MAO (Manipur), Jan 11 – Over a span of three centuries 38 villages had sealed treaties of peace with Pudunamei, a small village nestled in a hillock at a high altitude on the Manipur – Nagaland border, revered and feared in those yonder days of head-hunting. And today at a time when the country is looking at the historic Naga talks with hopeful eyes, the 38 Naga villages came together in a memorable celebration commemorating and reaffirming the peace treaties entered into by their forefathers. Unveiling of the monolith on which the names of the 38 villages are engraved and a peace feast marked the second day of the three-day Peace Treaty Reaffirmation Celebration at Pudunamei (Pfosemai) village.
Way back in the year 1800, Mehr?ma village now known as Khonoma, the birth place of Angami Zapu Phizo, had first entered into the peace treaty with this village considered superior in war and infamous for head-hunting. Pudunamei village is considered as the most superior of the 16 Mao tribe villages and any decision of the Pudunamei village chief was final and binding in those early days. Known for their warring skills, the Pudunamei villagers were feared for their nature and war skills and so its neighbouring villages came forward to establish friendly relations with it. The very essence of the peace treaty was to ward off attackers, as also to ensure economic development and facilitate free movement off goods and manpower.
Over the years till the early 20th century, villages signed the peace treaties with this village to refrain from going into war but even after the situation had changed and the head hunting wars had ceased some more villages came ahead to seal the pact of friendship. The last villages were Kezoma and Tunggam that signed the treaty as recently as 2001. The 38 different villages whose names now adorn the monolith include Angami, Kuki, Maram, Poumai, Thangal, Tangkhul, and Chakhesang tribe villages. And they all barring one Tangkhul village thronged Pudunamei Village, which has the distinction of entering into diplomatic relations with the most number of neighbouring villages.
The celebration got under way on January 9 with the introductory session, during which Dr. Pfokrehe dwelled on the hostilities, which existed among the various villages and enlightened the gathering on the importance of the peace treaties then. The second day’s programme started off with the unveiling of the monolith while the noon session saw the release of the Pudunamei (Pfosemai) Peace Treaty Reaffirmation Celebration Souvenir. Manipur minister for Horticulture and Soil Conservation R.K. Thekho graced the programme as the chief guest.