A Brief Historical Account of Yimjenkimong

 Before the coming of Christianity, Nagas were waging war in search of human skulls, worshiping the tree, stones and other supernatural objects as their gods. They also waged war with the neighboring villages. This village was re-formed by three times under various leaders. As a matter of fact this village had three names.

The first this village was established by a group of people called "Molunger." During that very time there was a huge stone. So they called the name of the village "Longkayim" (Stone Village). The villager worshipped that stone as their god.

At such a time one night there came heavy rainfall, which paved the way for the stone to roll away. That very stone is still in Milak river, from where on certain night villagers could see burning flame even now. The stone rolled away toward Milak, making way to produce water, and the name of the river is called "Tz|ben" (Water Carrier). Having lost the stone, the Molunger decided to leave the village saying the stone is lost.

After that a group of people called "Yimjener" came to occupy the same village. They called the village "Lungka ama" (Stone Lost). The occupation of Lungka ama may be traced back to 1273 A.D. As the Yimjener incessantly occupy the village, a mighty village called "Ungma" invaded the village affecting untold misery, the remnant deserted the village.

After about five years of the invasion, those who scattered in the nearby villages, assembled in the Longjen Yerpang and resolved to go to Ungma and request them to occupy the same place. Having given the permission, they occupied the village with both Chungli and Mongsen clans during the Medemsanger Putu Menden (Ao Naga village administrative system is divided into five generations, which may be hard to understand. If need be more information may be asked from the Village Council for further reference). Since the village was re-occupied for the second time, they named the village as "Yimjenkimong" (Old village occupant). The village was occupied by the following clans: 1. Tz|di, 2. Oz|k|m, 3. Noksen, 4. Pongen, 5. Walling, 6. Lemdor, 7. Longchar, 8. Sempo, 9. Mongsenai. The formation of the present Yimjenkimong took place around 1634 A.D.

Before coming of the British administration, from time immemorial, Nagas had their own culture with a good administration. Perhaps every Naga village was like an independent country. Especially the Ao Nagas had their own village administration under the following: 1. Medemsanger putu, 2. Mejensanger putu, 3. Mopungsanger putu, 4. Kosasanger putu, 5. Riongsanger putu, with a cycle of 30 years. They were called TATAR (Councillor), which means chosen to empower for administration. They are responsible to entertain visitors, smooth running of the village law and orders under the two village gates.

It was during this time , Dr. Edward Winter Clark came to this hill country with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ from America in 1872, nine years ahead of the Britishers. Dr. Clark and his wife Mary Mead Clark started teaching the word of God and also impart the modern education to the illiterate Nagas.

Even after the coming of Christianity, it took about 28 years for this village to accept Christianity was Imtinigangshi. Thus we admired the true spirit of Imtingangshi, upon whose faith we cherished Christianity.

Nevertheless, this villager could not the privilege to interact or intercept with any foreign organization for any reasons whereby, we could sit and share from the same table. We would like to thank Dr S A Walling and Ayangla Lemdor through whose help we could meet Ghani Zaman and Dr Santosh Kumar Misra from Orissa in December 1-3, 2002.

Following this, we could meet more people from various countries who have visited this village with the following groups:

•  Ms. Connie, USA 2. Mr Ian Homer, UK, 3. Jason Powers, USA 4. Adrian Baillie ,S. Africa 5. Loyosha  ,Ukraine 6. Ghani Zaman India in November 26-December 4, 2004.

•  May 2005 Ghani Zaman from  Orissa

•  26 November  6 December 2006 from North East India Project:

•  Ms. Stephanie USA, 2. Ms. Prerna Palakar from Maharastra, 3. Dawn Teel, USA 4. Alex Dossler, USA 5. Analisa Caimi from Italy, 6. Milo hofmman, Switzerland, 7. Jason Powers, USA 8. Ghani Zaman, India

• Jan.2007 Ghani Zaman from Orissa

• 9-16 October 2007
  1. Jason USA, 2. Prerna , Orissa 3. Sumantro Mishra, Orissa 4. Ghani Zaman, Orissa

 Thus their coming on various occasions could make us open our mind and eyes to see more of the religious faith, education and developmental words. For which we would like to thank the entire teams for such noble visits.

Moreover, we would like to thank Jason Powers USA who hails from Dr. Clark village in America, for the development works he has rendered to us.

The surrounding area of this village is about 5 sq. km, with a total household of 247, population about 1678. Having three schools. Export of pan leaf, jhum (slash, burn ) cultivation is the main stay of the village. Since the North East India Project came in to the village we have started to revive our old traditional art and craft which were dying due to no marketing possibilities. We have stated to work on cotton and silk yarn for our weaving. We are also reviving our old traditional way of vegetable dying.

The climatic condition is very pleasant through out the year. This is an ideal destination for tourism.

 If any body/ organization would like to contribute towards the development of this village, we shall be ever grateful. This appeal is hereby given by the Kosasanger Putu Menden. (Yimjenkimong Village Council)

God bless all of you.

 On behalf of the Kosasanger Putu Menden

•  Sd/- Tali Ponger Council Chairman

• Sd/- C. Imo Walling Secretary (G.B.)

• Sd/- M. Wapang G.B.

• Sd/- L. Moa Barik

• Sd/- S. Tali Barik

 

Approved by Yimjenkimong Village Council on 15/10/2007

Comments by visitors to Yimjenkimong Village

...a place where there is no laws written on a table by blind persons, but some tacites accords based on reciprocal respect and the good sense…where there is no competition, but complementarities…where all the village participate in the construction of one house…where this house offers a "pica" around the fire…where the fire will never died, but you won't burn…i thought it was only an utopical place…but now there is a name for it: Yimjenkimong.
Milo Hofmman from Switzerland

In the jeep that was climbing the green hills, I felt like if I was travelling into an other world…and so it was:….from a wild jungle the village emerges on the top of the hill, little clusters of bamboo houses where lovely people live in harmony with nature, in a time between their past and our present…where ancestral traditions melts with an incredible hospitality and generosity… where the smiles shine on the face of everyone and the night offer you a cup of "pikkha" sitting around the fire…. Yimjenkimong….I think it's really an other world!
Annalisa Caimi from Italy