SUMMARY
The Zeme Naga is a subgroup of the Naga tribe, which is one of the many “Scheduled Tribes” that constitute the indigenous population in northeastern India. This area, sometimes referred to as the “Seven Sisters” after the seven states that comprise the region, has since independence been a patchwork of ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. These relatively small and sparsely populated (by Indian standards) states, including Nagaland, have experienced a turbulent history, stoked by ethnic tensions and insurgencies. The “indigenous” population of India’s seven northeastern states has commonly been referred to as the “tribal populations”. Many of these tribes, but not all, have received special protected status in the Constitution of India; the protected tribes are referred to as the “Scheduled Tribes”. Among the tribal populations, there has often been a perception of discrimination, particularly compared to the “immigrant” non-tribal communities, but also between different tribal groups.
Among all the ethnic groups and tribes living in the northeast, the Nagas were the first to raise the banner of revolt against the Indian government. The term “Naga” is used to collectively identify a whole range of sub-groups of tribes that share a common cultural, ethnic and linguistic heritage in and around the present-day Indian state of Nagaland. Arguing that the high level of independence given to the Naga during British rule should be mirrored in the post-colonial make-up, the NNC voiced its demand for a separate Naga state already on 14 August 1947. Since then, there have been several armed groups claiming to represent the Nagas, such as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, and NSCN-U.
The word Zeme (or more accurately, “Zemei”) roughly translates to “descendants of the first person”. The Zeme Naga consider themselves to have very close cultural links to two other tribal groups, the Liangmei and Rongmei; these three groups consider themselves as one ethnocultural identity group. The Zeme Naga and the Liangmei refer to themselves by the collective name Zeliang. Another term, Zeliangrong, is used when referring to the Zeliang and Rongmei collectively; unlike the Zeliang, the Rongmei reside in Manipur state.
The Zeme Naga live primarily in the southwestern parts of Nagaland’s Kohima district, but a small part of the tribe also live in Assam’s North Cachar district. The Zeliang comprise approximately 4 percent of Nagaland’s total population. In Assam’s North Cachar district, the Zeme Naga is the second largest ethnic group, constituting 12 percent of the district’s total population of 200 000. The Zeliang, and thus the Zeme Naga, are classified as a “hill” tribe, and speak a Naga-Bodo dialect called Nagamese. The Zeme Naga are divided into six clans of equal status: Npame, Nkuame, Nkuame Heneume, Nriame, Sogame, and Panme. Agriculture is the primary livelihood for most of the tribe’s members.
There are three main religious directions within the Zeme Naga: the Christian converts, those practicing the traditional animist religion, and those who practice the “Heraka”, a reformed version of the traditional religion. Other Naga groups are prejudiced towards those Zeme Naga that do not practice Christianity, and it has even led to tensions with formally organized Naga nationalist groups, particularly the NSCN-IM. The NSCN-IM has been openly repressive against all non-Christians, and particularly the Heraka Zeme Naga are critical of the idea that a common Naga nation would have one common religion; they believe in the primacy of ethnicity over religion. It is thus worth noting that unlike the broader Naga population, the Zeme Naga has not had any direct link to any Naga-basedrebel groups.
During the conflict with the Dimasa in 2009, the Zeme Naga may however have received some fighting support from more formally organized actors, such as the Naga Youth Front and NSCN-IM.
