Nagaland State and the word "NAGA"

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Nagaland State lies between 26’ 60' and 27’ 40' latitude North of Equator and between the Longitudinal lines 93’ 20'E and 95’ 15'E having an area of 18,400 square Kms. The State is situated in the North Eastern part of India. The State shares its boundary with Assam in north and west; Arunachal and Myanmar in East, and Manipur in South.

The Nagas belongs to Mongolian tribe and more than 50 Naga tribes are living in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal and Myanmar.

THE WORD 'NAGA'

The Nagas did not call themselves as 'Nagas'. It was outsiders who give them the name 'NAGA'.
The name NAGA is believed to have been derived from following words.

i) NANGRA - a Kachari word which means, 'A YOUNG WARRIOR.
ii) NAGNA - a Sanskrit word, 'NAKED.
iii) NANGA - a Hindustani word, 'NAKED.
iv) NOGA - Assamese word, NAKED or NEWMAN.
v) NAGA - SNAKE OR KING SNAKES. Nagas are fond of eating Snakes
vi) NAG - Sanskrit word HILL & NAGA meaning, HILLMAN.
vii) NAKA - Burmese word, EARRING and people wears earring or Pierce
their EARLOBES are known as NAKAS. It later changed into English
phonetic, 'NAGA'.

The use of NAGA dated back to 150 AD, when Greek Scholar, Claudius Ptolemy referred in his writting, NAGA-LOGOI. The word mentioning NAGA can also be found in the history of the Kings of Assam written by the Assamese Borunjis, beginning from 13th century. It was long before the
Bangalees or Hindustani people came in contact with the Nagas.
Therefore, it is likely that the word NAGA had been given by the Assamese who are close to Nagas than any other people.

Many eminent Historians from Europe, China and Assam wrote about the Nagas where they referred the Nagas as people living in between Brahmaputra River and Chinwing River.

SOME IMPORTANT BOOKS ON NAGAS

i) A Corner in India - M.M CLARK, 19O7
ii) The Rengma Nagas - J.P MILLS, 1937
iii) The Ao Nagas - J.P MILLS 1926
iv) The Sema Nagas - J.H HUTTON, 1922
v) The Angami Nagas - J.H HUTTON 1921
vi) The Nagas - FRANCIS JENKINS, 1836
Vii) The Nagas: India’s problems or the World – Rev. Michael Scott
viii) Conflict in Nagaland – V.K ANAND
ix) Naga Hills and Manipur – B.C ALLEN 1905
x) The World of Nagas – M. RAMUNNY 1988

Miracle baby's Prophecy.

On 8th April 2010, the news about Miracle baby who made a prophecy and
passed away has spread like wild fire to every nook and corners of
Nagaland, Manipur and Assam within 4-5 hours, thanks to good
tele-communication services.

The rumour of new born baby at Civil hospital Dimapur on 8th
April 2010, who passed away after making a prophecy directing the
people to dig a spot on the right side of the entrances to homes such
as gates or near the door of fire places (Kitchen) where a charcoal
like matter will be found which should be soaked in water and the
water be given to Children below 15 years to drink before 12 am
midnight or they will die.
The source from where the rumours originated could not be
ascertained. However, it was suspected that the rumours started from
Mobile SMSes.
When Dimapur civil hospital was contacted, the Medical Officers
clarified that no such incidents has taken place.
Meanwhile, most of the people believing the prophecy, has
reportedly dug up soils and actually found the charcoal like matter
which were soaked in water and given to their children for consuming.
As for the dark materials, the chances of encountering
dark-coloured mud or pebbles are quite common everywhere when earth is
dug.