| RK Vanlaldinpuia | July 2024 | Photo Essay|
After one whole year of grinding and not taking leave of absence from my work, this year, I finally decided to travel, go on an adventure and what better place to get that adrenaline rush if not somewhere in the hidden corners of North East? With uncertain road conditions, pot holes large enough to have catered to a meteor impact, and roads that barely hang on the edge of a mountain, let me take you to another journey; this time on the Borders between Tripura and Mizoram. Mind you, this would be my first time here and since I was only staying for a week, there was only so much information I could gather from the locals. I inevitably had to compile a few information from the internet which to my surprise and less to my dismay, does not have a lot about this place. “Ah, Jackpot! ”was my thought. Let us dive into the whats, the where, the hows, and the whos of Naogang.
As I arrived in this little town on my my first day, I was greeted with a beautiful sunset, a pinkish hue sky blanketing the dry, yet scenic landscape. Noagang is a beautiful village in the North Tripura region which had some connections with Mizos in the past as well.
Noagang:
Noagang is located in the Panisagar Block of North Tripura district, which is also a part of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). This region is notable for its diverse cultural landscape and vibrant community life.
Noagang is a village rich in cultural and historical significance. This village is not only notable for its scenic beauty and serene environment but also plays an important role in the religious and educational landscape of the region.
Noagang has been a focal point for the Presbyterian Church’s activities in Tripura. The village houses the headquarters of the Tripura Presbyterian Church Synod, which was officially established in 1986. This development marked a significant milestone in the spread of Christianity in the region, particularly among the indigenous communities. The church’s establishment in Noagang was facilitated by the Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod, and it has played a crucial role in expanding the church’s outreach in Tripura through various mission activities and educational initiatives.
Noagang is home to one of the mission high schools, Bethlehem English School, which serves the local community by providing quality education. This institution is part of the broader mission efforts to uplift and educate the children of the region, ensuring they have access to good educational facilities and opportunities for future advancement. And this is where I will be staying for the next one week. A little Side-tracking from my story; my father works as an Evangelist under Mizoram Synod, he has been working for the Glory of God for the last 30 years, and this year he will be stationed here in the School as an Office Assistant. This is me visiting my father’s ministry and telling stories not many have heard.
Noagang’s geographical location also makes it strategically important. It is well-connected by road, with several bus stops and transportation facilities nearby, facilitating easy access to and from the village. The proximity to Dharmanagar, one of the major towns in North Tripura, further enhances its connectivity and accessibility for both residents and visitors.
The village also benefits from various amenities such as ATMs, healthcare facilities, and religious sites, contributing to the overall development and convenience for its inhabitants. These facilities not only support the daily needs of the residents but also attract visitors and pilgrims to the area, adding to its vibrancy and communal life.
Getting there:
Noagang lies in North Tripura. Residing no further than 227 km from Aizawl, it takes approximately 6 hours by car and 5 hr 27 mins by bike. As mentioned earlier, Noagang is well connected by roads so getting there isn’t hard except during monsoon, when the roads are slippery and the potholes, prominent.
For people in Mizoram, Noagang has a friendly sumo driver Pu Chunga, a retired evangelist who is now permanently residing in Noagang with his wife. His Sumo service is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and leaves from Tuikual, Near Temple.
Pu Chunga is a friendly old fellow who loves to verbally ponder about the different perspective of life and his philosophies. He said that he was stationed there in Tripura for almost all his life, working as an evangelist but after a while, he got transferred to Manipur. He talks about his past, his days facing hardships in an unknown place; he really has a way with words spilling seamlessly the most interesting stories about his life experiences albeit, I could sense that he missed those days; days when he was energetic and young. He is still energetic as ever – imagine driving on North East roads which are unmaintained and unkempt. Yet, one could tell the unrelenting tiredness he felt doing the work he is doing. This sumo I took from Aizawl to Noagang took me almost the exact estimated time by Google – 6 hours and 20 mins. We stopped at Dapchhuah to shop for vegetables from the local market and stopped again at Zawlnuam for food. Apart from these two brief stops, we didn’t make any more which probably helped the efficacy of our journey.
I reached Bethlehem English School, Noagang at 3 pm.
Experiencing life in North Tripura, Noagang/ Bethlehem English School
My fist morning at Naogang, I had the opportunity to visit the school campus as it was still a holiday. The school lies on an elevated land mass, with plenty of open space for children to play. Even though my travel wasn’t purposed around visiting the school, I saw that the School had an undeniably paramount impact around the North Tripura hills as it provides affordable education to those who would not have been able to reach civilization otherwise, and that at little cost. It also provides hostel and boarding.
The School:
As said earlier the school has played a key role in what Noagang is today. Bethlehem English School was established in 1977 – fairly old for a mission school. Currently, the school has 28 teachers and 3 non-teaching staffs with 758 students; 390 boys and 368 girls – 150 of them being hostellers/in boarding.
The school has classes from nursery to class 10. It follows Tripura Board of Secondary Education. I have taken a few pictures of the school for your viewing pleasure.
The campus at night
After visiting some of the school site, I went over to the market place which was just a few minutes’ walk from the school. In the marketplace, we can find the ATMs, healthcare facilities, and religious sites for its inhabitants. These facilities not only support the daily needs of the locals but also attract visitors and pilgrims to the area, adding to its vibrancy and communal life.
The people living there:
On my third day there, I woke up earlier in the morning and went for shopping. Unfortunately, it was not a shopping day so the shops were mostly closed, but I got the unexpected pleasure of meeting different people and conversing with them over salted tea.
The people living in Noagang predominantly belong to various indigenous tribes, including the Ranglong and other tribal communities such as the Tripuris. The Ranglong community, a sub-group of the larger Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group, is particularly significant in this area.
The Ranglongs are a small ethnic community in Northeast India, primarily residing in the states of Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram. They have lived in these areas for around 400 to 500 years, with their presence marked by place names derived from their language and traditions.
Historically, the Ranglongs have been classified as part of the Old Kuki group by several scholars, which distinguish them from other nearby communities such as the Halam, Rangkhol, and others. Despite this scholarly recognition, the Ranglongs lack official recognition as a distinct tribe in their respective states. Instead, they have been administratively merged with various larger communities: with the Halam and Tripuri in Tripura, the Kuki and Rangkhol/Hrangkhawl in Assam, and other Mizo tribes in Mizoram
This lack of recognition has contributed to their marginalization and the endangerment of their language and culture. UNESCO has listed the Ranglong language as critically endangered, with only about 12,000 speakers remaining. Despite these challenges, there is a movement within the Ranglong community to reclaim and assert their distinct identity through cultural activities and organizations like the Ranglong Youth Association (RYA).
Efforts are ongoing within the community to revive and sustain their cultural heritage, language, and identity in the face of assimilation and identity crises.
The Ranglong’s are known for their rich cultural heritage and active participation in social and community events. For instance, the Ranglong Youth Association (RYA) has been active in organizing events to raise awareness about regional issues, such as their recent candlelight vigil in solidarity with the Kuki-Zo people affected by violence in Manipur, they serve as the YMA’s – one of the most integral part of the mizo society’s brotherhood and Tlawmngaihna. Just like the YMA, RYA here in Noagang would hold a procession for their members after their death.
The community in Noagang is deeply engaged in various social welfare activities. Local NGOs and community groups work on a wide range of issues, including education, women’s empowerment, and rural development. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, local organizations like the Noagang Christian Forum distributed essential supplies to help the villagers cope with the crisis
Noagang and its surrounding villages also play a crucial role in preserving and promoting indigenous culture and traditions. These efforts contribute to maintaining the unique identity of the region amidst the broader socio-economic changes occurring in Tripura and beyond.
Ranglong Festival:Khohui
Luckily, while I was there it was time for the Ranglongs to have their most famous festival, “Khohui Festival”. Since we had the good fortune of being invited by the local church members to attend the festival, we had to go.
The Khohui Festival is a vibrant cultural event celebrated by the Ranglong community, primarily residing in the northeastern Indian states of Tripura, Assam, and Mizoram. The festival, organized by the Ranglong Youth Association, aims to preserve and promote the community’s rich cultural heritage, which includes traditional songs, dances, games, and cuisine.
It seems every year they would invite local celebrities/artist from the neighbouring states like Mizoram to attend the event. This year they invited David Darlong as a guest artist.
The festival typically lasts three days and features various cultural exhibitions and performances. It also serves as a platform to pass on cultural and traditional knowledge from older generations to the youth, addressing concerns about the younger generation losing touch with their heritage due to rapid societal changes.
The Khohui Festival also emphasizes unity and harmony by inviting different communities to participate, fostering cultural exchanges and mutual understanding. This inclusivity helps strengthen social bonds and celebrates the diverse cultural tapestry of the region.
Additionally, the Ranglong language, which UNESCO has declared critically endangered, is a focal point of the festival. Efforts are made during the festival to promote and revive the language, reinforcing the community’s distinct identity.
Nearby Town:
Noagang, located in the North Tripura district, is surrounded by several significant villages, each with its own unique cultural and historical importance.
Panisagar: Just a few kilometers from Noagang, Panisagar serves as a key administrative and commercial hub. It has essential facilities such as banks, schools, and healthcare services, making it a crucial support center for nearby villages.
Fish market in Panisagar.
Uptakhali: This village, located close to Noagang, is known for its healthcare facilities, including a primary health center that serves the surrounding rural population. It also hosts several important religious sites, such as the Shri Shri Hari Mandir, which are focal points for community activities and festivals
Purba Tilthai: This village is significant for its educational institutions, including several high schools that cater to students from the entire Panisagar block. It also has religious sites like the Ramkrishna.
Roa: Roa village is known for its vibrant religious diversity, hosting several mosques including the Purba Rowa Jame Masjid and the Chamtila Jame Masjid. These mosques are not only places of worship but also community centers that foster social cohesion among residents
Jubarajnagar: This village is notable for its rich political history and active community life. It has several educational institutions, and its strategic location makes it an important point for political and social gatherings in the region (North Tripura District Administration).
Each of these villages contributes to the socio-economic fabric of the North Tripura district, providing essential services, cultural richness, and historical significance to the region around Noagang.
Conclusion:
After a week’s trip to Noagang, gathering as much information as I could from the locals, the internet and my own experience, I found that the most profound aspect of Noagang is its people – warm smiles and genuine, unforced hospitality that radiated the essence of their benevolence greeting visitors, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends language and cultural barriers; as a Mizo I felt at home from the first day that I arrived here. The language barrier is but slight, and the feeling of brotherhood and belonging beams there. In the embrace of Noagang’s community, strangers become friends, and the world feels a little smaller, a little more connected.
Noagang is indeed a special little village. Encapsulating the blend of cultural heritage, religious significance, and educational development, its strategic location and the presence of vital amenities make it a noteworthy place in North Tripura. The village continues to thrive as a center of religious activity and community development, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of rural life in Tripura. Should you wish to disconnect from the prison of the social media spiral and the pressure of staying connected with the world within our smartphones, Naogang is the place to connect with people, nature, and the primitive, yet nostalgic essence that we have long forgotten to cultivate and appreciate.
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R.K. Vanlaldinpuia, is a Radio-Imaging Technologist under the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Mizoram, currently posted at Civil Hospital, Aizawl. He is a photographer by passion, and puts up his work on Instagram @rkdinpuia
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During your short time visit, you did a great research about my village as well as my Community about the Ranglong. Thanks for your great attempt and tireless efforts
You’re welcome. 😁👍🏻