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By Lue Chi Balancing Tradition and Modernity Alongside economic changes and the decline in spiritual rituals, Zhavame village has also seen shifts in its governance structures. However, land management and conflict resolution continue to partially rely on traditional practices. In the past, leadership rested with chief priests and a war chief, who made key decisions for […]

By Lu Chi Vanishing Forests  When we spoke to the khel (ward) Head Gaon Bura (GB), he reflected on how Zhavame’s forests have changed over time. In the past, the village was surrounded by natural forests with trees like Jasu, Mova, and Yawsus (local names), which played a crucial role in attracting rain and preserving the ecosystem. He recalled

By Lu Chi Introduction Zhavame village lies at the foot of Kapamodzu Peak, the fourth-highest mountain in Nagaland. Located in India’s Phek district, it has been home to the Chakhesang Naga tribe for over 300 years, as passed down through oral traditions. The name ‘Zhavame’ means ‘people of the enchanted lake’ in the local Poula

By Lipokmar Dzüvichü*       “There is no doubt … that all the tribes from Kurribarry in the Garrow Hills, on the Berhampootra, through Jynteah and the Cachar Hills southwards to Chittagong have of late years been able [to] freely … provide guns for themselves from Birmingham.”[i] This information forms part of a report

By Chandan Jyoti Konwar     When we say ‘coffee,’ what usually comes to mind? Cafés, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the deep brown roasted beans, the barista who’s always happy to serve the customers, and the cosy aesthetics of coffee shops that we often post on our social media feeds. In recent

By Tümüzo Katiry     Introduction    Festivals in the Naga tradition serve as key markers of the annual agricultural cycle. This cycle is punctuated by a series of rituals, with the principal festival acting as the central axis that signifies both the end and the beginning of the cycle. In Lephori, a Pochury Naga

By Sholu Movi and Lu Chi     Thanamir is a small, quaint village in the Kiphire district of Nagaland, India, located at an altitude of over 2000 m. It is one of the last villages on the Indian side of the Indo-Myanmar border, and residents speak the unique Chirr dialect. Thanamir is famous for

By Chandan Jyoti Konwar     In the complex tapestry of urban environments, public spaces have long been seen as the central hub of community life, enabling interactions, economic activities, and cultural expressions for individuals from various backgrounds. These communal areas, including parks, markets, shops, and recreational spots, are seen as inclusive centres where people

By Khrieletuonuo Yhome     Bees are valuable insects from an economic perspective because they pollinate crops and produce other useful items  such as honey, beewax, and bee venom . The honey bees of the Apis genus are social insects that dwell in highly organised communities. Despite their significant benefits to crops and humans, bees can pose a

By Esther Swu     The Highland Institute is collaborating with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore on a research project entitled ‘Soldier-Citizens Labouring in the Border Security Force.’ The project focuses on an important period in Naga social history and examines how it was that, from the early