Asserting that only it has authority over social and cultural lives and tradition of Konyaks, Konyak Union (KU) has denounced the royal coronation ceremony (Pongyin Mozu Moyong) organised by a section of “social renegades” and cult that had deviated from the parent traditional norms near Wangti village on February 1 this year. It also asked Governor PB Acharya not to interfere in the traditional custom and practices of the Konyak community.
In a statement, KU president Manlip Konyak and general secretary Honang Konyak explained that angh-ship was “hereditary, distinct and un-adulterated blue-blood”. They said Pongyinpu was a process of royal coronation or ceremony strictly observed only by those ordained Jongwang/Pongyin villages acquiring royal status, dignity and controlling specific dominion and influences over their subsidiary villages through traditional and customary process.
Mentioning that existence of chief angh signified its royal status as Pongyin Angh whereby its verdict was un-questionable & undoubtedly supreme, the organisation pointed out that there were only about 10 Konyak Pongyin villages that qualify to perform such royal coronation ceremony. KU said the so called Pongyin Mozu Moyong organised by the sect or cult was a deviation from the age-old traditional norms and “divinely ascertained” custom and beliefs. Stating that such status was obtained only through wars and allegiances, the union asked the particular cult to immediately denounce Pongyin Mozu Moyong.
Meanwhile, accusing the governor of “surreptitiously creeping” into Konyak soil, KU questioned how secularism was strengthened by disintegrating the very social integrity that had existed harmoniously since time immemorial.
It said if India respected diversity, then Acharya as Head of the State should abstain from interfering on issues pertaining to the social, cultural and traditional systems and institution. It also expressed shocked as to why Acharya was prioritising only a particular sect/cult for development.
Asserting that tagging the cult as a “minority indigenous community” was aimed at disintegrating the indigenous Konyak Naga tribe, KU clarified that it had never made any section or group an outcast and pointed out that the age-old traditional institution was always accommodative.
Likening any external force that acted against age-old tradition and culture to a war against the integrity of the Konyaks, the union warned that this would not be tolerated.