Lungwa (Nagaland), October 28 2008: WHEN YOU talk of border or boundary, the immediate perception in our mind is that it would prohibit our movement beyond an area.

But in case of residents of Lungwa village in Nagaland's Mon district bordering Myanmar's Saigang division, it was not so as the village has a different tale.

Nearly 5000 villagers of Lungwa whose occupation is cultivation hardly recognizes border or boundary as well in this village as there's no restriction to their movement not so speak of agricultural activities across the borders.

Interestingly, the international boundary line between Myanmar and India that passes in the middle portion of the village also divides the village chief (Angh )Loknang's huge hut.

"We've a saying that our Chief dines in India and sleeps in Myanmar in his own house as the boundary line demarcates his kitchen and bedroom" Aching Konyak,a village youth said.

There was no proper administration in Konyak inhabited areas of Nagaland till 1963.It was only after the two countries draws the international boundary that demarcates Konyaks of Nagaland and Myanmar not to speak of those in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap and Chanlang districts.

In spite of having the border pillars including the one BP 154 which was erected way back in 1970-71 which still stands tall atop Lungwa range,this Konyak villagers doesn't bother about it as they've their relatives across the border since time immemorial.

Everyday many villagers visits to Pangmei village, border town in Myanmar for business purposes.

"Even two of my sons were serving in Myanmar army" Loknang who converted Christian in 1984 told a visiting journalists team in Konyak dialect recently.

However village is getting regular financial help from the Nagaland government for various development front particularly the agricultural activities,the husband of 10 wives and father of 20 children narrated.

The villagers have a good relationship with the personnel of 37 Assam Rifles posted in their Lungwa village to guard the border and also the Myanmar army as well.

Echoing a similar feeling, Minphong Konyak, joint secretary of Konyak Union said, "We don't recognized particular boundaries here" adding "it would be good, if there's no border pillars".

The present Nagaland has the least number of Konyak population comparing to those in Myanmar, he observed and adding that the total population of Konyak tribes in Indo-Myanmar region would be over 20 lakhs.

For it's picturesque view located at the tri-junction of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar, Lungwa attracts many tourists both domestic as well as foreign every year to eyewitness the legends of the indigenous Konyak community.

Konyaks are artisans by birth and their wood carving skills could be make out easily after seeing their traditional ornaments and other structures in the village particularly in Chief's palace.

In fact these villagers are dreaming of having a border trade centre through their village with Myanmar after the government once made an announcement in this regard in the line of Moreh in Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar international boundary.

"Of course they (government officials) visited our village sometime ago, but there's nothing in the village as of now" Aching lamented.

Though the village is located in Nagaland, there's no proper motor-able road from Kohima to reach the village.As a result,the villagers are depending on Assam roads.

Likewise those who wish to visit Lungwa need to drive through highways in Assam to reach the destination.

These two writers participated in the recently journalists tour organised by PANOS, South East Asia.

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