Who are the Nagas

By: Akendra Sana

There was little Kevichituo in 1966 in Class Two. He had a bigger brother named Ahu who was a good footballer as seen through our small eyes then. They were Sakhrie and Angami from Kohima, we later learnt. I cannot remember how we communicated to one another. It must have been some smiles, some Manipuri, a little English if at all. Life was simple then.Then there was stong Thoiba Maram, who later became Thoiba Angelus. Maram Khunjao and Khunou meant something to us later because of him. I can also recall Borpha , Dearson Moyon, Indrajit Moyon and Daso Mao and Ngale Mao in that Class. Dearson later preferred the complete name Dearson David Chara and Indrajit became Michale, Komlathabi and Chandel became familiar because of Borpha, Dearson and Michale. Daso was the delight of the Class. He could draw well from a very young age and could keep everyone happy with his wit and drawings. Friendship with Tillwealth Jajo began in Class Three and continued till his death in very unfortunate circumstances in Class Eight in 1972. He always had Athem and Grinder, the well behaved Muivah cousins for company on his way to and from school during those years. Adin Panmei completed the foursome in their walk to and from the school. And Somipam Lungleng was always alive with his pranks. And there was small Shangreihao, ever the willing friend. Stylish Daniel Jajo added colour to our lives. He was into long hair, boots and bell bottoms long before anyone of us had long hairs and bell bottoms. There were also Shymyo Shaiza and Maranchan Luikham, the quiet cousins who used to come to school together.There was also Pelevituo Francis Solo from Kohima Village. It was a delight to renew old ties in Kohima many years later. I also recall Vikui Emerson, the ever-practical fellow patrol leader in our Boy Scout days who now runs a school in Senapati.Pius, Titus and John Murray Lotha made all the way from Wokha in Nagaland to join the boarding school in Imphal. John is better remembered amongst many of his schoolmates for his skills on the guitar and as a vocalist. Small boys that they were then probably did not comprehend how far they had come for schooling. But then those were innocent days. Dr. John Murray is today a leading light in the Naga Hoho after a stint as a Nagaland Government doctor.One of my best friends in those formative years was Lorho Mao who is now Dr. Lorho Pfozhe. He along with his wife, Apinao is doing wonderful work in the field of rural healthcare in the Mao area of Manipur bordering Nagaland after working as a Manipur Government doctor and as an entrepreneur for some years. Incidentally, I may add that Lorho speaks better Manipuri than most whose mother tongue is Manipuri.And there was Sokho Mao who is today Sokho George who we later were told is a Poumai and not Mao. After college at IIT Delhi, Sokho has been an Assistant Engineer with the Manipur Government for more than twenty years now. This is a situation he appears uncomfortable to be in because of the sheer length of service in one rank. But then we all know him for his other skills and talents. A passionate and brilliant speaker, there will definitely be better things in store for him.I am happy to treasure their friendships in our growing years and later. I am happy to have known them well.Imphal must be a distant past for many of these friends today.And I am today happy that I do not have to know instead those individuals who obstruct traffic in our highways. How unfortunate that obstructing traffic on the highways has been developed into something of an advanced form of a performing art.Victim of the innocent sounding “Economic Blockade” is not the economy but the society itself, the social fabric that binds us all, irrespective of what names the ethnic groups address themselves. Whenever I used to drive between Imphal and Dimapur, I would always imagine that I would meet some old friend on the way. And indeed on many occasions, I would invariably come across at least one of them particularly in the Senapati - Mao stretch on such drives. On many occasions, I would train my eyes towards the door at that bend at Mao whenever I cross Dr. Lorho’s house. I know that I would halt or wave if I saw anyone at the door.