Britishmino Rotomi Hakiphe Le (A song about how the British burnt Rotomi Village in 1883)

( Source: Apu Asu Leshe, Sema Literature Board, 1988)

In the month of June 1883, the people of Rotomi village head-hunted one of the Tsungukimi. Some of the neighbouring tribes informed the British Government about this incident and consequently Lt. Boileau with 42 soldiers and officers of the 44th Sylhet Light Infantry came to Rotomi and set the village on fire killing 50 to 60 villagers, all livestock and granaries were brunt to ashes. Till today people can dig out remains of burnt paddy in and around their village. This was during the administration of Mr. R. B. McCabe, ICS , the then Deputy Commissioner of Kohima and under his command this order was carried out.

This song was composed by Inaghi Yepthomi sorrowfully remembering what happened to Rotomi Village.

Britishmino Rotomi Hakiphe Le

Sheho ishe Sumi Chopi Chuwo sasu kupughuyewo

Kucho thikuzuu kujono shi oshikuphu oyikughe

Kivi pesu ayina lashou Ghoshepuu kivi shi aye

Ileni ti shokitheuye ayina chhiliu sasu kimiveni

Aye anan-chumi nono alhi shini aye azughi mukulo

Cheiloghiye pano akusa showo cheniye

Pina-imu nighi anachumi pa mughuye katsumonikeno

Ananchumi nono alhe ghopu aghu lewu penike pi ayewo

Nighi atsalaye tuqu tsala kishilo ye apu amu

Kichimino phepuumo aye kivi shi aye Tapu azughizu

Atsuni suqo aye nino anivumi nono alhe ghopu

Aghu lewu penikeno anivumi kutsu cheqhoghiye

Timi ghili mthayewoe

Thayeoe Yepthoumino chehu ashe lono timi

Shoinau sutsa chikuluye nighi timi hasu

Wokighilo axamunu jukivi ni yethaluye suwo

aghuno kuzu shi kichi itino chumi shewoye

Ishe Chuwopumi ye akithilaqholo kughuna kuami

Pano isuchuni ayewo khalauye tughauno Chopi

Choli Sumi le kumthami sasu lepi kumtsa lauye

Inakukhu ni hani pi aye Tapu azukupu ghe aniye

Pi aye nighi Apu amu kichimino nivilo alhe ghopusu

Aghu lewu chekemi shijulo pi ayewo

Nighi Zutapali angupali ki shika aye nighi

Ghulo lakhilo aghami khalu anikeno atughalo

Mashihu kipemiye

Ni pa sumusa aye nighi kijili aghakuzuno

Nono kuwo kheloqhiyi popeghiye, nino phu

Puhaleve puzuno inakukhuno ile niphulo anikeno

Ile niphu kupukhami kujolai shenilae.

Ashopu agha kuxuuno hayewo, eleni Hozuxu

Papuno kichili shiveqhiye shi kughuna luaye

Ale phesu veqhishi kughunalu aye

Izu papu kimiye mulo ani yewo.

Nighi kusa lakhi ka aye apu amu lau

Ile pekikishe pesu chua junikeno pano

Khabumi Jumino qhakusu shelono poipeghiye

Niphu puhalevetsu puzuno nighami

Kichi iti mulo aniwoe.