A seminar on “retrospection on Naga customary law, its practices and usage” was organised on Thursday by Dimapur District Dobashi Association (DDDA) at CTC hall, Chumukedima with retired additional chief secretary, T.N. Mannen as the speaker.
Speaking in the seminar, Mannen while terming the British incursion into the Naga territories (Angami area) in 1832 as “accidental” said the incursion occurred when British were trying to establish a trade route between Manipur and Assam through Naga hill territory.
Mannen informed that in 1886, the Naga hills district was created at Samagooting (Chumukedima) as the district headquarter by shifting the Naga sub-division headquarter at Asloo in the then Nawgong district.
He said British had adapted a clever policy of minimum interference in the traditional life of the native Naga people as the British wanted to keep the fierce native Nagas under their control with the barest minimum interference in their traditional way of life. Mannen said the British administrator brilliantly created the cadre of GBs in the village level and the DBs at the administrative headquarters (SDO & DC) as the linked institution. He said that GBs and DBs were recruited purely on their own merit based on their sound knowledge on local customary laws and traditions, honesty, integrity and unquestionable on their duty.
He stressed that the British organized the native elders handled and disposed off most intriguing cases to the full satisfaction of the parties through the indigenous system of dispensing justice.
Mannen also said that Dobashis were empowered to try criminal and civil cases endorsed to them by the deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner and other magistrates, where establishments of customary court as three-tier village courts, subordinate and village courts as provided in the Act.
He called upon the dobashis to become the vital agent as the custodian of Naga customs and traditions, constantly engaging in improving, preserving, interpreting and implementing the customary laws and traditions keeping the original core spirit intact.
Earlier, God’s blessing was invoked by pastor, Town Baptist Church Chumukedima (TBCC), while welcome address was delivered by president DDDA Kedokhrielie DB. Naga folk song was presented by Medema Zunga Chumukedima and vote of thanks was proposed head GB Chumukedima, Pezalhouto.