Naga Tribe Analysis

What is a Tribe really? This sounds like a traditional question, but the complexity involved with this term “tribe” is great. However significance to this term, which is immense, from a cultural point of view can be considered. The primary reason why I chose this article is that now days, this topic has turned into a matter of curiosity for several individuals. Not only has its fascinating nature reinvigorated me to choose this topic, but also now a days we are much into the discussion of different cultures and traditions in our class. This piece of typescript, can help me gain a better understanding of particular culture. This article is about the Naga tribe telling us about their ferocious traditions, their lost of identity and how Christianity

It is surprising that the Naga tribe did not have any broad identity as a culture, tribe or group they were the “lost tribe.” Many anthropologists believe that they were migrants from south- ern china or magnolia having no collective name for themselves. Even when the British ar- rived in the early 1800s, British colonialist and American Baptist first made contact with the Naga, even then they didn't have any tribal identity. The tribe now recognized as Naga tribe has just coalesced in these past two centuries. Developing their hamlets on hilltops for defen- sive purpose, Naga clans like to live in isolation, encouraging their local languages and cus- toms and fierce resistance to outsiders. Although they live in isolation but they exemplify the experience of 10 millions of people living in high lands of Asia named Wa, Hmong, Kachin, and Karen. It took about 50 bloody years for British to subdue the Nagas, even then the large tracks of the Naga Hills remained officially “unadministered” until the Raj’s end in 1947. Christianity bringing peace to the Naga tribe was start of evolution for them. Christianity

By the 1940s, nearly half of the population of Naga tribe had converted to Chris- tianity helping them to develop a modernized nature by adapting education, medicine, and a peaceful religion. Dancing and drum playing was banned and all the heads that they hunted were buried making them to become more peaceful than ever before. Christianity gave Naga tribes a common bond and language “English” but there was also a negative impact of this that Naga tribe lost the traditional culture that provoked the identity crisis that is present to this day. Furthermore, there were certain criticism that was raised by some people of Naga tribe such as a legendary Naga of the Konyak tribe nicknamed Khaopa refused to accept a re- ligion that would force him to abandoned Naga traditions and bury the skulls that symbolized his power. However; step by step the things were getting better. Young people were more indulged in education making there interest in todays field such as science, business etc, and moving away from working in fields. In addition to it; leading their way to independence in 1947 the Naga land was getting more