Pochury Naga

Pochury

A book cover depicts a Pochury woman listening to a recording of her own singing
Regions with significant populations
Nagaland,  India 15908[1]
Languages
Pochury
Religion
Christianity, Animism
Related ethnic groups
Other Naga tribes

Pochury is a Naga tribe of Nagaland, India. The tribe's native territory is located in the eastern part of the Phek district, centered on the Meluri town (166 km from the state capital Kohima).

History

The Pochury identity is of relatively recent origin. It is a composite tribe formed by three Naga communities: Kupo, Kuchu and Khuri.[2] The word Pochury is an acronym formed by the names of three native villages of these tribes: Sapo, Kechuri and Khury. According to the Pochuri legends, these villages fought battles against each others, but united into a single tribe after their elders negotiated peace.[3] Besides the three main communities, migrants belonging to the Sema, Sangtam and Rengma tribes have also been absorbed in the Pochury group.[4]

According to the tribe's elders, the Pochurys are the earliest inhabitants of the region around Meluri. A local legend states that their ancestors lived in Puraka, a place near the present-day Phor village. Another legend states that they emerged from the earth near the present-day Akhgwo village.[3]

The British administration classified the three Pochury communities as sub-tribes of other Naga tribes, describing them as "Eastern Sangtam" or "Eastern Rengma".[3] After independence of India, the Pochurys campaigned to be reocgnized as a separate tribe. The Census of India recognized the Pochury as a separate scheduled tribe for the first time in 1991.[1][5]

The exonyms used by other tribes for the Pochury include:[3]

In 1959, the first modern school was opened in Meluri. In 1965, the Pochury territory was linked by road to the big towns like Kohima and Dimapur. Subsequently, the Meluri village developed into a town. The Christianity also spread in the Pochury society around this time. Electricity reached Meluri in 1975.[3]

Historical society

Historically, the Pochurys were dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Hunting, forest produce and fishing were the major subsidiary occupations. The Pochurys mainly practised jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn). Limited terrace cultivation was practised by those living in the basins of Tizu and Chichi rivers. For cattle trading, mithun and other cattle were procured from Burma. The trade was based on barter system, which worked well because the different villages specialized in different areas. By the British period, an iron piece (ato) was being used as a currency; two atos could buy a mithun.[3]

The staple food of the Pochury was (and is) rice. All Pochurys, including children, would drank rice beer in large quantities.[3]

The Pochury society has been monogamous since the advent of Christianity. Earlier, both monogamy (kumunyule) and polygamy (amoso) were permitted, with polygamy limited to the rich men. Men with two wives often had two separate households. Both neolocal and patrilocal residences were common. The traditional dowry included a spade, a basket, a spear, personal clothes and food. The bride price custom was practised in all villages except Meluri, Lephori and Tuphruri; the bride price usually included cattle, such as mithun or buffalo.[3]

The status of women was generally equal to that of men. However, in case of a divorce, the wife was granted only one-fourth of her own property, the rest being kept by the husband. In case the wife was involved in a serious crime such as theft or adultery, she had to relinquish all rights over her property. Adoption was allowed, and the adopted children had same rights as the natural heirs.[3]

Each village was administered by a mozaluo (village council), comprising 6-7 elders from different clans. The senior offices were hereditary to clans, but not families. The village chief (kairry) came from the Tsori clan. The office of the first reaper (Nyimzariku Shephie) was held by a woman.[3]

Earlier, the newborn children were named after their ancestors by the elder relatives; now, biblical names are common. The traditional amotsikosi ceremony for the newborns also involved shaving of head. The akonakowe ceremony (ear piercing) was performed when the child reached the age of five. Adolescence rituals were common, but have been abandoned completely now.[3]

Anale, the traditional Pochury religion, involved spirit worship. The important spirits included the sky-dwelling Mukhu-Mutha and Phierony. The village chief was also the seniormost priest, and performed all the important sacrifices. Sierhutho and Tassiatho, the eldest men from the Ngoru and Nyuwiri clans respectively, also had priest-like roles. The medicine men and sorcerers were also present in the society.[3]

Demographics

The Pochury people speak the Pochuri language, which has six different dialects. The dialects include Meluri, Yisi, Apoksha, Phongkhungri, Sangtam and Kuki. Meluri is sometimes considered as separate language. The Yisi speakers constitute the majority of the Pochury population.

The Pochuri tribe comprises fourteen clans:[3]

  1. Tsori
  2. Nyuthery
  3. Nyusoury
  4. Nyuwiry (or Ngory)
  5. Phochiry
  6. Pojar
  7. Katiry
  8. Trakha
  9. Jurry
  10. Fithu
  11. Thurr
  12. Thupitou
  13. Leyri
  14. Tsang

Administration

The traditional village councils are now elected by the people. They retain several administrative powers, although their judicial powers have been curtailed by the government. The village councils elect area councils, which are responsible for welfare and development activities, and also settle inter-village disputes. The Village Development Board, with 5-6 members, supervises the execution of development schemes within a village, under the leadership of village council chairman.[3]

Economy

Agriculture and animal husbandry continue to the main occupations, but many Pochurys have taken up other jobs. Many farming families are now above the Subsistence level thanks to the modern equipment, scientific techniques, irrigation channels, government subsidies and new crops.[3]

Culture

Christmas has been an important festival since the conversion to Christianity. Yemshi is an annual traditional festival celebrated by all the Pochuri communities. A combination of their different festivals, it is celebrated on 5 October. Other major Pochuri festivals include Nazu (celebrated for ten days in February).[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nagaland - Data highlights: The Scheduled Tribes". Census of India 2001. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  2. ↑ Heinz Kloss; Grant D. McConnell (1 January 1989). Les langues écrites du monde: relevé du degré et des modes d'utilisation. Inde. Langues non-constitutionnelles. 2, 2. Presses Université Laval. p. 1232. ISBN 978-2-7637-7196-0.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Hamlet Bareh (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Nagaland. Mittal Publications. pp. 201–214. ISBN 978-81-7099-793-1.
  4. ↑ Rann Singh Mann (1996). Tribes of India: Ongoing Challenges. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 407–. ISBN 978-81-7533-007-8.
  5. ↑ U. A. Shimray (2007). Naga Population and Integration Movement: Documentation. Mittal Publications. p. 25. ISBN 978-81-8324-181-6.