Nagaland
Encyclopedia
Nagaland is a state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 in the far north-eastern
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...

 part of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It borders the state of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

 to the west, Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...

 and part of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

 to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...

 to the south. The state capital is Kohima
Kohima
Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....

, and the largest city is Dimapur
Dimapur
Dimapur in Nagaland is bounded by Kohima district on the south and east, Karbi Anglong district of Assam on the West, the Karbi Anglong and stretch of Golaghat District of Assam, in the west and the north...

. The state of Nagaland has an area of 16,579 km2 with a population of 19,80,602 (nineteen lakhs
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...

 eighty thousand six hundred two) as per the 2011 census
2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...

 making it one of the smallest states of India. The state is mostly mountainous except those areas bordering Assam valley. Mount Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland with a height of 3,840 metres and its range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Burma. It lies between the parallels of 98 degree and 96 degree East Longitude and 26.6 degree and 27.4 degree latitude North of the Equator.

Nagaland, the 16th state of the Indian Union, was established on December 1, 1963. It is divided into eleven districts: Kohima
Kohima district
Kohima district is a district of Nagaland state in India. It is the home of the Angami Naga tribe. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Nagaland , after Dimapur.-History:...

, Phek
Phek District
Phek is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Demographics:According to the 2011 census has a population of 163,294 , roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia. This gives it a ranking of 596th in India . Phek has a sex ratio of 951 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate...

, Mokokchung
Mokokchung District
Mokokchung is a district of Nagaland state in India. The town of Mokokchung is its headquarters. It is the home of the Ao Naga tribe. It covers an area of 1,615 km². It is bounded by the state of Assam to its north, Wokha to its west, Tuensang to its east, and Zunheboto to its...

, Wokha
Wokha District
Wokha is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Economy:In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Wokha one of the country's 250 most backward districts...

, Zunheboto
Zunheboto District
Zunheboto is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Geography:It is bordered on the east by Mokokchung District, Kohima District in the south and Wokha District on the west. Headquarters is at Zunheboto...

, Tuensang
Tuensang District
Tuensang District is the largest and the eastern most district of Nagaland, a state in North-East India. Its headquarters is Tuensang.-History:...

, Mon
Mon District
Mon is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Geography:Mon district is the northernmost district of Nagaland. It is bounded by the state of Arunachal Pradesh to its north, Assam to its west, Myanmar to its east, Longleng District to its south-west and Tuensang District to its south...

, Dimapur
Dimapur District
Dimapur is a district of Nagaland state in India. Its headquarters is Chumukedima. As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Nagaland .-History:...

, Kiphire
Kiphire district
Kiphire is the newly formed ninth district of Nagaland which was carved out of Tuensang District. As of 2011 it is the second least populous district of Nagaland , after Longleng.-Geography:...

, Longleng
Longleng district
Longleng district is one of the eleven districts of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the eighth least populous district in the country .-Geography:...

 and Peren
Peren district
Peren is the eleventh and newest district of Nagaland and has been formed by the partition of Kohima District.- History :Peren District is inhabited by the Zeliangs who originated from Nkuilwangdi, presently in Senapati District of Manipur...

. It is a largely mountainous state. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland. Principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Other economy boosters are forestry, cottage industries, insurance, real estate and tourism.

History

The early history of the Nagas is the story of the customs and economic activities of the Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...

 tribes. The people were originally referred to as Naka in Burmese languages, which means 'people with pierced ears'. It is also said that the word "Naga" was given by the British which actually means "Naked" (in Hindi "nanga" means naked). The British broadly classified the tribes of Manipur into "Nagas" and "Kukis". The Naga tribes had socio-economic and political links with tribes in Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

 and Burma (Myanmar); even today a large population of Naga inhabits Assam. Following an invasion in 1816, the area, along with Assam, came under direct rule of Burma. This period was noted for oppressive rule and turmoil in Assam and Naga Hills
Naga hills
Naga hills, reaching a height of around 3825 metres, lie on the border of India and Burma . These hills are part of a complex mountain system, and the parts of the mountain ranges inside the Indian state of Nagaland and the Burmese region of Sagaing are called the Naga Hills.In British India, the...

. When the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...

 took control of Assam in 1826, Britain steadily expanded its domain over modern Naga Hills. By 1892, all of the Naga Hills except the Tuensang area
Tuensang District
Tuensang District is the largest and the eastern most district of Nagaland, a state in North-East India. Its headquarters is Tuensang.-History:...

 in the northeast was governed by the British. It was politically amalgamated into Assam. Missionaries played an important part in converting Nagaland's Naga tribes to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

.

Not much is known about the history before the Burmese invasion or before the Naga people were converted to Christianity.

Road to statehood

During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the British recruited several hundred Nagas and sent them to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 to work as aides at the front
Front (military)
A military front or battlefront is a contested armed frontier between opposing forces. This can be a local or tactical front, or it can range to a theater...

. While in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, the Nagas, who had always been fractured by tribal differences, began to think that they should work towards becoming unified in order to protect their common interests. On their return to their homeland in 1918, they organized, and thus began the Naga nationalist movement
Naga National Council
The Naga National Council was a political organization of Naga people, active from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo in the 1940s, it unsuccessfully campaigned for the secession of the Naga territory from India and creation for a sovereign Naga...

.

After the independence of India
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...

 in 1947, the area remained a part of the province of Assam. Nationalist activities arose amongst a section of the Nagas, whose Naga National Council
Naga National Council
The Naga National Council was a political organization of Naga people, active from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo in the 1940s, it unsuccessfully campaigned for the secession of the Naga territory from India and creation for a sovereign Naga...

 demanded a political union of their ancestral and native groups, damaged government and civil infrastructure and attacked government officials and civilians from other states of India. The Union government sent the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

 in 1955, to restore order. In 1957, the government began diplomatic talks with representatives of Naga tribes, and the Naga Hills district
Naga Hills District, British India
The Naga Hills District was a former district of the Assam province of British India. Located in the Naga Hills, it was mainly inhabitated by the Naga tribes. The area is now part of the Nagaland state.- History :...

 of Assam and the Tuensang frontier were united in a single political entity, Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA), that became a Union territory
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...

 directly administered by the Central government with a large degree of autonomy. This was not satisfactory to the tribes, however, and soon agitation and violence increased across the state—included attacks on Army and government institutions, as well as civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...

 and non-payment of taxes. In July 1960, following discussion between the Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...

 and the leaders of the Naga People Convention (NPC), a 16-point Agreement was arrived at whereby the Government of India recognized the formation of Nagaland as a full-fledged State within the Union of India. Accordingly, the territory was placed under the Nagaland Transitional Provisions Regulation, 1961 which provided for an Interim Body consisting of 45 members to be elected by various tribes according to the customs, traditions and usage of the respective tribes. Subsequently, Nagaland attained Statehood with the enactment of the State of Nagaland Act, 1962, by the Parliament
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...

. The Interim Body was dissolved on November 30, 1963 and the State of Nagaland was formally inaugurated on December 1, 1963. After elections in January, 1964, the first Nagaland Legislative Assembly
Nagaland Legislative Assembly
Nagaland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Nagaland. Nagaland became a state of India on 1 December, 1963 and after elections in January, 1964, the first Nagaland Legislative Assembly was formed on 11 February, 1964. In 1974, the strength of the Legislative...

 was constituted on February 11, 1964.

Geography and climate

Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills
Naga hills
Naga hills, reaching a height of around 3825 metres, lie on the border of India and Burma . These hills are part of a complex mountain system, and the parts of the mountain ranges inside the Indian state of Nagaland and the Burmese region of Sagaing are called the Naga Hills.In British India, the...

 rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 2000 feet (609.6 m) and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6000 feet (1,828.8 m). Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12552 feet (3,825.8 m) is the state's highest peak; this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Burma. Rivers such as the Doyang and Diphu to the north, the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river of Burma in the southeast, dissect the entire state.

Nagaland is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland is under the cover of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests—including palms, bamboo, and rattan as well as timber and mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....

 forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum cultivation
Jhum cultivation
Jhum or Jhoom cultivation is a local name for slash and burn agriculture practiced by the tribal groups in the northeastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also in the districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet...

, many scrub forests, high grass, reeds; secondary dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar
Sambar Deer
The Sambar ' is a large deer native to southern and southeast Asia. Although it primarily refers to R. unicolor, the name "Sambar" is also sometimes used to refer to the Philippine Deer and the Rusa Deer...

, harts, oxen, and buffaloes thrive across the state's forests. The Great Indian Hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the state. Blyth’s Tragopan, a vulnerable species
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...

 of pheasant, is also found in the state and is the State Bird of Nagaland. It is sighted in mount Japfü and Dzükou valley of Kohima district, Satoi range in Zunheboto district and Pfütsero in Phek district. Of the mere 2500 tragopans sighted in the world, Dzükou valley is the natural habitat of more than 1,000.
Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 70–100 in (1,778–2,540 mm), concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures range from 70 °F (21.1 °C) to 104 °F (40 °C). In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39 °F (3.9 °C), but frost is common at high elevations.

Culture and religion

The 16 main tribes of Nagaland are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang
Chakhesang
Chakhesang is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland, India.The word Chakhesang comprises three tribes: cha - Chakri, Khe - Khezha, Sang - Sangtam.Chakhesangs are the former Eastern [Angami], who have separated from the Angami Naga tribe, and are now recognized as a separate tribe. It is a major tribe in...

, Chang
Chang Naga
Chang is a Naga of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai , Changru , Duenching , Machungrr , Mochumi and Mojung .- Origin :According to oral...

, Khiamniungan, Konyak
Konyak
The Konyak are a Naga people, and are recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands. They are called the land of Angh's. They have the largest population among the Nagas....

, Lotha, Phom
Phom Naga
Phom is a Naga tribe from Nagaland, India. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Yongnyah is the largest Phom village.- Economy :...

, Pochury, Rengma
Rengma
Rengma is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland and Assam states of India. According to the 2001 census of India, the Rengma population in Nagaland was 50,966 i.e. 2.9% of the total Naga population.-History:...

, Sangtam
Sangtam
The Sangtam is a Naga tribe living in the Tuensang district of Nagaland. They are believed to have migrated from Myanmar.Like many other tribal groups in Northeast India, they practice jhum, or shifting cultivation. Unlike other Naga tribes in Nagaland, many of the Sangtam have retained their...

, Sumi, Yimchunger
Yimchunger
- History :According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave...

, Kuki
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...

 and Zeliang
Zeliangrong
Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous mongoloid communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. The term "Zeliangrong" refers to the Rongmei, Liangmai and Zeme Naga tribes combined together....

. The Konyaks, Angamis, Aos, Lothas, and Sumis are the largest Naga tribes; there are several smaller tribes as well (see List of Naga tribes). Tribe and clan traditions and loyalties play an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the tribe has its own unique designs and colours, producing shawls
Naga shawl
Naga shawls are traditional shawls with a distinctive pattern made by various Naga tribes from Nagaland in India....

, shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings, and bamboo works. Naga Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn Naga reticence of the Naga people. War dances and other dances belonging to distinctive Naga tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some of these are Moatsu
Moatsü
The Moatsü Mong festival is celebrated by the Ao people of Nagaland, India.Moatsü is celebrated in the first week of May every year. Various rituals are performed during this period. The Aos observe Moatsü Mong after the sowing is done...

, Sekrenyi, Tuluni, Tokhu Emong
Tokhu Emong
Tokhu Emong is a festival celebrated by the Lotha nagas. It is celebrated on first week of November every year and it lasts for 9 days. It is also called post harvest festival. This festival is associated with the harvesting of crops.It is also accompanied and folk dances and singing of old folk...

,and Gan-ngai.
Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. The state's population is 1.988 million, out of which 90.02% are Christians. The census of 2001 recorded the state's Christian population at 1,790,349, making it, with Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...

 and Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...

, one of the three Christian-majority states in India and the only state where Christians form 90% of the population. The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. Huge churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung.

Nagaland is known as "the only predominantly Baptist state in the world." Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group, constituting more than 75% of the state's population, thus making it more Baptist (on a percentage basis) than Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

 in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, where 55% of its population is Baptist. Roman Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, Revivalists, and Pentecostals
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...

 are the other Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...

 numbers. Catholics are found in significant numbers in parts of Wokha district and Kohima district as also in the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur.

Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

 and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

 practiced by the non-Naga community are minority religions in the state, at 7.7% and 1.8% of the population respectively.

Languages

Each tribe of Nagaland have its own unique language. Nagas speak 60 different dialects belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages
Sino-Tibetan languages
The Sino-Tibetan languages are a language family comprising, at least, the Chinese and the Tibeto-Burman languages, including some 250 languages of East Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. They are second only to the Indo-European languages in terms of the number of native speakers...

. The traditional languages do not have any script of their own. The Christian missionaries used Roman script for these languages.

In 1967, the Nagaland Assembly proclaimed English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 as the official language of Nagaland and is the medium for education in Nagaland.

Nagamese
Nagamese
Nagamese is a creole used in Nagaland. It is based on Assamese. Since Nagaland is inhabited by people belonging to different Naga tribes speaking languages which are mutually unintelligible, Nagamese is the preferred form of communication for all. It is used in the Nagaland Legislature, as a...

, a creole language
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...

 form of Indo-Aryan Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...

 and local dialects is the most widely spoken market language. Every tribe has its own mother tongue but communicates with other tribes in Nagamese. As such Nagamese is not a mother tongue of any of the tribes; nor is it written.

Demography

The population of Nagaland is nearly two million people. The population mostly consists of Agriculturalist and around 75% of the population live in the rural areas. About one-third of this rural population can be considered to be below the poverty line. Among the people living in urban areas one-fifth of them are below the poverty line.

Administration


The Governor is the constitutional head of state, representative of the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

. He possesses largely ceremonial responsibilities apart from law and order responsibilities.
The Legislative Assembly of Nagaland (Vidhan Sabha
Vidhan Sabha
The Vidhan Sabha or the Legislative Assembly is the lower house or the sole house of the provincial legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhi and Pondicherry...

) is the real executive and legislative body of the state. The 60-member Vidhan Sabha
Vidhan Sabha
The Vidhan Sabha or the Legislative Assembly is the lower house or the sole house of the provincial legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhi and Pondicherry...

 — all elected members of legislature — forms the government executive and is led by the Chief minister. Unlike most states in India, Nagaland has been granted a great degree of state autonomy, as well as special powers and autonomy for Naga tribes to conduct their own affairs. Each tribe has a hierarchy of councils at the village, range, and tribal levels dealing with local disputes.

DistrictsDistrict Headquarters
  • Dimapur District
    Dimapur District
    Dimapur is a district of Nagaland state in India. Its headquarters is Chumukedima. As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Nagaland .-History:...

     – Dimapur-Chumukedima
    Dimapur-Chumukedima
    Dimapur-Chumukedima refers to the urban hub centred around Dimapur with suburbs stretching all along the NH 39 from Dimapur up to Chumukedima. It is located in Dimapur district of Nagaland...

  • Kiphire District
    Kiphire district
    Kiphire is the newly formed ninth district of Nagaland which was carved out of Tuensang District. As of 2011 it is the second least populous district of Nagaland , after Longleng.-Geography:...

     – Kiphire
    Kiphire
    Kiphire is a small town, situated at an elevation of 896 m above sea level and is the headquarters of the newly formed Kiphire district, carved out of Tuensang district, in Nagaland, India. Kiphire is about 254 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland.It is the place where the Naga tribes of...

  • Kohima District
    Kohima district
    Kohima district is a district of Nagaland state in India. It is the home of the Angami Naga tribe. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Nagaland , after Dimapur.-History:...

     – Greater Kohima
    Greater Kohima
    Greater Kohima refers to the urban agglomeration area around Nagaland's capital city, Kohima. The agglomeration area includes Kohima Village, Jakhama and Jotsoma along with Kohima town and is the second largest urban area of Nagaland. It is one of the three urban agglomeration areas in Nagaland...

  • Longleng District
    Longleng district
    Longleng district is one of the eleven districts of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the eighth least populous district in the country .-Geography:...

     – Longleng
    Longleng
    Longleng is a town situated at an altitude of 1066 metres above sea level in India. It is the district headquarters of the newly formed Longleng district in Nagaland. Mokokchung is the nearest major town. Phom is the main language spoken here.- External links :...

  • Mokokchung District
    Mokokchung District
    Mokokchung is a district of Nagaland state in India. The town of Mokokchung is its headquarters. It is the home of the Ao Naga tribe. It covers an area of 1,615 km². It is bounded by the state of Assam to its north, Wokha to its west, Tuensang to its east, and Zunheboto to its...

     – Mokokchung
    Mokokchung
    Mokokchung is a town and a municipality in Mokokchung district in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the district headquarter as well as the main urban hub of Mokokchung district. Mokokchung is the cultural center of the Ao people and is economically and politically the most important urban...

  • Mon District
    Mon District
    Mon is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Geography:Mon district is the northernmost district of Nagaland. It is bounded by the state of Arunachal Pradesh to its north, Assam to its west, Myanmar to its east, Longleng District to its south-west and Tuensang District to its south...

     – Mon
    Mon, India
    Mon is a town and a town area committee in Mon district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Mon is located at . It has an average elevation of 655 metres .It is situated at an altitude of 2,945 ft above sea level...

  • Peren District
    Peren district
    Peren is the eleventh and newest district of Nagaland and has been formed by the partition of Kohima District.- History :Peren District is inhabited by the Zeliangs who originated from Nkuilwangdi, presently in Senapati District of Manipur...

     – Peren
    Peren
    Peren , a city in India, is located at an altitude of 1445 metres above sea level. It is the district headquarter of Nagaland's eleventh and newest district-Peren district. Zeliang, Rongmei and Kuki are the main inhabitants.- External links :*...

  • Phek District
    Phek District
    Phek is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Demographics:According to the 2011 census has a population of 163,294 , roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia. This gives it a ranking of 596th in India . Phek has a sex ratio of 951 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate...

     – Phek
    Phek
    Phek is a town and a town Council in Phek district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Demographics: India census, Phek had a population of 12,863. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Phek has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...

  • Tuensang District
    Tuensang District
    Tuensang District is the largest and the eastern most district of Nagaland, a state in North-East India. Its headquarters is Tuensang.-History:...

     – Tuensang
    Tuensang
    Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...

  • Wokha District
    Wokha District
    Wokha is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Economy:In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Wokha one of the country's 250 most backward districts...

     – Greater Wokha
    Greater Wokha
    Greater Wokhas urban agglomeration consists of Wokha town, Longsa village, Wokha village and Vakhosung. It has a combined population of 43,089.Details of the population distribution are:**Wokha town - 37,696**Wokha village- 2,600**Vankhosung- 310...

  • Zunheboto District
    Zunheboto District
    Zunheboto is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Geography:It is bordered on the east by Mokokchung District, Kohima District in the south and Wokha District on the west. Headquarters is at Zunheboto...

     – Zunheboto
    Zunheboto
    Zunheboto is a town and a town area committee in Zunheboto district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Zunheboto is home to the Sumi Naga....


Greater cities and towns

Dimapur
Dimapur
Dimapur in Nagaland is bounded by Kohima district on the south and east, Karbi Anglong district of Assam on the West, the Karbi Anglong and stretch of Golaghat District of Assam, in the west and the north...

, Kohima
Kohima
Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....

, Mokokchung
Mokokchung
Mokokchung is a town and a municipality in Mokokchung district in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the district headquarter as well as the main urban hub of Mokokchung district. Mokokchung is the cultural center of the Ao people and is economically and politically the most important urban...

, Tuensang
Tuensang
Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...

, Wokha
Wokha
Wokha is a town and a town area committee in Wokha district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Wokha is located at . It has an average elevation of 1313 metres .-Demographics:...

, Mon, Zunheboto
Zunheboto
Zunheboto is a town and a town area committee in Zunheboto district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Zunheboto is home to the Sumi Naga....


Urban agglomerations

There are four urban agglomeration areas with population of more than 40,000 in the state:
Rank | Metropolitan/Agglomeration Area | District | 2001 Census
1 Dimapur-Chumukedima
Dimapur-Chumukedima
Dimapur-Chumukedima refers to the urban hub centred around Dimapur with suburbs stretching all along the NH 39 from Dimapur up to Chumukedima. It is located in Dimapur district of Nagaland...

 
Dimapur District
Dimapur District
Dimapur is a district of Nagaland state in India. Its headquarters is Chumukedima. As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Nagaland .-History:...

 
230,106
2 Greater Kohima
Greater Kohima
Greater Kohima refers to the urban agglomeration area around Nagaland's capital city, Kohima. The agglomeration area includes Kohima Village, Jakhama and Jotsoma along with Kohima town and is the second largest urban area of Nagaland. It is one of the three urban agglomeration areas in Nagaland...

 
Kohima District
Kohima district
Kohima district is a district of Nagaland state in India. It is the home of the Angami Naga tribe. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Nagaland , after Dimapur.-History:...

 
99,795
3 Mokokchung Metropolitan Area
Mokokchung Metropolitan Area
Mokokchung Metropolitan Area is a major urban agglomeration in Mokokchung district in the Indian state of Nagaland, with Mokokchung town as its main urban hub...

 
Mokokchung District
Mokokchung District
Mokokchung is a district of Nagaland state in India. The town of Mokokchung is its headquarters. It is the home of the Ao Naga tribe. It covers an area of 1,615 km². It is bounded by the state of Assam to its north, Wokha to its west, Tuensang to its east, and Zunheboto to its...

 
60,161
4 Greater Wokha
Greater Wokha
Greater Wokhas urban agglomeration consists of Wokha town, Longsa village, Wokha village and Vakhosung. It has a combined population of 43,089.Details of the population distribution are:**Wokha town - 37,696**Wokha village- 2,600**Vankhosung- 310...

 
Wokha District
Wokha District
Wokha is a district of Nagaland state in India.-Economy:In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Wokha one of the country's 250 most backward districts...

 
43,089

Greater (non-district headquarter) towns

Tuli town, Naganimora
Naganimora
The name Naganimora is derieved from a word NAGA RANI MORA which mean a burial place of the Naga queen, a small and a scenic town is situated 11 km away from Kongan village in Mon District, in the Indian state of Nagaland....

, Changtongya
Changtongya
Changtongya is a hilly town in Mokokchung district of Nagaland. Located around 40 km north of Mokokchung and 40 km south of Tuli, it lies midway between the two largest urban centres of the district. The town is located at an altitude of 954 metres above sea level...

, Tizit, Tseminyu, Bhandari
Bhandari
For other uses, see Bhandari .Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India...

, Akuluto, Pfutsero

Macro-economic trend

This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Nagaland at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian rupees.
Year M
1980 1,027
1985 2,730
1990 6,550
1995 18,140
2000 36,790

Nagaland's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $1.4 billion in current prices.

Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland, with more than 90% of the population employed in agriculture. Crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes, and threads. However, Nagaland still depends on the import of food supplies from other states. The widespread practice of jhum, tilling, has led to soil erosion and loss of fertility, particularly in the eastern districts. Only the Angami and Chakesang tribes in the Kohima and Phek districts use terracing
Terrace (agriculture)
Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice...

 techniques. And most of the Aos, Lothas, and Zeliangs in Mokokchung, Wokha, and Peren districts respectively till in the many valleys of the district. Forestry is also an important source of income. Cottage industries such as weaving, woodwork, and pottery are also an important source of revenue. Tourism is important, but largely limited due to insurgency since the last five decades.

Transportation

The railway network in the state is minimal. Broad gauge lines run 7.98 miles (12.8 km), National Highway roads 227 miles (365.3 km), and state roads 680.1 miles (1,094.5 km). There is one airport in Dimapur
Dimapur Airport
Dimapur Airport is located at Dimapur in the state of Nagaland, India. It is the gateway and the only civil airport in the North East Indian state of Nagaland.- Airlines and destinations :-External links:*...

 and another is being planned for Kohima, the state capital.

Railways

Railway: North East Frontier Railway
  • Broad gauge: 7.98 miles (12.8 km)
  • Total: 7.98 miles (12.8 km)

[Data Source: N. F. Railway, CME Office, Guwahati-781011]

Highways and towns served

National highways
Indian highways
The National Highways Network of India, is a network of highways that is managed and maintained by agencies of the Government of India. These highways measured over as of 2010, including over of limited-access Expressways....

: 227 miles (365.3 km)
  • NH 61: Kohima
    Kohima
    Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....

    , Wokha, Tseminyu, Wokha, Mokokchung
    Mokokchung
    Mokokchung is a town and a municipality in Mokokchung district in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the district headquarter as well as the main urban hub of Mokokchung district. Mokokchung is the cultural center of the Ao people and is economically and politically the most important urban...

    , Changtongya, Tuli
  • NH 39: Dimapur-Kohima-Mao-Imphal (134.2 mi (216 km))
  • NH 36: Dimapur-Doboka-Nagonan (105.6 mi (169.9 km))
  • NH 150: Kohima-Jessami via Chakhabama-Pfutsero (74.6 mi (120.1 km))
  • NH 155: Mokukchung-Jessami via Tuesang-Kiphire (206.9 mi (333 km))


State highways: 680.1 miles (1,094.5 km)
  • Chakabama–Mokokchung Via Chazuba and Zunheboto
  • Kohima–Meluri via Chakhabama
  • Mokokchung–Mariani
  • Mokokchung–Tuensang
  • Namtola–Mon
  • Tuensang–Mon–Naginimora
  • Tuensang–Kiphire–Meluri
  • Wokha–Merapani Road

[Source: Office of The Chief Engineer, P.W.D., Kohima, Nagaland]

Airways
  • Dimapur
    Dimapur Airport
    Dimapur Airport is located at Dimapur in the state of Nagaland, India. It is the gateway and the only civil airport in the North East Indian state of Nagaland.- Airlines and destinations :-External links:*...

    : 43.5 miles (70 km) from the capital
    Kohima
    Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....


Newspapers


See also

  • Naga people
    Naga people
    The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...

  • Northeast Indian Railways during World War II
    Northeast Indian Railways during World War II
    The efficient running of the Northeast Indian Railways during World War II became critical to the success of the Allied war effort in the South-East Asian Theatre....

  • Battle of the Tennis Court
    Battle of the Tennis Court
    The Battle of the Tennis Court was the turning point in the Battle of Kohima in North East India from April 4 – June 22, 1944.By April 5 the British had been forced back onto the Kohima ridge....

  • Edwin W. Clark
    Edwin W. Clark
    - Ministry in Nagaland :E. W. Clark and his wife sailed from Boston on October 20, 1868 under the Baptist Missionary Union as Missionaries and Printers. They arrived in Sibsagar in March 1869.The hills beyond their Sibsagar mission were the Naga Hills...

  • Battle of Kohima
    Battle of Kohima
    The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...

  • Nagaland Baptist Church Council
    Nagaland Baptist Church Council
    Nagaland Baptist Church Council is a Protestant church of India. It is in the North Eastern state of Nagaland. It counts more than 1001 congregations. It has over 600,000 members. More than 20 Naga Baptist conventions are affiliated to it. Baptists form more than 80% of Nagaland's population and...

  • Angami Zapu Phizo
    Angami Zapu Phizo
    Angami Zapu Phizo was a Naga leader from India. Under his influence, the Naga National Council inclined towards seeking secession from India. The Naga secessionist groups regard him as the "Father of the Nagas".-Biography:...

  • Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 (India)
    Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 (India)
    The Foreigners Order 1958 states that a Protected Area Permit is required for non-Indian citizens to visit certain areas in India . Certain requirements have to be fulfilled in order to get this permit. Indian citizens, who are not resident in these areas need a Inner Line Permit to enter these...



Further reading

  • Stirn, Aglaja & Peter van Ham. The Hidden world of the Naga: Living Traditions in Northeast India. London: Prestel.
  • Oppitz, Michael, Thomas Kaiser, Alban von Stockhausen & Marion Wettstein. 2008. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers.
  • Kunz, Richard & Vibha Joshi. 2008. Naga – A Forgotten Mountain Region Rediscovered. Basel: Merian.
  • Glancey, Jonathan. 2011. Nagaland: a Journey to India's Forgotten Frontier. London: Faber
    Faber
    - People with the surname Faber :* Basil Faber , Lutheran theologian* Lady Caroline Faber* Dave Faber, Lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Faber Drive* David Faber * David Faber , market news analyst...

  • Hattaway, Paul. 2006. 'From Head Hunters To Church Planters'. Authentic Publishing
  • Hutton, J. 1986. 'Report on Naga Hills' Delhi: Mittal Publication.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK