Tsopoe clan claries on monolith dedication

DIMAPUR: Tsopoe Clan, descendants of the revered Lotha warrior Ranphan Tsopoe, has strongly objected to the recent inauguration of a monolith in Longla Village on June 5, 2026. The clan alleges that the monument, dedicated by the Jami clan, misrepresents historical truth and undermines the legacy of their ancestor.
In a rejoinder chairman Lothatsü Tsopoe Ekhüng, Lanthamo Tsopoe and secretary R. Ezomo Tsopoe described the Jami clan’s claim of bloodline connection to Ranphan Tsopoe as “misleading, unfounded and objectionable.” They accused the Jami clan of distorting history by erecting the monolith on what they termed an unidentified and abandoned grave, without credible evidence or proper consultation with the Longla Village Council.
The clan further condemned the misspelling of the warrior’s name as “Rhanphan” on the monument, calling it a sign of “lack of due diligence and reverence.” They stressed that, according to Lotha Naga tradition, graves located outside village boundaries are not associated with natural deaths and therefore cannot be identified as the resting place of their ancestor. Ranphan Tsopoe is remembered in Lotha history for slaying a man-eating tiger and saving many lives. His descendants in Akuk village continue to preserve his legendary sword, which is ceremonially displayed every thirty years by male members of the Tsopoe clan across villages. It alleged that the erection of the monolith was an attempt to wrongfully claim ownership of this sword. The Tsopoe clan stated that they had earlier approached the Jami clan to resolve the matter amicably, but their request was ignored. They also sought intervention from the Limhachan Tonphyaktsu Motsurui Ekhung, the apex body, which had directed the Jami clan not to proceed until further consultation. Despite this, the Jami clan inaugurated the monolith, reportedly with the involvement of a religious leader, raising questions about the propriety of the act.
The rejoinder also recalled past incidents where members of the Jami clan allegedly resorted to threats and harassment in attempts to gain possession of the sword. Such actions, the Tsopoe clan said, have disrupted longstanding harmony among clans and propagated a misleading narrative of shared ancestry.
Rejecting any attempt to distort historical accounts or misappropriate the legacy of Ranphan Tsopoe, the Tsopoe clan called upon all parties to respect historical truth, customary practices and the decisions of apex tribal institutions.