Zeme Naga

The Zeme Naga are an indigenous Naga tribe, primarily residing in the northeastern parts of India. Their villages are mostly spread across three Indian states: Nagaland (Peren district), Manipur (Tamenglong and Senapati districts), and Assam (Dima Hasao district, formerly North Cachar Hills).¹

wikipedia.org



Notable People

The Zeme Naga community has produced several distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields:

  • Armstrong Pame: An accomplished civil servant, Armstrong Pame graduated with a Physics degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, before successfully clearing the UPSC examination to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 2009.² While serving as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Tousem Subdivision, Tamenglong District, Manipur, he gained widespread recognition for building a 100-kilometer road without government funding, relying instead on public donations and community participation.³ This feat earned him the moniker "Miracle Man."

  • T. R. Zeliang: A prominent political figure, T.R. Zeliang has served two terms as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, playing a pivotal role in the state's governance and political landscape.⁴

  • L. Lungalang: He holds the distinction of being the first Naga to serve as the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, the highest administrative position in the state's bureaucracy.⁵

  • N. N. Haralu: A pioneering diplomat, N.N. Haralu was the first Naga Ambassador. She served in various capacities within the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Foreign Service, reaching the pinnacle of her career as the Ambassador to Panama before retiring in 1980.⁶

  • Guizang Meru: He was the first Naga headmaster to serve at Impur school, a significant institution in the region.⁷

  • Thinowelie Lungalang: He was the first Naga to clear the UPSC examination and be allocated to the IAS. Tragically, he passed away while serving as an SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) in Assam.⁸

Research and Studies on Zeme Naga

The Zeme Naga people have been the subject of various academic and anthropological studies, particularly concerning their socio-cultural practices, health, and environmental interactions. Dr. Babul Roy has extensively contributed to the scholarship on the Zeme Nagas with several publications:

  • Shifting Cultivation and Forest in North East India: Co-authored with A.N.M.I. Ali, this work explores the agricultural practice of shifting cultivation and its impact on forest ecosystems in Northeast India, as detailed in People of the Himalayas: Ecology, Culture, Development and Change (1997).⁹

  • Socio-cultural and Environmental Dimensions of Tribal Health: Roy's unpublished PhD thesis (1998) from Gauhati University provides an in-depth study of health aspects among the Dimasa Kacharis and the Zemi Nagas of North Cachar Hills in Assam, examining socio-cultural and environmental influences.¹⁰

  • An Anthropological Peep at Zeme Religion: Published in the Bull. Dept. Anth. Gauhati University (1995), this article offers an anthropological insight into the religious beliefs and practices of the Zeme Naga.¹¹

  • Folk Medicine and Folk Therapeutic Principle among the Zeme Nagas: Featured in Curare: Journal of Ethnomedicine and Transcultural Psychiatry (2001), this research delves into the traditional medicinal practices and therapeutic principles employed by the Zeme Nagas of N.C. Hills, Assam.¹²

  • Zeme Naga Ethno-medicines and Animal Related Practices: Another contribution to Curare: Journal of Medical Anthropology (2010), this study further explores Zeme Naga ethno-medicines, with a focus on practices involving animals.¹³

  • Evolving Gender Relationships among the Zeme Nagas of North Cachar Hills (Assam): This article in the Journal of Indian Anthropological Society (2004) examines the changing dynamics of gender roles and relationships within the Zeme Naga community.¹⁴

  • Folk Perception of Disease and Curative Measures among the Zeme Nagas: Also published in the Journal of Indian Anthropological Society (2004), this research explores the Zeme Naga's traditional understanding of disease and their indigenous methods of healing.¹⁵

Additionally, Ursula Graham Bower, a notable anthropologist and ethnographer, conducted significant research on the Naga tribes, including the Zeme. Her works include:

  • Naga Path (1952): This book offers insights into her experiences and observations among the Naga communities.¹⁶

  • Drums Behind the Hill (1950): Another seminal work providing a detailed account of her interactions and studies in the Naga hills.¹⁷

  • Village Organisation among the Central Nzemi Nagas (1950): Her Diploma in Anthropology Thesis from University College London, specifically focusing on the village organization of the Central Nzemi (Zeme) Nagas, remains a valuable academic resource.¹⁸

These scholarly works collectively provide a comprehensive understanding of the Zeme Naga's history, culture, social structures, and traditional knowledge systems.

Culture and Tradition

The Zeme Naga, also known as Zemi, are part of the larger Zeliangrong ethno-cultural group, which includes the Zeme, Liangmai, and Rongmei tribes. This collective identity is rooted in shared ancestry, cultural practices, and often, a common historical narrative. The Zeliangrong people are renowned for their rich oral traditions, vibrant dances, and intricate crafts. Their traditional villages are typically built on hilltops for defense, with houses made of wood and bamboo.¹⁹

Agriculture is central to Zeme culture, with shifting cultivation (jhum) being a prominent practice. Festivals are intricately linked to the agricultural cycle, celebrating successful harvests and seeking blessings for future crops.²⁰ Traditional Zeme society is organized around a village council, with a system of chiefs or elders maintaining social order and resolving disputes. Clan systems also play a crucial role in regulating marriages and social interactions.²¹

Their traditional attire is colorful, featuring intricately woven shawls and skirts, often adorned with cowrie shells and traditional motifs that symbolize tribal identity, status, and achievements. Music and dance are integral to their communal life, performed during festivals, rituals, and social gatherings. Traditional musical instruments often include drums, gongs, and various wind instruments.²²

Connection to Zeliangrong People and Heraka

The Zeme, as one of the constituent tribes of the Zeliangrong (Ze-Liang-Rong) people, share a significant cultural and religious connection through the Heraka movement. The Heraka faith is an indigenous monotheistic religion primarily followed by sections of the Zeliangrong community, including many Zeme people, particularly those who resisted conversion to Christianity.²³

The Heraka movement was founded and led by Rani Gaidinliu (1915-1993), a revered spiritual and political leader from the Rongmei Naga tribe, a close kin of the Zeme.²⁴ Emerging in the early 20th century, Heraka sought to revitalize indigenous Zeliangrong religious practices and resist the imposition of Christianity and British colonial rule. It emphasized the worship of Tingwang, the supreme deity, and promoted a simpler, reformed version of traditional animistic beliefs.²⁵ The movement also called for a return to traditional Naga customs, attire, and songs, which were seen as being eroded by external influences. Rani Gaidinliu, often referred to as "Rani" (Queen) by Jawaharlal Nehru, became a symbol of tribal resistance and cultural preservation.²⁶

While many Zeme people, especially in Nagaland and parts of Manipur, have embraced Christianity, a significant number, particularly in Assam's Dima Hasao district and certain pockets in Manipur, continue to adhere to the Heraka faith.²⁷ The followers of Heraka distinguish themselves by their unique religious practices, absence of idol worship, and emphasis on ethical living. They often maintain traditional social structures and cultural expressions more explicitly linked to pre-Christian Zeliangrong traditions. The presence of both Christian and Heraka adherents within the Zeme community reflects the ongoing dynamic of religious change and cultural adaptation in Northeast India. The Heraka movement thus represents a powerful assertion of indigenous identity and a continued link to the broader Zeliangrong heritage for many Zeme Nagas.²⁸

Notes

  1. "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix," Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, accessed July 20, 2025.

  2. "Armstrong Pame," Wikipedia, accessed July 20, 2025.

  3. Ibid.

  4. "TR Zeliang," Wikipedia, accessed July 20, 2025.

  5. "L. Lungalang," Nagaland Post, accessed July 20, 2025.

  6. "N.N. Haralu," Morung Express, accessed July 20, 2025.

  7. "Guizang Meru," The Naga Blog, accessed July 20, 2025.

  8. "Thinowelie Lungalang," Nagaland Post, accessed July 20, 2025.

  9. Babul Roy and A.N.M.I. Ali, "Shifting cultivation and forest in North East India," in People of the Himalayas: Ecology, Culture, Development and Change, ed. K. C. Mahanta (Delhi: Kamla-Raj Enterprises, 1997).

  10. Babul Roy, "Socio-cultural and environmental dimensions of tribal health: a study among the Dimasa Kacharis and the Zemi Nagas of North Cachar Hills in Assam" (PhD Thesis, Gauhati University, Assam, 1998).

  11. Babul Roy, "An anthropological peep at Zeme religion," Bull. Dept. Anth. Gauhati University IX (1995): 51-60.

  12. Babul Roy, "Folk Medicine and Folk Therapeutic Principle among the Zeme Nagas of N. C. Hills in Assam (India)," Curare: Journal of Ethnomedicine and Transcultural Psychiatry 24, no. 1 & 2 (2001): 161-164.

  13. Babul Roy, "Zeme Naga Ethno-medicines and animal related practices," Curare: Journal of Medical Anthropology 33, no. 1+2 (2010): 97–104.

  14. Babul Roy, "Evolving Gender Relationships among the Zeme Nagas of North Cachar Hills (Assam)," Journal of Indian Anthropological Society 38 (2004): 9–20.

  15. Babul Roy, "Folk Perception of Disease and Curative Measures among the Zeme Nagas of North Cachar Hills in Assam," Journal of Indian Anthropological Society 39 (2004): 57–66.

  16. Ursula Graham Bower, Naga Path (London: Reader Union, John Murray, 1952).

  17. Ursula Graham Bower, Drums Behind the Hill (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1950).

  18. Ursula Graham Bower, "Village Organisation among the Central Nzemi Nagas" (Diploma in Anthropology Thesis, University College London, 1950).

  19. Gangmumei Kamei, A History of Manipur: Pre-colonial Period (New Delhi: National Book Trust, India, 2015), 324-328.

  20. Ibid.

  21. Ibid.

  22. Asanliu Daimei, The Zeliangrong Nagas: A Socio-Cultural Study (New Delhi: Kalpaz Publications, 2016), 45-50.

  23. Arkotong Longkumer, Reform, Identity and the Heraka Movement: The Nagas of Northeast India (New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2010), 1-5.

  24. Ibid., 6-10.

  25. Ibid., 15-20.

  26. Ibid., 25-30.

  27. Ibid., 35-40.

  28. Ibid., 45-50.

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