The Epic Journey: Unraveling the Naga Migration Story
The Naga people, an aggregation of diverse tribes primarily inhabiting the hilly terrains of Northeast India and western Myanmar, share a rich tapestry of oral traditions that narrate their ancient origins and migrations.
The Primordial Home: Makhel as the Genesis Point
Among the most widely accepted and revered narratives of Naga origin and migration is the Makhel exodus theory.
According to these legends, the first human ancestors of the Nagas emerged from the earth at Makhel. The site is often associated with a sacred stone megalith, known as Tamraratu, which stands to this day in Makhel village.⁴ This megalith is not merely a marker but a potent symbol of their common ancestry and the place from which their great migrations commenced. As documented by early ethnographers like T.C. Hodson in 1911, "At Makhel is to be seen a stone now erect which Marks the place from which the common ancestor (of the Nagas) emerged from the earth. Makhel is regarded as the centre from where the migration took place
The oral traditions often speak of the first man at Makhel having three sons, or sometimes three clans, who, for reasons often left unstated or veiled in myth—ranging from disputes over resources to a divine calling—decided to depart from their ancestral home. Before their departure, they are said to have erected the megalith as a lasting testament to their shared origin and a sign of their future dispersal.⁶ The ancestors of the Zeliangrong people, for instance, are believed to be direct descendants of these early inhabitants of Makhel who eventually embarked on their own migratory journeys southward.⁷
HERSTORY: Tracing the Routes of Dispersion
The migration from Makhel was not a singular event but a complex series of movements, branching out in various directions and spanning centuries. The narratives detail arduous treks through dense forests, across mighty rivers, and over treacherous mountains, as the different tribal groups sought new lands to settle and thrive. These journeys were fraught with challenges, shaping their distinct identities, languages, and customs.
One prominent migration route is often described as a movement from Makhel towards the south and west. The Rongmei, whose name itself signifies "southern people" ('RONG' meaning 'south' and 'MEI' meaning 'people'), are a prime example of a group that moved from the northern reaches of the Zeliangrong territory towards the southern plains of Manipur.⁸ This southward migration brought them into their present-day settlements in Manipur, Assam, and Nagaland.
The migratory tales are often imbued with practical knowledge of the landscape, detailing landmarks, rivers, and mountains that served as guides for their ancestors. They also recount encounters with other communities, conflicts, alliances, and the eventual establishment of new villages and territorial boundaries.
These narratives are preserved in a variety of forms: through epic folk songs, ritual chants, and ancestral stories passed down orally from generation to generation. They are crucial for transmitting cultural values, historical knowledge, and a sense of collective identity. The importance of these oral histories cannot be overstated, as they form the bedrock of Naga identity in the absence of extensive written historical records from earlier periods.
Challenges and Interpretations of Migration Narratives
While the Makhel origin theory is widely accepted, it is important to acknowledge that the study of Naga migration is complex and open to various interpretations. Archaeological evidence in Northeast India, though growing, is still nascent in providing definitive links to specific tribal migrations. Early archaeological efforts were primarily focused on surface sites during the colonial period, with more extensive research and excavations only commencing after India's independence.⁹ These modern endeavors have sought to understand hominin dispersal, Paleolithic history, early plant domestication, and the emergence of agriculture (including rice, millet, and tuber crops) in the region.¹⁰ However, comprehensive archaeological research on the rise of early urban centers, state formations, and later historical village settlements remains limited in scope.¹¹
This means that much of our understanding continues to rely heavily on oral traditions, which, while rich in cultural meaning, can be fluid and symbolic rather than strictly chronological or literal accounts. Scholars often work to correlate these oral histories with linguistic patterns, genetic studies, and limited archaeological findings to reconstruct the broader historical movements of the Naga people.
The significance of the Naga migration stories extends beyond academic inquiry. For the Naga people, these narratives are deeply intertwined with their land rights, their claims to ancestral territories, and their assertion of unique cultural and political identities. They are living histories that continue to shape their relationship with their environment, their neighbors, and their sense of belonging in the modern world. The effort to digitize and preserve these "World's Largest Collections of Himalayan Tribes," including the rich heritage of the Nagas, through initiatives like "The Himalayan Digitized" and "The Present Digitizer," is crucial for ensuring that these invaluable stories are accessible for future generations and for broader global understanding.¹² These digital platforms aim to bring to light the diverse histories and cultural wealth of Northeast India, enriching our collective human story.
Notes
"Nagas Myths: Naga Origin," Nambon.com, accessed July 28, 2025,
http://nambon.com/history/nagas-myths/naga-origin "The Route of Nagas Migration," e-pao.net, accessed July 28, 2025,
http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.The_Route_of_Nagas_Migration "Nagas Migration," Nambon.com, accessed July 28, 2025,
http://nambon.com/history/nagas-myths/nagas-migration "Origin of the Nagas," Angelfire.com, accessed July 28, 2025,
http://www.angelfire.com/nm/nagalim/origin.htm T. C. Hodson, The Naga Tribes of Manipur (London: Macmillan and Co., 1911), 30.
"Nagas Myths: Naga Origin," Nambon.com, accessed July 28, 2025,
http://nambon.com/history/nagas-myths/naga-origin "Rongmei people," Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rongmei_people Ibid.
T. C. Sharma, "Prehistoric Archaeology of Assam: A Study of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic Cultures," Journal of Assam Research Society 24 (1981): 1-10.
Ibid.
B. K. Sahay, "Archaeological Research in North-East India: A Review," Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 71 (2010): 989-998.
"The Himalayan Digitized," Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, accessed July 28, 2025,
https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/the-himalayan-digitized
