Origin and Migration Myths in the Rhetoric of Naga Independence and Collective Identity

Abstract

The hill peoples commonly referred to as 'the Nagas' dwell in the northern hill ranges between the Brahmaputra and Chindwin Rivers on both sides of the present India-Myanmar (Burma) international border. Among many politically active Nagas, migration stories form an integral part of their rhetoric for constructing a collective Naga identity and for claiming an independent Naga nation. The same is true of local intellectual discourse, which is mainly lead by Nagas of sociological, anthropological, or theological background, and mostly - and not surprisingly - in favour of the nationalistic cause. One can state that the discourse of independence and collective identity among the Nagas does indeed strategically employ myths of origin and migration. This chapter discusses the use of origin tales and migration myths in this local discourse on Naga collective identity. The discussion in the chapter is a critical analysis of local recourses in the debate in question. Keywords:anthropological; Brahmaputra; collective identity; India; migration myths; Myanmar; Naga independence; origin