Mon district General information
Mon is a district of Nagaland state in India.
Mon district is the northernmost district of Nagaland. It is bounded by the state of Arunachal Pradesh to its north, Assam to its west, Myanmar to its east, Longleng District to its south-west and Tuensang District to its south. The town of Mon is its district headquarters.
HISTORY
The area, which is now known as MON DISTRICT and is placed on the Northeastern part of the State of Nagaland, was not brought under the Civil Administration till 1948. Even in the beginning of the 19th Century, a vast tract of land lying between the administered areas of Assam and Myanmar (Burma) was not brought under the Civil Administration by the British. By the year 1914, the Foreign and Political Department of the Government of India, by a Notification, extended the Assam Frontier Tract Regulation of 1880 to the Hills, which were either inhabited or frequented by Abors, Mishmis, Singphos, Nagas, Khamptis, Bhutias, Akas and Daflas. It is by this extension of the aforesaid Regulation, the Government of India brought the area under some administration in 1914 and the area was named as the North East Frontier Tract. Hence, the present MON DISTRICT was also brought under same Notification but practically, there was no Civil Administration till 1948.
In 1951, the plains portion of Balipara Frontier Tract, Tirap Frontier Tract, Abor Hills District and Mishmi Hills were transferred to the administrative jurisdiction of the Government of Assam. Thereafter, the remaining areas of the said North East Frontier together with the Naga Tribal Area of Tuensang including the present Mon (District) were re-named as the North East Frontier Agency. The Mon Sub-division under the Tuensang Frontier Division was created and the officer who was first posted, as the Assistant Political Officer was Mr. W.H. RYNJAH.
The district was carved out of the Tuensang district (Nagaland) on 21st December 1973. The district was enlarged in 1991 by transferring some villages from the Tuensang district and creating some new administrative circle headquarters at Tobu (head by the Additional Deputy Commissioner), Mopong and Muknyakshu (headed by the Extra Assistant Commissioner each).
TOPOGRAPHY
The District, with the exception of the foothills, is hilly with steep slopes. Low-lying areas with undulating hills characterize the foothills. The District can be divided into two regions topographically, namely the Upper Region comprising Longching, Chen, Mopong and Tobu areas and the Lower Region comprises Mon, Tizit and Naginimora area. The foothills lie adjacent to the plains of Assam i.e. the Tizit and Naginimora areas. The hill ranges extend from the foothills to the slopes of Naga Hills and Patkai Range in the Eastern side of the District.
Shawot, the highest peak in the district has an altitude of 2414 meters above sea level.
PEOPLE
The Konyaks can be grouped into two groups, namely “Thendu”, which means the “Tattooed Face” and “Thentho”, meaning the “White face”. The former inhabit the lower region of the district and the people tattoo their whole face. Powerful “Anghs” (Chiefs) rule respective villages. While the latter are the settlers of the upper region of the district (Tobu area). This group tattoos only their forehead and chin.
POPULATION
The population of the Mon District is 2,59,604 according to the Provisional Census 2001. Of this, the male population is 1,38,005 and female population is 1,21,599. The density of population is 145 Sq.km. with the decennial growth of population (1991-2001) at 73.42 per cent (Provisional Census 2001). The sex ratio is 881:1000 i.e. 881 females per 1000 males.
LITERACY
The literacy rate in the District is 42.25 per cent. Of this, the male literacy is 46.70 per cent and the female is 37.12 per cent.
FESTIVALS
The Mon District is rich in her culture and tradition. She has rich cultural heritage of ages past wooden effigy and statues dating back to Stone Age as well as medicinal periods are objects of awe and wonder, depicting the human craftsmanship and skill. The Konyaks are skilled in the art of making firearms. They are also skilled in handicrafts like basket making, cane and bamboo works, brass works etc. Making of necklaces, wristbands, garter with beads make one gasp with wonder and pleasure
The Konyaks celebrate mainly two festivals, namely “Aolingmonyu” and “Laolongmo” besides the Christmas, New Year etc. The Aolingmonyu is celebrated in the spring season after the sowing of seeds in the month of April. The festival is celebrated from 1st to 6th April in order to seek blessings from God “Yongwan” to have good harvest for the year.
CLIMATE AND RAINFALL
The Mon District has a fairly moderate climate. Days are warm and nights are cool. Rainy season sets in the month of May and lasts till October. From November to April, the District has dry weather with relatively cool nights and bright and sunny days. The average relative humidity is 76 per cent and the average temperature is 24.4 degrees Celsius.
In the higher altitude, summers are pleasantly warm while winter is quite cold. The lower altitude especially those adjoining the plains of Assam experience hot summers but pleasant winters.
The average annual rainfall ranges from 2000mm to 3000mm, mostly occurring between May and October.
TOURIST PLACE
Mon has a number of beautiful sightseeing, trekking, fishing, and picnic spots to attract tourists. It provides serenity, peaceful environment undisturbed by the hub-hub of busy city life. Some of the tourist spots are (a) Wanching, Wakching, Mon, Shangnyu, Chui, Longwa, Angphang, Monyakshu, Pessao and Changlangshu, famous for wood carving; (b) Sheanghachingnyu, Langmeang and Longwa are famous for skull exhibits and wood carving; (c) Dikhu river, Tizit, Tapi, Teyap etc. are sights for tourist attraction for fishing and picnicking; (d) Yetyong, Kaimang, Maksha and Thannyak rivers are popular for trout fishing; (e) Chiknyuho, Shawot, Ngupdang and Longwa are famous for Second World War remains and rock inscriptions; (f) Yei, Monyakshu, Pessao, Yongkao and Tamkong are the spots of attraction for ornithologists and for watching Tragopan birds; (g) Shangnyu and Chui have been declared as the ethnic villages providing a rich educational research work for anthropologists. These two villages are ruled by the Chief Anghs. Traditional architecture and old sculptures provide historical background of the past of Konyaks and their culture and tradition.
The Konyaks are of Mongoloid in origin. Before the advent of Christianity into Nagaland, the Konyaks were the believers of “Animism” worshipping different objects of nature. About 95% of the population follows the Christian faith now.
The Konyak society is obviously a patriarchal society and is dominated by male chauvinism. The eldest son of the family usually inherits the paternal property. The male members take all major decisions regarding the village, society etc. and women cannot partake in the discussion in the meeting. But trends are gradually changing with more liberal thinking and treating women as equal to men in all respects. The Konyaks speak different dialects in different villages. Each village has its own sub-dialect quite distinct from others. The Konyaks are hospitable in nature, warm hearted and fond of merry-making. Elderly men indulge themselves with “Khalap” which is black tea. A kettle is always left in the fireplace for boiling black tea.