Kohima

Coordinates: 25°40′N 94°06′E / 25.67°N 94.10°E / 25.67; 94.10
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kohima
Kewhira
City of Kohima
From top (left to right):
Kohima skyline with Kohima Village on top;
Kohima street; PHQ Junction;
Aradurah Hill
Motto: 
"Work is Pride"
Map
Kohima is located in Nagaland
Kohima
Kohima
Location of Kohima in Nagaland
Kohima is located in India
Kohima
Kohima
Kohima (India)
Coordinates: 25°40′N 94°06′E / 25.67°N 94.10°E / 25.67; 94.10
Country India
RegionNortheast India
StateNagaland
DistrictKohima District
Divisions19 municipal wards
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyKohima Municipal Council
 • AdministratorLanusenla Longkümer
Area
 • Total20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation
1,444 m (4,738 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total115,283[1]
Demonym(s)Kohimian
kewhi–mia
Languages
 • OfficialEnglish
 • Major languagesAngamiAoChakhesangLothaSümi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
797001
Telephone code91 (0)370
Vehicle registrationNL-01
Sex ratio927 /
ClimateTemperate (Köppen)
Websitekmc.nagaland.gov.in

Kohima (/kˈhmə/ ; Angami Naga: Kewhira (IPA: [ˈkɛʍɪɻə])) is the capital of the Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state.[1] Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The municipality covers 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi). The city lies on the foothills of Japfü section of the Barail Range located south of the District (25°40′N 94°07′E / 25.67°N 94.12°E / 25.67; 94.12)[2] and has an average elevation of 1,261 m (4,137 ft).[3]

Originally known as Kewhira,[4] Kohima's history goes back to a time when it was a village of the Angami Nagas. It became an urban centre in 1878 when the British Empire established its headquarters of the then Naga Hills District of Assam Province. It officially became the capital after the state of Nagaland was inaugurated in 1963. Kohima was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. The battle is often referred to as the Stalingrad of the East.[5][6] In 2013, the British National Army Museum voted the Battle of Kohima to be Britain's Greatest Battle.[7]

Etymology[edit]

Kohima was originally known as Kewhi–ra.[8] The name, Kohima, was officially given by the British as they could not pronounce the Angami name of Kewhi–ra (Tenyidie for "the land where the flower ‘Kewhi’ grows"). It is called after the wild flowering plant ‘Kewhi’, found in the mountains. Most local people prefer to use ‘Kewhi–ra’.[9]

History[edit]

Medieval era[edit]

According to oral history, the historical founder of Kewhira Village was Tsiera (stone defender). The village is divided into four large clans (thinuo): Tsütuonuomia, Lhisemia, Dapfhütsumia and Pfüchatsumia (T, L, D, and P Khel respectively).[10]

Colonial era[edit]

The East India Company Administration started to expand into Kohima beginning the 1840s.[11]

Battle of Kohima[edit]

The mined tennis court and terraces of the District Commissioner's bungalow in Kohima

In 1944 during the Second World War the Battle of Kohima along with the simultaneous Battle of Imphal was the turning point in the Burma Campaign.[12] For the first time in South-East Asia, the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies, which the Allies then retained until the end of the war. This hand-to-hand battle and slaughter prevented the Japanese Army from gaining a base from which they might have easily gone into the plains of India.[13]

Kohima War Cemetery

Kohima has a large cemetery known as the Kohima War Cemetery for the Allied war dead; it is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery lies on the slopes of Garrison Hill, in what was once the Deputy Commissioner's tennis court, which was the scene of intense fighting known as the Battle of the Tennis Court. The epitaph carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery has become world-famous as the Kohima poem.

When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say,

For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.

The verse is attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds (1875–1958), and is thought to have been inspired by the epitaph written by Simonides to honour the Greek who fell at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.[14]

1963–present[edit]

When Nagaland became a full-fledged state on 1 December 1963, Kohima was named as the state capital.[15]

Killings of Kekuojalie Sachü and Vikhozo Yhoshü[edit]

On 20 March 1986, two students Kekuojalie Sachü and Vikhozo Yhoshü were killed in indiscriminate firing by Nagaland Police when they participated in a peaceful protest called by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to rally against the state government's decision on the introduction of Indian Police Service (IPS) cadres and the extension of the Disturbed Area Belt from 5 to 20 km along the Indo-Myanmar (Indo-Burma) border. The event was so tumultuous that it led three Cabinet ministers and five State Ministers of Nagaland to resign.[16]

1995 Kohima Massacre[edit]

On 5 March 1995, when a convoy of the 16th Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army was traversing through Kohima, a tyre burst from one of the convoy's own vehicle led the armed troops to mistake the sound of the tyre bursting for a bomb attack. The troops reacted immediately and started firing at civilian populace. A total of 7 were killed and 36 were left injured. The incident is widely referred to as the 1995 Kohima Massacre.[17][18]

2017 Nagaland protests[edit]

On 2 February 2017, the office building of the Kohima Municipal Council was burned down by a mob as part of the boycott of the Civic Elections. The fire significantly damaged adjoining government and private buildings.[19][20] On 19 February, in response against the backdrop of widespread protests and civil unrest in the state, T. R. Zeliang announced his resignation as the Chief Minister of Nagaland.[21][22]

2023 Kohima fire[edit]

On 27 February 2023, a massive fire broke in Mao Market and NN Market, one of the biggest commercial areas in Kohima, causing complete damage to the markets.[23]

Geography[edit]

Topography[edit]

Kohima is located at 25°67' North, 94°10' East, in the southern part of Nagaland. It lies north of the JapfüBarail intersection with Pulie Badze to the southwest overlooking the city.[24]

Climate[edit]

The city experiences a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb), with greater contrast between summer and winter than in other continents due to the monsoons but mild temperatures even for latitude and altitude. The months of June to September concentrate much of the precipitation.[25]


Climate data for Kohima (1961–1990, extremes 1952–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.5
(76.1)
25.0
(77.0)
29.1
(84.4)
32.2
(90.0)
33.9
(93.0)
30.5
(86.9)
33.1
(91.6)
31.1
(88.0)
31.0
(87.8)
31.5
(88.7)
29.5
(85.1)
26.0
(78.8)
33.9
(93.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9)
17.7
(63.9)
21.7
(71.1)
23.8
(74.8)
23.8
(74.8)
24.7
(76.5)
25.1
(77.2)
25.3
(77.5)
24.8
(76.6)
23.7
(74.7)
20.7
(69.3)
17.9
(64.2)
22.1
(71.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9)
13.4
(56.1)
17.3
(63.1)
19.6
(67.3)
20.4
(68.7)
21.6
(70.9)
21.5
(70.7)
21.6
(70.9)
21.3
(70.3)
20.1
(68.2)
16.6
(61.9)
13.4
(56.1)
18.2
(64.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)
9.3
(48.7)
11.2
(52.2)
15.0
(59.0)
16.6
(61.9)
17.8
(64.0)
18.7
(65.7)
18.9
(66.0)
17.9
(64.2)
16.7
(62.1)
13.1
(55.6)
9.2
(48.6)
14.5
(58.1)
Record low °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
2.3
(36.1)
4.0
(39.2)
5.0
(41.0)
8.3
(46.9)
9.4
(48.9)
7.8
(46.0)
8.3
(46.9)
8.9
(48.0)
5.0
(41.0)
3.1
(37.6)
2.2
(36.0)
0.6
(33.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 9.6
(0.38)
24.0
(0.94)
48.4
(1.91)
92.2
(3.63)
133.4
(5.25)
323.6
(12.74)
363.3
(14.30)
360.7
(14.20)
228.6
(9.00)
134.8
(5.31)
32.5
(1.28)
5.8
(0.23)
1,756.9
(69.17)
Average rainy days 1.2 2.5 4.5 8.3 12.2 19.0 22.1 19.3 16.4 9.1 2.3 0.6 117.5
Average relative humidity (%) 74 67 65 70 77 85 88 88 86 83 76 71 78
Source: India Meteorological Department[26][27]

Environment[edit]

Water supply and availability[edit]

Most Wards in Kohima experiences severe water shortages during the dry seasons.[28] The current water resources from the reservoirs of Zarü River and the streams from the slopes of Pulie Badze do not fulfill the needs of the rapidly growing population of Kohima. With the augmentation of the Zarü River project and several other upcoming water projects to be supplied from Dzüko Valley and others. The water supply is expected to cover more wards.[29]

Administration[edit]

The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) was established in 2005 under India's Constitution (Seventy-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1992. It has waste management, drainage and trade licensing and other responsibilities.[30][31]

Other departments of the state government, which sit in Kohima, also have a role in the administration of Kohima.[31] The "City Development Plan" for the town, for example, was written by state Urban Development Department.[32]

Wards[edit]

Kohima is divided into nineteen sectors with a total of thirty-three administrative wards under the authority of the Kohima Municipal Council, covering an area of about 35 km2 (14 sq mi). Each ward has its own council government and handles many of the functions that are handled by city governments in other jurisdictions.[33]

Public safety[edit]

Police and law enforcement[edit]

The Kohima Police of the Nagaland Police is the police force responsible for maintaining security, law and order in the Kohima Metropolitan Area. It is headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP). Kevithuto Sophie is the current SP of Kohima.[34]

In 2020, the Kohima North Police Station became the first police station and a government facility in the entire North Eastern Region of India to receive the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Certification for quality management system.[35][36]

Demographics[edit]

Census data[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19102,423—    
19202,790+15.1%
19302,759−1.1%
19403,507+27.1%
19504,125+17.6%
19607,246+75.7%
197021,545+197.3%
198034,340+59.4%
199051,418+49.7%
200077,030+49.8%
201099,039+28.6%
Kohima Decadal Growth:[37]

As of 2011, Kohima had a population of 99,039 of which males and females were 51,626 and 47,413 respectively. Kohima has an average literacy rate of 90.76%, higher than the national average of 76.55%.[1]

Religion[edit]

Religion in Kohima City (2011)[38]

  Christianity (80.22%)
  Hinduism (16.09%)
  Islam (3.06%)
  Buddhism (0.45%)
  Jainism (0.01%)
  Sikhism (0.08%)
  Others (0.05%)
  Not stated (0.04%)

The major religion in Kohima is Christianity which is practised by 80.22% of the population. Other religions includes Hinduism (16.09%), Islam (3.06%) and Buddhism (0.45%).[38]

Economy[edit]

Kohima Central

Tourism[edit]

Tourism plays an important role in the city's economy. The number of tourists visiting Kohima has been increasing significantly each year.[39]

Cityscape[edit]

Historical sites[edit]

Kohima War Cemetery
  • Kohima War Cemetery

Kohima War Cemetery is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who died in the Second World War at Kohima in April 1944. There are 1,420 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War at this cemetery.[40]

Parks[edit]

  • Sakhrie Park

Sakhrie Park is a recreational park located at Middle Tsiepfü Tsiepfhe Ward (Middle AG) located between the Asian Highway 1 and the Tsiepfü Tsiepfhe Road (AG) .[41]

  • Sokhriezie Park

Sokhriezie Park is a centrally located lake that sits below the PHQ Junction.[42]

  • Kohima Botanical Garden

Kohima Botanical Garden is located at New Ministers' Hill Ward and is looked after by the Nagaland Forest Department.[43]

Culture[edit]

Cultural centers[edit]

The Kohima Capital Cultural Center is a cultural center which has a multipurpose hall that provides various facilities for its citizens.[44] The Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA) is a contemporary arts and music centre located in Jotsoma, about 6 km (3.7 mi) west of the city centre.[45]

Events and Festivals[edit]

A live worship event at The Heritage
  • NAJ Cosfest

The NAJ Cosfest is an Otaku-based cosplay festival held every year in the month of July. The annual event was started in 2013 and is organized by the Nagaland Anime Junkies. The cosfest is one of the biggest cosplay festivals in North East India.[46][47]

  • Hornbill Festival

The Hornbill Festival is the biggest annual festival in North East India. The festival is held every year from 1 to 10 December with the purpose to promote the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions. The main venue is located at the Kisama Heritage Village, located 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the city centre.[48]

Fashion[edit]

The inhabitants of Kohima have been historically characterized as "fashion-conscious". Numerous fashion stores are located across the city and a number of fashion related events are held annually. The southern wards starting from Main Town and beyond are the most fashionable areas of Kohima.[49][50][51]

Museums[edit]

The Nagaland State Museum is located in Bayavü Hill and displays a comprehensive collection of artefacts including ancient sculptures, traditional dresses, inscriptions of the Naga people.[52][53]

Religious sites[edit]

Kohima Ao Baptist Church

The Kohima Jain Temple, the oldest Jain temple in North East India was established in 1920.[54]

Media[edit]

The most widely circulated newspapers in Kohima are The Morung Express, Nagaland Post, Eastern Mirror, Nagaland Page and the local newspaper Capi. The city was also home to the now defunct Kewhira Dielie, the first modern newspaper published from Nagaland.[55][56]

State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Kohima, which transmits various programs of mass interest like AIR FM Tragopan, etc.[57]

Transportation[edit]

The major public transportation in Kohima are buses and taxis.

Rail[edit]

Kohima is not connected with the rail network. The nearest railway stations are the Chümoukedima Shokhüvi Railway Station and the Dimapur Railway Station. An extension of the railway line from Dimapur to Kohima was proposed and surveyed in 2009.[58] Due to a dispute over land acquisition the track was resurveyed and an alternative alignment was proposed in 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2026.[59][60]

Cycling[edit]

Regardless of its hilly terrain, cycling has become an increasingly popular way to get in and around Kohima. A bicycle-sharing system was launched in September 2020.[61][62]

Education[edit]

Sports[edit]

Wrestling[edit]

The Naga wrestling enjoys widespread popularity in Kohima with people from all over Nagaland coming to witness the Naga Wrestling Championship held every two years at the Khuochiezhie Local Ground located in the heart of Kohima. The first Naga Wrestling Tournament was held in Kohima in 1971.[63]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Kohima City Population Census 2011 - Nagaland". 2011 Census of India. 2015.
  2. ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Kohima, India". Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Kohima Home NIC". Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  4. ^ "History | District Kohima, Government of Nagaland | India". Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. ^ Dougherty 2008, p. 159.
  6. ^ Ritter 2017, p. 123
  7. ^ "Britain's Greatest Battles". National Army Museum. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  8. ^ "History". District Kohima. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Kohima - Incredible India". Incredible India. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Clarification on the founder of Kewhira (Kohima) village". The Morung Express. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  11. ^ Col Ved Prakash, Encyclopaedia of North-East India, Volume 5, Atlantic Publishers & Dist, India, 2007, p. 2158
  12. ^ Anbarasan Ethirajan, Kohima: Britain's 'forgotten' battle that changed the course of WWII, bbc.com, India, February 13, 2021
  13. ^ Bert Sim, Mosstodloch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland: Pipe Major of the Gordon Highlanders at Kohima: his home is named "Kohima." -- RJWilliams, Slingerlands, NY/USA
  14. ^ "Epitaph". Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. ^ District Kohima, Demography, kohima.nic.in, India, retrieved February 12, 2021
  16. ^ "Rememembering Kekuojalie Sachü & Vikhozo Yhoshü". Morung Express. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  17. ^ Naleo, Villo (23 August 2016). "Nagaland:Remembering Truthfully and Forgiving Generously". Eastern Mirror. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Nagaland Timeline - Year 1995". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  19. ^ Rutsa, Xavier (3 February 2017). "Violence in Nagaland: Protesters attack government offices in Kohima". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Nagaland violence: What is the protest all about? All you need to know". Indian Express. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Nagaland CM TR Zeliang resigns amid protests: All you need to know about the unrest". First Post. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  22. ^ "TR Zeliang steps down as Nagaland Chief Minister". Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Massive fire breaks out at Mao Market in Nagaland's Kohima". India Today. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Find Out Why Locals in Nagaland Love Trekking to "Pulie Badze" in Jotsoma Village, Kohima". Roots and Leisure. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Kohima, India Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  26. ^ "Station: Kohima Climatological Table 1961–1990" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1961–1990. India Meteorological Department. July 2010. pp. 447–448. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Kohima set to become 'smart' sans running water". Nagaland Post. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Nagaland Chief Minister commissions Kohima water supply project". Eastern Mirror. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Kohima Municipal Council, Location of Kohima Municipal Council". kohimaonline.in. India Online.
  31. ^ a b "Administration of Kohima, Kohima District Administration". kohimaonline.in. India Online.
  32. ^ "Kohima CDP Revised" (PDF). Government of Nagaland. July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  33. ^ "Map of Kohima". Kohima Municipal Council. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  34. ^ "SP/CO - NAGALAND POLICE". www.police.nagaland.gov.in. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  35. ^ "North Police Station in Kohima becomes first government agency in Nagaland to receive ISO certification". Eastern Mirror. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Kohima Police Station Becomes First of Its Kind in North East India to Receive ISO Certification". News18. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  37. ^ "Census: Population of Kohima". Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Kohima City religion". Census India 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Its a record! Nagaland Hornbill Festival attracts 2.69 lakh visitors". The Financial Express. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  40. ^ "Kohima War Cemetery". Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  41. ^ "Nagaland: The story of how a garbage dump turns into a recreational park". The Northeast Today. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  42. ^ "Sokhriezie Park inauguration on December 4". The Morung Express. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  43. ^ "Forestry Research - Nagaland Forest Department". forest.nagaland.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  44. ^ "'World Class' Capital Cultural Hall in Nagaland". The Morung Express. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  45. ^ "Rio inaugurates RCEMPA". Eastern Mirror. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  46. ^ Karmakar, Rahul (22 July 2018). "Nagaland's Japanese Subculture". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  47. ^ "NAJ Cosfest could be one of the biggest monsoon festivals". Nagaland Post. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  48. ^ "About Hornbill Festival". Hornbill Festival. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  49. ^ "Winter Fashion For All Ages: Cosy Up And Take A Cue From These Stylish Local Folks from Kohima". Roots and Leisure. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  50. ^ "Empyrean Couture: Fall/Winter 2021". The Morung Express. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  51. ^ "Louis Philippe outlet opened in Kohima". Nagaland Post. 4 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  52. ^ "Nagaland State Museum : A window to the material and socio-cultural world of the Naga tribes". Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  53. ^ "The State Museum". Incredible India. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  54. ^ Sethi, Raj Kumar (2021). 100 years of Jainism in Nagaland - (A journey from 1885 to 1985). Walnut Publication. ISBN 978-93-91522-04-9.
  55. ^ "Media in Nagaland: Challenges and Opportunities". Eastern Mirror. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Journalism, writing needs to reflect on societal realities and struggles". The Morung Express. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  57. ^ "AIR launches new radio programme FM Tragopan". Eastern Mirror. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  58. ^ Sechü, Neidilhoutuo (26 July 2013). "Slow Train Ride to Zubza". Eastern Mirror. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  59. ^ "Railways to reach Kohima soon, says NFR GM". Nagaland Post. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  60. ^ "Dimapur–Kohima new BG railway line project to be completed by March 2026". The Economic Times. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  61. ^ "Nagaland: A step towards making Kohima smart city a hub for cycling". East Mojo. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  62. ^ "Nagaland capital Kohima among India's Top 11 Cycling Pioneers". The Morung Express. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  63. ^ "Naga Wrestling: The highest grossing sport in Nagaland". The Morung Express. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

Further reading[edit]

  • Swinson, Arthur (2015). Kohima. London: Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781784081775. From Google Books.
  • Edwards, Leslie (2009). Kohima: The Furthest Battle: The Story of the Japanese invasion of India in 1944 and the 'British-Indian Thermopylae'. Cheltenham: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5260-6.

External links[edit]

Official sites[edit]