Asufii Christian Institute Political Science students visit Khonoma to study pre-colonial political organisation, the Anglo-Khonoma War, and ecological governance.
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DIMAPUR — The Department of Political Science, Asufii Christian Institute (ACI), Punanamei, Mao, undertook an academic visit to Khonoma village, Kohima.
The visit was led by Dr. Soreiphy K, HoD, Department of Political Science, ACI, accompanied by Dr. Adani Kollo, Dean of Students, Chovoni Cheng, faculty member, and 44 students, according to a press release.
The academic tour was guided by a local resident, Ketu. He explained that Khonoma—locally known as Khwunomia—derives its name from Khwuno, a plant abundantly found in the area, and Mia, meaning dwellers.
Khonoma was presented as a case study of pre-colonial political organisation. Historically, the village functioned as a self-governing unit with clearly defined territorial boundaries protected by the Kharu, a traditional wooden gate symbolising sovereignty and collective security. The present stone structure replacing the original Kharu reflects continuity in political symbolism and demonstrates how indigenous institutions adapt while preserving their core meanings.
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The political significance of Khonoma was highlighted through its resistance to colonial expansion. The Anglo-Khonoma War (1879–1880) marked the final armed resistance of the Angami Nagas against British intrusion into the Naga Hills. The war memorial commemorating British officials killed during the conflict was discussed as a site of contested memory, prompting reflection on colonial power, violence, and historical narration, particularly on whose histories are commemorated and how power shapes collective memory.
The traditional morungs, or bachelors’ dormitories, were also discussed as institutions of political socialisation. Beyond their cultural role, morungs functioned as spaces where young men were trained in discipline, leadership, warfare, and communal responsibility. Though no longer active in their original form, the preserved morungs continue to transmit political memory through artefacts and oral narratives.
Khonoma’s contemporary identity as Asia’s first green village was described as reflecting a transition from armed resistance to negotiated engagement with modern state structures. Its emphasis on environmental conservation, community-managed resources, and trust-based economic practices was highlighted as an alternative model of governance rooted in collective decision-making. Visits to Dzuleke village and the Heunambe cave and waterfall further reinforced discussions on ecological governance and indigenous stewardship.