(Fought
between Kikrüma Nagas and the British in 1851)
In the
mid-19th century, a significant and historic battle took place in the
North-Eastern Frontier Hills between the British and the Kikrüma Nagas.
Historically,this was the only battle worth mentioning in the context of
British expeditions into this part of the Naga Hills. The bloodiest battle ever
fought in the entire North-Eastern Frontier Hills occurred on February 11, 1851
at Kikrüma.
By 1851,
Kikrüma village had more than 1,000 households and over 2,000 warriors, as
reported by Lieutenant Vincent. Among these warriors, some were known to have
taken more than 70 heads. They were feared by neighbouring villages, and even
the powerful Raja Gumbhir Singh of Manipur hesitated to confront them.
In early
1851, the British were camping at Mezoma Village, defending the Jabeilie clan
against the Neitholie clan. They had contacted villages around Mezoma, many of
which became friendly, except Khonoma village and the Neitholie clan of Mezoma.
Upon hearing of the British presence at Mezoma, the people of Kekreemeh sent a
message challenging them: “Why don’t the Sipahees come and fight us?"
Curious about
these defiant people, on February 3, 1851, the British, under the command of
Captain Reid and Lieutenant Vincent, along with the 1st and 2nd Assam
Light Infantry, proceeded eastward with two 3-pounder guns, two mortars, and a
hundred armed personnel to discover this "large village" (Kikrüma).
On their way, they encountered villages below the foothills of Mount Japfü
(present-day southern Angami villages) and faced minor resistance, which they
eventually subdued. They halted at Pudunamai (Pushumi), a Mao village, offering
a panoramic view of Kikrüma.
When Captain
Reid revealed his destination to the villagers, they warned him of the dreaded
reputation of the Kikrüma Nagas. At one point, Captain Reid considered
abandoning the mission due to logistical challenges, such as provisioning
troops and transporting armaments. However, on February 5, 1851, two young men
from Kikrüma delivered another message, challenging the British to prove who
held the greatest power in the hills.
Unaware of
British firepower, they scornfully declared, “Your Sipahees are flesh and
blood, just as we are. We will fight with spears and shields and see who are the
best men. Here is a specimen of our weapon," handing Captain Reid a finely
crafted spear.
The British,
too, seemed apprehensive, as this was the first time a Naga village had openly
challenged them twice. To uphold the honour of the British Empire and avoid the
perception of retreating out of fear, Captain Reid decided to accept the challenge.
He prepared meticulously, mobilising all available arms and personnel. Hearing rumours
that four other villages might join Kekreemeh, he called for reinforcements
from Lieutenant Campbell, who was stationed at
Mezoma.
Lieutenant
Campbell, along with 50 armed personnel, mobilised 800 Naga warriors from
villages previously subdued by the British. These warriors joined the British
forces, eager to avenge past grievances against Kikrüma, whose warriors had
taken many heads from neighbouring villages.
On February
9, 1851, Captain Reid and his reinforced troops marched from Sopfüma village
(Pudunamai) toward Kikrüma via Kidima Village, located 3 kilometers from
Kikrüma, with the Sidzü River separating the two. Meanwhile, the Kikrüma
warriors prepared for battle on the western side of their village, where they
expected the British to attack. They piled boulders and logs on steep hillocks
to roll down on their enemies. However, Captain Reid observed their preparations
from Kidima and decided to avoid this route, instead advancing north toward
Kezoma Village.
The British
encamped on the banks of the Sidzü River below Kezoma on the night of February
10, 1851. The Kikrüma warriors, unaware of this maneuver, initially thought the
British had retreated. They were unprepared for an attack from the northern end
of the village. On the morning of February 11, 1851, the British troops and
their Naga allies advanced toward Kikrüma from the north. The Kikrüma warriors,
caught off guard, decided to fight within their village boundaries. The Naga
allies, emboldened by the British presence, advanced ahead of the main troops
and engaged the Kikrüma warriors. In the process many Naga allies of the
British were killed singlehandedly killed by Muswüri a warrior of Kikrüma.
When the main
British force arrived, the Kikrüma warriors were overwhelmed by the 3-pounder guns,
mortars, and muskets, weapons they had never encountered. The battle raged
throughout the day, resulting in heavy casualties on the Kikrüma side, with
over 300 warriors, including Müswüri, killed. Despite Captain Reid’s
objections, the Naga allies set the village ablaze, destroying most of it,
including granaries and homes. Only six households in the village centre were
spared.
The British
and their allies spent a harrowing night in the village, under constant attack
from the Kikrüma warriors. The darkness and relentless assaults made the night
seem endless. According to oral history, the moon and stars appeared to stand
still, as if nature itself obeyed the wishes of the Kikrüma Nagas.
On February
12, 1851, as the British retreated, they discovered hundreds of elderly men,
women, and children hiding in a secluded paddy field outside the village. The
Naga allies, driven by vengeance, massacred these defenseless individuals. The
British intervened to stop the slaughter, but the death toll from this massacre
reportedly exceeded that of the previous day’s battle. Oral history recounts
that the bloodshed was so severe that it stained nearby streams, washing away
dry leaves.
This brutal
episode remains largely unrecorded in historical accounts, as its inclusion
would have cast a dark shadow over British colonial history in the Naga Hills.
The Battle of
Kikrüma marked the 10th and final military expedition by the British
in the Naga Hills. Its aftermath led the British Parliament to adopt a policy of
non-interference in Naga affairs in March 1851, allowing the Nagas to determine
their own destiny.
Subsequent
events in the Naga Hills during the British era were limited to ambushes,
raids, and punitive measures, with no battles as significant as the one at
Kikrüma—until the Second World War in the 20th century.
By K. Puroh
(Sources: Varrier Elwin, "Nagas in the
19th Century," etc., and oral history)
