Respected Sir, We on behalf of the All Assam Students Union, have the honour to submit this memorandum for

favour of your kind perusal and necessary action. The Nagaland Government has not only been claiming land but also has been encroaching a very large chunk of territory in the present districts of Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat. The encroachment is very systematic and well-planned. The Nagas have been cutting valuable forests, raising huts, cultivating land, and even built up church, establishing schools, health centres and other public utility services. The Nagaland Governent has been abating and supporting the Nagas in this act of encroachment. As a result of this, as reported in news, more than 60,000 hectors of Reserved Forests land have already grabbed, and pushing the occupational line further. There had been physical violence on innocent population of Assam. Very recently, in the Geleki area, some Nagas armed with lethal weapons killed several persons, damaged property and caused sufferings to the people on the Assam side. All these have created tension in the border areas. We urge upon you to bring a lasting peace by asking Nagaland to restrain itself and go back to the original boundary that was fixed as early as 1925, the line that has been in operation for the last 80 years. Nagaland has been advocating several grounds for such illegal encroachment of Assams land. One of the so-called grounds propagated by the Nagas was that a large part of the plains of Assam belonged to them. During the Ahom days, the Ahom kings recognized this fact and therefore they left this area to the Nagas by raising a boundary between the plains and the Nagas. The boundary was marked by the Ladoi Garh, Dhodar Ali and Naga Bund or Naga Bat (Path). Hence the land to the south of Ladoi Garh, Dhodar Ali and Naga Bund should go to the Nagas. Secondly, Nagaland argues that at the time of the creation of the Naga Hills District in 1866 by the British, the British rightly gave the Naga Hills District parts of Sibsagar and Nowgong. But subsequent re-transfers of these parts from Naga Hills District was wrong and without the consultation of the Nagas. Hence all the areas they have now been encroaching are land that belonged to Nagaland. It is for the same argument that Nagaland does not recognize the border demarcated in 1925. Nagaland is not only claiming but also asserting the claim by forceful means. Such acts of Nagaland have created a very disturbing situation in the Assam-Nagalnd Border. We as representative of the students of Assam place our view on the claims of Nagaland. The Boundary of Ahom Time : The Ahom kingdom was founded by Chao-lung Siukapha in 1228 in the eastern Brahmaputra Valley. The Ahom contact with the Nagas covers a period of six centuries beginning with 1227. Although initially the Ahom were very harsh to the Nagas of the Patkai range, they afterwards had cultivated subordinated friendly relation with the Naga chiefs and treated them with kindness. Several Naga families have found favour of the Ahom kings and some of them were given high posts.

The Naga chiefs were granted land and paiks. The earliest grant of land called khat was made to the chief of Banfera Naga for the maintenance of an Ahom queen. This grant existed till 1925 called Bhogbari Khat, also known as Senglung Khat comprising of about 100 bighas of land. King Siukhampha made grant of land (khat) and beel (fishing lake) to the Tabloong Naga Chief. Successive Ahom kings used to grant khat land to Naga chiefs. The khats extended from the river Disang to the Doiyang within the proper Ahom kingdom. The Naga Khat therefore refers to khat or estate enjoyed by the Naga chiefs. These khats were inalienable parts of the Ahom kingdom. For instance, the Bhitar Namsang Khat was situated several miles to the south of the Ladoi. Every year the Naga chiefs with large revenue came down to the Ahom capital to pay tribute. It was then only the Nagas would enjoy products of the khats. Unless they came and paid tribute in kind to the Ahom kings, the Naga chiefs were not entitled to enjoy the khat and fishing lake. A refractory chief was not allowed to come down and thus he forfeited the products of the khats. According to the British records, there had been some 25 khats along the foot of the Naga Hills but within the Ahom kingdom. It is unfortunate that the Nagas have distorted this historical fact by explaining the khats as taxes paid by the Ahom kings, whereas the khats were landed estates, granted by Ahom kings to certain villages or clans of Naga in consideration of services. The khats were cultivated by a class of men called paik who were subjects of the Ahom kings. Even during the British period, the khats were treated as valid revenue grants and were still cultivated by tenants. However, these were managed by the Katakis. These katakis were employed by the British officials as intermediaries in their dealing with the Nagas. In the Ahom period, the Katakis were appointed by the Ahom king. During the British period, the Katakis were appointed by the British. All Katakis were Assamese, not Nagas. The Ahom kings fixed Duwars and annual tributes to be paid by the Nagas and other hill tribes of the North. The duwars fixed for the Nagas were called Naga Duwar. The Assamese knew the Nagas by the Duwar by which they used to come down to the plains. The Naga tribal nomenclature used by them today such as Konyak, Ao, Lotha and Angami etc. were unknown to the Ahoms. On their part too when they came down they introduced themselves by their village (chang) or Duwar. The Naga Duwars as recorded in the Ahom chronicles are : Namsang Duwar Bor Duwar Pani Duwar Mothon Duwar Banfera Duwar Joboka Duwar Bhitor Namsang Duwar Khapang Duwar Geleki Duwar Dopdar Duwar

Tiru Duwar Assiringia Duwar Hatigarh Duwar Bortola Duwar Doiyang Duwar Panibat Duwar. Of the above 16 Duwars, the Duwars named Bhitar Namchang, Joboka, Banfera, Mothan Duwar, Pani Duwar, Bor Duwwars and Nasang Duwar are now within the constitutional territory of Nagaland. Despite receiving Assams land, Nagaland has resorted to forcefully encroaching large areas nearby the Duwars. Since 1953, the Nagas, both individual and by the Government of Nagaland have encroached an area of more than 4000 hectors in the Geleki Reserved Forest alone. In the Sibsagar-Jorat-Golaghat areas, the Nagas claim that the traditional historical boundary of the Ahom and Nagas should be the boundary between the two states. That is the Dhodar Ali (extreme north), Ladoi Garh (Jaipur to Gabharu Parbat), and Naga Burnd ( from Gabharu Parbat to Doiyang). Facts, however, are different. The Dhodar Ali was never a boundary When the Nagas claim the Dhodar Ali as boundary, it shows that they do not have a good knowledge of history. The Dhodar Ali was raised by Ahom king Gadadhar Singha (1681-1698). It was raised to facilitate speedy communication from Dhansiri to Joypur. There is nothing in history to suggest that it was built as a boundary with the Nagas. It must be remembered that many of the historical sites of the Ahoms were to the south of the Dhodar Ali. These include : Mohong near Joypur Towakak Town built by Pratap Singha Temple inside the Abhoypur Reserved Forest Bhitar Namsang Khat Aideo Pukhuri Mathurapur and many tanks Many roads like Ramani Ali, Sangtok Ali, Rahdoi Ali, etc. Maibela Tank and temple built by Gadadhar Singha Charaideo capital site of the first Ahom king All Tombs of the Ahom kings, Temple of Chumdeo and Lankuri Many tanks at Charaideo Tirupathar, famous for iron Namti Dole Borphukanar Temple at Geleki Rajabahar, the royal camp near Borhola Bassa Ghiladhari Taratali

Many of these such as Namti Dole, Piali Phukanar Dole were of much later date. Hence the Naga claim that the Dhodar Ali was built as a boundary between the Ahom kingdom and the Nagas is really absurd and a make-belief. Ladoi Garh was not a boundary It is recorded in the Ahom chronicles that Ladoi Garh which means a rampart connecting the hill tops was raised as a defensive rampart during the reign of King Pratap Singha in 1632-33 against foreign invasion from the west, particularly the Mughals. It is in no way connected with the boundary of the Ahom kingdom with the Nagas. The Ladoi Garh had three sectors the southern bank sector ran from the Gabharu Parbat to a point near Kokilamukh. This sector is called Ladoi Garh and also Kotohagarh. The middle sector is called Mera Garh ran from a point opposite Kokilamukh to Garamur. The northern sector called Sowatal Garh ran from a point opposite Garmur to the northern hills of the Dafflas. The Ladoi Garh has an extension from the Gabharu Parbat to the Dikhow opposite Naginimara. Had Ladoi Garh been intended to serve as Naga Boundary, the rampart would have run to the Doiyang at which it emerges from the hills. Naga Bund from the Gabhau Parbat to the Doiyang River is a myth. There is no embankment called Naga Bund to be found anywhere in the history of the Ahoms. Neither the British writers nor the Ahom chronicles mention the existence of Naga Bund. The Nagas are misinterpreting Naga Bat with Naga Bund which gives a different meaning. Naga Bund would mean Naga embankment, garh or rampart. Naga Bat on the other hand means Naga routes or paths by which the Nagas came down to the plains. Each Naga chang or village had its recognized path to come down to the plains either to trade or to pay tribute to the Ahom kings. These Naga Bats ran in northerly direction and therefore could not serve as boundary, as that boundary should have run north-south direction. There were many such paths from the Naga Duwars to the Assam plains. Therefore the Nag Bat, miscalled Naga Bund could not be boundaries between the Ahom kingdom and the Naga. Nagaland cannot claim Dimapur Dimapur as the name suggests was the 14th-16th centurys capital of the Dimasa kingdom. The exact time of the founding of the Dimasa kingdom is not known. But it is certain that in the 13 century, the Dimasa kingdom covered a vast tract of country stretching from the Dikhow and the east of the Kapili River in the west. The existing ruins of Dimapur show the power and prosperity of the Dimasa kingdom. The Ahoms invaded Dimapur, but they did not occupy it, rather it remained an integral part of the Dimasa kingdom. In the nineteenth century the area around Dimapur up to the foothills formed a part of the territory of Tularam Senapati, a Dimasa chieftain. When the question of redefining the boundary came under consideration, Dimapur was transferred to Sibsagar. But fifteen yeas later Dimapur was transferred to the Naga Hills District despite protest from local leaders for a minor and unimportant reason that the Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills Dist. wished to have more control over
th

transport by bullock cart from the railhead to Kohima and Imphal. There is still valid ground for the Dimasa people to have Dimapur back. This has also been indicated by the Sundaram Commission. Background of Formation of the Naga Hills District The Nagas of the North Cachar Hills were the subjects of the Dimasa Kachari king. Similarly the Rengma Nagas of the Mikir Hills were under the jurisdiction of the Marangikhowa Gohain of the Ahom king during the Ahom period. Therefore the Nagas in the Mikir Hills and the North Cachar Hills were not independent prior to the 19th century. Rather the Rengma Nagas came to the Mikir Hills due the oppression of the Angami Nagas who unleashed cruel treatment on them. Thus it is for security reason that the Rengma Nagas had to escape the Naga Hills. Prior to the British occupation of the Naga Hills, feuds were going on between villages. Since the North Cachar Hills and the Mikir Hills were outside the Naga territory, the Rengmas came there for shelter against the Angamis. On the other hand hand, the Nagas inhabiting the hills near to the plains between the Buri Dihing and the Dikhow and the Jhanji, south of Sibsagar District were regarded by the Ahom kings as their subjects and these Nagas had to pay annual tribute to the Ahom kings. In the chronicles of the Ahoms, these Nagas are known as Bori Nagas. Bori in Assamese means dependent. The annual tribute paid by the Nagas is referred to as Pal Sewa. Moreover many Naga people enrolled themselves as militant in the Ahom army. It for this reason, we find that the Nagas had helped the Ahoms against foreign invaders. In the declining days of the Ahom power in the early nineteenth century, many hill tribes like the Daffla, Singpho, and the Nagas started plundering the Assamese villages in the foot-hill areas. As a result, most of the Assamese fled their villages to safer places and the foot hills areas became deep jungles. A similar situation appeared in the southern part of Jorhat District when the governors appointed by the Ahom king had abandoned their posts. As to the Dimapur area was concerned, with the shifting of the Kachari capital to Maibong in the North Cachar Hills, many of the Dimasa.villages shifted their villages towards Maibong. Thus the area around Dimapur turned jungles. The so-called Naga territory with Asalu was never a Naga territory in any period of history. Rather that area with its surrounding was always formed a part of the Dimasa kingdom till 1834, when this part was annexed to the British territory and formed the sub-division at North Cachar. That area formed a part of the territory of Tularam Senapati, a Dimasa chieftain. The sub-division of North Cachar was created from the territory of the Senapati. When Cachar was annexed by the British in 1832, the northern part of Cachar remained independent under Tularam Senapati. For a long time the Agami Nagas used to carry frequent raids into the territory of Tularam and also into the neighbouring villages. It was due to the inability of Tularam and his successors to contain the Naga raids that prompted the British to annex Tularams territory in two phases in 1834 and 1854. Neither the Cachar kingdom under Govinda Chandra nor North Cachar under Tularam Senapati was ever a Naga territory, rather there was no Naga. Though the British tried to defend the frontiers of North Cachar by a line of stocked outposts at Semkhor, Asalu and Mahngdijuwa, the Naga raids continued with impunity.

Disgusted with the affairs of North Cachar, Col. Hopkins, the Agent to the Governor-General proposed the annexation of the Angami Hills or of abandoning the North Cachar. By a notification of the Govt. of Bengal dated 15-11-1866 the Naga Hills District was created consisting of that part of the district of Nowgong which lies on the right bank of the rive Dhansiri, the Naga Hills and the country on both banks of the river Doyang. The same notification abolished the North Cachar sub-division, and its territories were parceled out to Cachar and Nagaon Districts. Just because the Naga Hills District was created in 1866, and parts of Sibsagar and Nowgong attached to it for administrative convenience, the Nagas should not claim that all those attached parts were Naga Territory and that history started only with the year 1866. It is a curious logic. In 1867, by a notification the boundary of the Naga Hills District was redefined to include some portions from North Cachar and the plains between the Dhansiri and the Doyang. By another notification the boundary of Naga Hills District was further revised to include some more parts of Nowgong. In this way, the Naga Hills District had overgrown in size for effective administration. Hence proposal for retransfer was made. In other words, proposal for re-transfer the tracts of territory back to their original districts was made. The Dimasa tract was re-transferred to North Cachar in 1882, but the re-transfer of Mikir Hills to Nagaon was not agreed upon as the Mikirs furnished a valuable source of carriage for carrying loads to the Naga hills. However, with the addition of Mokukchang in 1890, the Naga Hills District became too big for proper administration. Now the earlier proposal to cut off the Mikir Hills from Naga Hills District was revived. Several other developments also compelled the Govt. to affect a transfer. And thus by a notification issued in 1899, the Mikir Hills were re-transferred to Nagaon and Sibsagar. In the same way, the Digar Mouza which was incorporated to the Naga Hills was re-transferred to Cachar District in 1923 as it was predominantly inhabited by Dimasas. All these transfer and re-transfer were done by the British nearly a hundred years ago. In all the transfer of territory from Sibsagar, North Cachar, Nowgong to the Naga Hills District, the British Government neither consulted the Assamese, Cacharis, Dimasas, Mikirs and others nor their consent was sought in any way. If the Nagas now object at re-transfer of territory from the Naga Hills District without consulting them, in the same way, others like the Assamese, Dimasas, Mikirs could raise the same issue that their tracts were made part of the Naga Hills District in 1866, 1867, 1875 and 1913 without their consultation. The people living in those tracts had altogether different lifestyle, culture and language from that of the Nagas. The Nagas are silent on Dimapur because Dimapur was the capital of the Dimasa kingdom. Even the Ahoms did not occupy Dimapur. It remained with the Dimasas all along and was inhabited by the Dimasas. There was no Naga territory in the Plains The Nagas were inhabitants of the hills and not of the plains. Each village was situated on hill top and each village was an independent unit with its own law and custom. Outside the village boundary, the

Nagas did not have any land. When they came down, they entered the plains at the Duwar and followed their assigned paths called Naga Bat. In every case the Nagas entering by a Duwar had to be accompanied by a Kotoki.of that Duwar. They had no land in the plains. They were jhum cultivators, and never practiced wet-rice cultivation. They came down to the plains only during the dry months and returned to their villages. Therefore, the Nagas did not have any land in the plains. The Assamese chronicles, and the early British records of Capt. T. Brodie, Capt. Vetch, Capt. Hannay clearly substantiate that the limit of the Ahom kingdom was well within the hills inhabited by the Nagas. It was this country that was inherited by the British. The Ahom kingdom was extended far beyond the Ladoi Garh or the Inner Line of the British time. Even King Purandar Singha, the last Ahom monarch asserted his authority over this territory extending up to foot of the hills. The Nagalands claim of land or Naga Territory in the plains has no justification and that Nagaland should not encroach the territory of Assam by forceful means. The All Assam Students Union therefore urges upon you to settle the Assam-Nagaland Border Issue which is essentially a creation of Nagaland. We sincerely hope that justice will be done to the people of Assam.

Thanking you, Your sincerely

(Sankar Prasad Ray)

President All Assam Students Union

(Tapan Kumar Gogoi)

General Secretary All Assam Students Union

To The Chairman Local Commission for Assam Nagaland Border appointed by the Honble Supreme Court of India

Subject : Memorandum of Assam-Nagaland

Sir, On behalf of All Assam Students Union we are submitting a memorandum on AssamNagaland border. We hope our points will be considered by you before deciding the issue as per the directive of the Honble Supreme Court of India. Thanking you, Yours sincerely

(Sankar Prasad Ray)

President All Assam Students' Union

(Tapan Kumar Gogoi)

General Secretary All Assam Students' Union

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO THE LOCAL COMMISSION ON ASSAM-NAGALAND BORDER ISSUE

by THE ALL ASSAM STUDENTS UNION (AASU)

DATE : 20TH AUGUST, 2007

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO THE LOCAL COMMISSION ON ASSAM-NAGALAND BORDER ISSUE

by THE ALL ASSAM STUDENTS UNION (AASU)

DATE : 20TH AUGUST, 2007