Namsu Namdimmei : Formation of traditional Zeliangrong village
- Part 1 -

Budha Kamei *

A Scene from 'The Zeliangrongs' :: Provided by Director - Ronel Haobam

"Nature prepares the site and man organizes it to enable him to satisfy his desires and his needs."

Generally, a village is a group of dwelling houses, built in cluster with cultivable and uncultivable land around it. It is a habitat place of mankind and a centre of community. It may be located in high, low and plain with all the forest around it. Usually, a village is established in a habitable location, where water, plants, trees and grasses are available in the locality. There is no specific standard number of the houses that can be considered as village. A village may be composed of number of dwelling houses.

A big village consists of large number of population, but a small village consists of a few numbers of population. A traditional Zeliangrong village is characterized by abundant supply of arable land, forest and was located on the summit of a hill. According to T. C Hodson, each Zeliangrong village possesses "a well defined area of territory, not only of cultivated and terraced land, but of jhum and waste lands as well."1

Basis of constitution of a village: Like other Naga tribes, the Zeliangrong also lived in the villages. Traditionally, they observed rites and ceremonies before they establish a village. Unlike the other tribes,2 once a Zeliangrong village was set up, they settled there permanently and hardly moved out to a new place except for some specific cause.3 In this regard, R. Brown also writes, the Zeliangrong are much attached to "their villages as the former homes, the present graves of their ancestors are held in much esteem, and a village is only abandoned"4 with the greatest reluctance. From cradle to the grave a Zeliangrong identifies himself with his village.

There were reasons for the constitution of a new village. The probable factors are over population of the village; frequent conflicts within existing village; desire to settle in a more fertile/virgin land; due to some differences in the family or clan etc.5

The Zeliangrong have a clear cut system of founding a village recognized as Namsu-Namdimmei or Namdoumei.

Nam Phumei is the first stage for the selection of the site of the new village; (Nam means village and Phumei means to search). To select a new site, it is the custom and tradition of the Zeliangrong to send a team of expert or some selected members, who would go from one place to another or from one range to another in search of virgin or unoccupied land. They would continue for many days or months or even years until they get a favorable site. In selecting the proposed site the following factors are taken into consideration: 6

1. A site is on the summit of a hill. They can forecast the weather, have a good and clear view of other villages and defend themselves against outside attack or any intruders;7

2. A site where materials are abundantly available for building of house and other purposes;

3. They like better a place which is not foggy and windy. In such a place sun rays are expected to give out sufficiently. It is advantageous from the point of health and security;

4. A place is proposed where there is perennial source of water or water spring;

5. They prefer a site where there is fertility of land for cultivation8 and a good natural vegetation and

6. The site is free from land dispute9

Thus, after hard labor and after many days or months or even years they selected the new village site where there was "a good natural vegetation, favourable movement of the wind, higher elevation, and fertility of the soil" 10 for jhum cultivation. To quote R. Y Singh, "The first settlers with their acquired knowledge make rational judgments concerning choice of site for their habitation."11

Observation of divine omen (Dan Madanmei/Dan Sanmei): The Zeliangrong people would not easily settle in the proposed site without seeking divine's blessing. They would observe divine omen called Dan Sanmei/Dan Madanmei to predict the new site is suitable for human settlement. The method of observing omen varies from one village to another. There are different methods; first is Napgum Dan Sanmei. Under this custom, they have to collect some paddy seeds to be planted in the selected site of the village.12

They will dig out a small portion of the site and plant the seeds with prayer to Tingkao Ragwang for good omen and plentiful production in the proposed village site. Customarily, after a week if they find the grains grow well it is considered as a good omen. But if the grains do not grow or are eaten up by ants or wild animal it is assumed as a bad omen and they will not shift to the new site or will reject it.13 Another method is to make a huge fire on the proposed site and examine the smoke. This is called Mhaikhou Dan Madanmei, omen by smoke.

Like the Rengma and Sema Nagas, they also reject the site if the smoke form no prominent shape, but if the "smoke goes up straight into the sky it is regarded as a good omen"14 and the site is selected for settlement. The last method is to bury an egg at the selected site to find out the new location is good for human habitation. It is usually done with a sort of religious hymn.

After seven days, if they find the egg intact and not rotten, then they will presume it as a favorable sign for founding their village at the selected site. But in case the egg is empty or rotten, it is an unfavorable sign. They will give up the location and then they will go to another place for selection. By employing the above methods, they selected a new site of a village.

Selection of founder of the village (Nampou) : Without an owner, a house is look like empty. Selection of the founder is the first step to set up a new village as well as for the administration of the village. Each Zeliangrong village had its brief history leading to the establishment of the village. Usually, every Zeliangrong village consists of two or more exogamous clans15 for marriage and ritual practices.

There are different ways of selecting a founder (Nampou) of the village; first, one could become a Nampou by founding a village in his own capacity; second, by organizing helpers one could become a Nampou and third, selection from among the leaders of first settlers' clans by means of divination. The last method is more acceptable.

Traditionally, the man who first settled in the village was regarded as founder of the village (Nampou). It was his duty and responsibility to carry out the rites and ceremonies for settlement in the new site. Local tradition says, a married man desired to find his own village. He would do so by organizing helpers under him in look for new fertile land uninhabited by others.

If he could find the land he was considered as Nampou by the villagers.16 And if two or more persons/leaders of different clans went in search of such virgin land for a village, the Nampou was to be chosen from among themselves by observing divine omen. But the method of choosing the Nampou is carried out by way of finding whose cock crowed first.

Each person would bring a cock and sleep at the proposed gate of new site observing which cock crowed first at crack of dawn. Each cock is supposed to keep in the cage beside the owner. The person whose cock crowed first would be declared as the founder of the new village and the second one would be chosen as the assistant of Nampou called Nampei.17

It was a God ordained divination. This is called Roikhon Kingna Madanmei in local dialect. According to custom and tradition, a Nampou has to perform Bamjourumei, a great sacrifice in the name of God to confirm his position.

In traditional social hierarchy, priest (Tingku) is next to the Nampou and Nampei. So the priest cannot be neglected in the traditional social set up.

Au Au We Asupu, Aripu Pi Khunpadak Lou The. This ceremony is locally called Khun Nummei. It is usually performed in the morning when the sun raises. Here, it may be noted that shadow of person should not be reflected in the hole while erecting the post; it is not good. Every year during the Gaan Ngai festival, the Nampou will perform the Khun Nummei ceremony.

To be continued....