Naga Hills District, British India
Encyclopedia
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.
In 1875, the Lotha Naga region was conquered and annexed to the district. An administrative center was established at Wokha
; this center was shifted to Kohima
in 1879. In 1889, the Ao region was fully annexed to the Naga Hills District as a subdivision. The boundaries of the District were further extended to include most of the Sema Naga territories (1904) and the Konyak Naga region (1910). In 1912, the Naga Hills District was made part of the Assam
province. The Government of India Act 1919
declared the Naga Hills District as a "Backward Tract". The area was to be treated as an entity separate from the British Indian Empire.
In the early 1930s, some of the tribals in the region rebelled against the British rule under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu
. As per the Government of India Act 1935
, the area was made an "Excluded Area", administered by the Governor of Assam. The Deputy Commissioner of the district, CR Pawsney, estabished the Naga Hills District Tribal Council in 1945, which later evolved into the Naga National Council
in the 1945.
Under the leadership of Phizo, the Naga National Council unsuccessfully led a secessionist movement. When the Constitution of India
was first released in 1950, the Naga Hills District was placed in "Part A" category of tribal districts as per the Sixth Schedule. The Part A areas were supposed to be governed by the Government of Assam in collaboration with the Autonomous District Councils. However, the Naga leaders refused this scheme. Subsequently, the Naga Hills District, along with the Tuensang Division
(then a "Part B" area in the North-East Frontier Agency
) were made a new administrative unit under the Ministry of External Affairs
in 1957. After negotiation with the secessionists, this administrative unit was later made a full-fleged state called Nagaland
.
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...
province of British India. Located in 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...
, it was mainly inhabitated by the Naga tribes
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...
. The area is now part of the Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
state.
History
The Naga Hills district was created in 1866 by the Government of British India. Its headquarters were located at Samaguting.In 1875, the Lotha Naga region was conquered and annexed to the district. An administrative center was established at 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:...
; this center was shifted to 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....
in 1879. In 1889, the Ao region was fully annexed to the Naga Hills District as a subdivision. The boundaries of the District were further extended to include most of the Sema Naga territories (1904) and the Konyak Naga region (1910). In 1912, the Naga Hills District was made part of the 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...
province. The Government of India Act 1919
Government of India Act 1919
-See also:*British India*British Raj*History of Bangladesh*History of India*History of Pakistan*Governor-General of India*Government of India Act*India Office*Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms*Secretary of State for India...
declared the Naga Hills District as a "Backward Tract". The area was to be treated as an entity separate from the British Indian Empire.
In the early 1930s, some of the tribals in the region rebelled against the British rule under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu
Rani Gaidinliu
Rani Gidinlieu was one of the active participants in the fight for freedom from British rule in India. Born in Longkao village of Manipur She joined freedom struggle at the age of 13....
. As per the Government of India Act 1935
Government of India Act 1935
The Government of India Act 1935 was originally passed in August 1935 , and is said to have been the longest Act of Parliament ever enacted by that time. Because of its length, the Act was retroactively split by the Government of India Act 1935 into two separate Acts:# The Government of India...
, the area was made an "Excluded Area", administered by the Governor of Assam. The Deputy Commissioner of the district, CR Pawsney, estabished the Naga Hills District Tribal Council in 1945, which later evolved into the 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...
in the 1945.
Under the leadership of Phizo, the Naga National Council unsuccessfully led a secessionist movement. When the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
was first released in 1950, the Naga Hills District was placed in "Part A" category of tribal districts as per the Sixth Schedule. The Part A areas were supposed to be governed by the Government of Assam in collaboration with the Autonomous District Councils. However, the Naga leaders refused this scheme. Subsequently, the Naga Hills District, along with the Tuensang Division
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:...
(then a "Part B" area in the North-East Frontier Agency
North-East Frontier Agency
The North-East Frontier Agency was one of the political divisions in British India and later the Republic of India till 1972, when it became the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh...
) were made a new administrative unit under the Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (India)
The Ministry of External Affairs is the foreign ministry of India. It is the Indian government agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is S M Krishna...
in 1957. After negotiation with the secessionists, this administrative unit was later made a full-fleged state called Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
.
External link
- Gazetteer Of Naga Hills And Manipur (1905) edited by Allen, B. C.