Revisiting Chuksu-garoumei
(Ritual of reconciliation performed by the forefathers of Zeliangrong/Haomei tribes)

Voice of Haomei *

Travelling through Tamenglong District in the first week of Feb 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Primitive histories of humanity abound with legends of barbaric war and killings. Killings in ancient days, albeit some reservation, were considered glorious. It was considered honorable and manly. It was a symbol of valor and glory. And the ethnic groups sparsely scattered and dotted along the present areas of northeastern region of India lying in and around the line of international boundary of India, China and Myanmar was no exception to this past glory.

However, with the light of civilization and emerging dawn of enlightenment, progress and advancement, humanity slowly came to realize the futility and vain glory of the ancient savagery. The Zeliangrong or Haomei people who once reveled in the glory of headhunting also came to realize that this practice is doing more harm than good to them.

As a result, one fine day or precisely on 1st April, 1934 in the present Tamenglong District Headquarters, representatives from villages of the Zeliangrong/Haomei people came together as one and performed a sacred customary rites "Chuksu-Garoumei" to cleanse the land and the people of all the sins of inter-village feuds, intra-tribe wars and other form of avenging killing.

Closing the chapter of headhunting culture, the ceremony with a sacred oath affirmed to do away with all inter-village feuds, intra village wars and any other form of bloodshed in our land, to restore and strengthen the bond of unity among the Zeliangrong/Haomei tribes.

Now, that was almost 80 years ago, even my grandfather wouldn't have decided whom to marry! It was still a time when they marveled and called an aeroplane a "flying box". They were still very primitive in many ways. Inspite of the time and condition they lived in, we are fortunate to have such a visionary leaders. God bless the soul(s) that conceived the idea behind the successful culmination of "Chuksu-Garoumei". In my understanding, the spirit and principle of Chuksu-Garoumei is to cease the evil of bloodshed in our land and to lift the curse that it has brought to our land.

But unfortunately, the dreams and vision of our forefathers were short-lived. The juggernaut of naga national movement took over the lands of the Zeliangrong/Haomei people bringing confusions and bloodsheds along its way. Once again, bloods were splattered and dead bodies strewn on the peaceful lands of the Zeliangrong/Haomei people.

The land and people were exploited and used like a prostitute; they were raped, physically, politically and morally under the muzzle of guns. Youngsters are handed sophisticated modern weapons and factional gunfights boomed throughout every nook and corner of our land. Immature young people, who are too early to grasp the gravity of their own action, going about with guns slinging around their shoulders nonchalantly is a common sight in our land.

Today, the game of headhunting has been revived in our land in a new subtle form dangerous than ever. Our lands are the playground, and it is tainted with blood. "And now you are cursed from the earth, whose mouth is open to take your brother's blood from your hand; No longer will the earth give her fruit as the reward of your work; you will be a wanderer in flight over the earth." (Genesis 4:11-12). The sacred ideals and oath of our forefathers are forgotten now.

A voiceless society is a dead society. What will we say to our forefathers?

Shall we uphold and continue to walk in their legacy or silently wait for their frown?

It is high time we redeem our people and land. We perceive people not by what they said but by the fruits of their deed. We will be a sitting duck if we believe in the ideology that say one thing but advocate and cause killings in our society.

No matter what, there is no "good bloodshed" or "bad bloodshed" blah blah blah… Killing must be stopped, atleast in our lands. Wars and killings are one of the greatest impediments to positive progress of humanity.

For this reason, our forefathers, with their infinite vision and wisdom, laid the foundation to create a new dawn of civilization for us. But are we walking in their footstep? Or, are we allowing ourselves to be trampled by others?

PS: "Naga National Movement" may be a necessity; but infightings and bloodshed are definitely NOT!