’s land.
That point of time, the memorandum pointed out, the district consisted only five tribes, viz- Rengma, Zeliang, Angami, Lotha and Sema. All four tribes now have their own districts except Rengma tribe.
Asserting that Rengma like other Naga tribes have equally contributed for the cause of Nagas if not more, it pointed out that during the First World War, Naga Hills sent 2000 labour corps to France, and Rengma alone were 200 corps for the service of the nation.
The Nagas returned home from Europe and formed Naga Club in 1918 to raise voice to outside world, where Nrilo Rengma from Rengma tribe was one the founder members of the Club.
Naga Club was the first Naga common organization, which submitted the memorandum to Simon Commission on January 10, 1929 to exclude the Naga Hills from the proposed Reforms scheme where Rusilo Rengma, a Dobashi was one of the signatories of the memorandum.
“That was the first Naga memorandum submitted to the Government for Naga common welfare. Rengmas are second-to-none for the cause of Naga people. Nagas got statehood because of their struggle since the formation of Naga Club, in 1918,” the memorandum read.
It also stated that NNC president AZ Phizo began the Naga National movement from Rengma’s land by hoisting the first Naga national Flag at Parshen in Rengma area on March 22, 1956 by declaring Nagaland as sovereign Nation. The memorandum also claimed that the Naga National flag was made by four Rengma women of Sendenyu village on the advice of AZ Phizo, which was first used at Parshen on the first day of celebration of Naga Republic.
“Rengma has contributed and sacrificed maximum for common cause of the Nagas,” it therefore asserted. Coming to the present, the memorandum recalled that Tseminyu SDPDB has approved for creation of Tseminyu District and forwarded to the Government of Nagaland on March 18, 2016 this year.
“Tseminyu is the fifth administrative headquarter of Naga Hills but still remains a Sub-Division. Where is justice? Tseminyu administrative headquarter is now 69 years old, most deserving Sub-Division to be upgraded to district,” the memorandum lamented.
The memorandum informed that Tseminyu Sub-Division has a population of 56, 844 with 9, 152 households, having 38 recognized village, 3 unrecognized village and 3 township.
It stated that when Longleng Sub-Division in Nagaland having a population of 50,854 (as per 2011 census) was upgraded to a district out of political necessity likewise Tseminyu Sub Division having a 56, 844 population (as per 2011 census) deserve to be a district.
The Rengma Hoho and its frontal organizations elicited hope that the Government of Nagaland will consider their genuine demand and upgrade Tseminyu ADC to District Headquarter in the best interest of general public.
The public rally was addressed by Rengma Hoho president Kenyuseng Tep, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing, Er. Levi Rengma, ex-ministers R. Khing and Nillo Rengma among others.
