EMN
Dimapur, November 26
Amidst speculation over the year of the establishment and foundation of Mokokchung town, Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung district, Sushil Kumar Patel, has made it clear that the Government of British India had agreed to the setting up of the new Mokokchung sub division on January 28, 1890.
Eventually the Government of Assam formally announced it on February 28, 1890 as a sub division with AW Davis as the first sub divisional officer for Mokokchung.
In a press release issued on November 24, Patel said that the Naga Hills District was created in 1866 by the Government of British India with its headquarter at Chumukedima then called Samaguting.
In 1875 the Lotha region was annexed to the district. An administrative centre was established at Wokha; this centre was shifted to Kohima in 1879.
Kumar further said that the Ao region was fully annexed into the Naga Hills district late in 1888. The extension of the northern territories of the district necessitated the shift of the sub divisional headquarter from Wokha to Mokokchung for more effective control.
A formal sanction was obtained in 1889 to establish the Ao sub division of the Naga Hills district with its headquarters at Mokokchung leaving Wokha to the charge of Tihsildar (present rank of Extra Assistant Commissioner). The Government of Assam finally announced it on 28 February 1890 with A.W. Davis as the first Sub Divisional Officer at Mokokchung.
Thus “the 28 February 1890 is taken to be the date of the establishment of Mokokchung as a Sub Division and also of the foundation of the town” Mokokchung DC said.
Laying to rest the speculation over establishment and foundation of Mokokchung town, Patel said A.W. Davis was continuing his posting from Wokha where he was serving since 1886 as per incumbency list maintained by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung. He was also the fourth SDO (C) to be posted to the Sub Division.
The deputy commissioner of Mokokchung said further the incumbency list maintained in the SDO (C) Sadar Mokokchung and at the DC’s Bungalow both start in 1880 when an officer to the Sub Division was first posted to Wokha.
However the date of the establishment of Mokokchung as a Sub Division is taken as 1890 when it was formally announced and the first Sub Divisional officer was posted.
“Thus we are observing 125 years of the creation of Mokokchung town in 2015,” Patel said.
