Okhro-Ikhro, an unrecognised Mao Naga village nestled along the border of Nagaland and Manipur, is a unique case of geographical and administrative complexity. Established in 1936, it derives its name from the Mao word “Khro,” meaning plain, and “Okhro,” meaning stag. While geographically situated in Nagaland, the village is governed by Manipur. This dichotomy has left its about 400 residents in limbo, navigating a delicate existence amid political boundaries and systemic neglect.
When Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, the political boundary between the two states inadvertently placed Okhro-Ikhro within Nagaland. However, by the late 20th century, administrative control remained with Manipur. This mismatch has created a void in governance and development, leaving the villagers sandwiched between two systems.
Speaking to EastMojo, Jacob, a village leader, shared the history of Okhro-Ikhro’s origins. He explained that the first settlement near the present-day village began when residents from neighbouring Angami and Mao villages started living together.
The second settlement occurred in 1936 when his great-grandfather settled at Okhro-Ikhro—named after the stags found in the area—to engage in cattle rearing, poultry, and dairy farming. Jacob also noted that the graveyard of a former MLA is located at the border near the Nagaland gate, marking a landmark in the area.
Jacob recounted that the third and current demarcation occurred when Nagaland attained statehood in 1963. “When Nagaland was on the verge of getting statehood, commissioners from both sides were called for boundary demarcation. However, the Manipur official failed to turn up, and demarcation was made, carving Okhro-Ikhro into the state of Nagaland,” he explained.
Despite the bifurcation, Jacob highlighted that the traditional land rights at Okhro-Ikhro village remain with the Mao Nagas, a tribe not officially recognized in Nagaland.
Jacob revealed that until the 1993 state elections, residents of Okhro-Ikhro voted under the 15-Southern Angami-II Assembly Constituency in Nagaland. Notably, the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), the apex tribal body of the Southern Angami Nagas bordering Manipur, acknowledged the shared traditional land and resources between the Mao and Southern Angamis.
In its letter to the chief secretary of Nagaland in 2022, the SAPO said, “From the time of our ancestors till date, the Southern Angami and the Mao have shared common traditional land and resources based on Naga traditional values and customary practices.” They also cited Okhro-Ikhro village as an instance where Manipur’s famed Cherry Blossom festival was held without objection from the SAPO, despite its location falling within the political boundary of Nagaland.
SAPO noted that the state’s lone TB hospital, located at Khuzama, a “large portion” of the land belonging to the Mao Nagas, was acquired by the state government to build the hospital, which borders Okhro-Ikhro. In recognition, 16 Grade-IV posts were initially allocated to the Mao Nagas, the traditional landowners.
No man’s land?
At present, the Okhro-Ikhro village falls under Kayinu block, a revenue village under the Song Song village in the Senapati district of Manipur.
“The indigenous people, despite owning their land, remain caught between the two administrations,” said SP Pfoze, chairman of the Song Song village council. “There are instances when cases from Okhro-Ikhro are declined by Manipur government agencies due to its geographical location. Similarly, the Nagaland government agencies refuse to take up the same cases, as the village is administratively under Manipur.”
Holding onto their traditional land has become increasingly challenging. Large portions of land that once belonged to the Mao Nagas have gradually changed ownership over the years, with some villagers opting to sell their ancestral properties to neighbouring communities in Nagaland, drawn by better monetary offers.
Jorim Kayina, the principal of Nazareth Residential School, a Christian missionary school in Okhro-Ikhro, shared, “Despite being the rightful landowners, the situation we find ourselves in makes us feel like we are in a ‘no man’s land.’” He explained that the economic disparity between Okhro-Ikhro and its neighbouring villages on both sides is significant. The main source of livelihood for the indigenous people of the village, he noted, comes from daily wage work, with a few relying on agriculture and small-scale businesses to sustain themselves.
Kayina added that the residents are “sandwiched” between the two states and have been surviving on their strength, steadily building their community from within and growing stronger despite the challenges.
A Struggle for Basic Amenities
Infrastructure in Okhro-Ikhro reflects its forgotten status. Electricity was extended to the village only in 2001 under Manipur’s initiative, and the roads remain rudimentary, maintained solely by the villagers themselves. Currently, some residents avail electricity from the Nagaland government through a domestic line connection from the TB hospital.
Educational facilities include a government primary school, a semi-government middle school, and a private CBSE-affiliated school, established in 1993, initially under the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) until 2000.
The closest health facility, a sub-district hospital, is 2.5 kilometres away in Song Song village.
“Without our votes in Nagaland, we lost the right to demand development,” Kholi, a senior citizen from Okhro-Ikhro, told EastMojo. “Until 2012, we made several attempts to be included in Nagaland’s electoral roll, but these efforts were unsuccessful due to various underlying issues. As a result, the minor developmental activities that take place in Okhro-Ikhro are routed through Song Song village,” he added.
Is Anyone Listening?
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who was then the MP of Lok Sabha, visited Okhro-Ikhro in 2016 as the chief guest at the Mao Students’ Union 83rd anniversary cum conference, which was hosted by the Song Song Youth and Students’ Organisation at the unrecognised village. The following year, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh also visited the village during the state’s flower festival and cherry blossom festival.
Politicians come and go, but the challenges remain.
Despite the difficulties, Okhro-Ikhro has retained its cultural roots. Cherry blossom trees adorn the landscape, drawing tourists on weekends, even in the absence of organized festivals. Yet, the essence of peaceful coexistence, once celebrated through shared traditions and intermarriages with neighbouring villages in Nagaland, has been declining over time.
For a village steeped in history and potential, the lack of governmental support highlights the need for immediate intervention. Whether through Nagaland or Manipur, does Okhro-Ikhro deserve a place on the map—not just as a no man’s land but as a thriving community?
This story has been published as part of the AIPP-EastMojo Fellowship 2024
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