List of the first Naga in various fields and trades.
BRITISH ERA
- Nagas first encounter with the Ahoms: 1228
It is believed that the Ahoms led by their Chief Sukhapa entered Assam in the 13th Century (1228) via the Naga Hills after crossing the Patkai mountains. The Nagas put up a strong resistance as they were not used to strangers trespassing upon their hills. - Nagas first contact with the British : 1832
First Britishers Captain Francis Jenkins and R B Pemberton travelled through Naga territory. - First British expedition to the Naga Hills led by: Mr. Grange (1839)
- First missionary to the Nagas, Rev. Miles Bronson arrived at Namsang village
- 1866: The first administrative headquarter established by the British in Naga Hills: Samaguting (present day Chumukedima)
- The first police outpost was established in the Naga Hills at Samaguting in 1866.
The police outpost was later shifted to Kohima in 1888, and later upgraded to Police station in 1933. - First DC at Naga Hills : Samaguting (Chumukedima): Lt. John Gregory (1866)
- First Political Officer to Naga Hills: G.H. Damant (Kohima, 14 Nov 1878)
- First Police Station established in the Naga Hills: 1933, at Kohima (at the present day North PS).
First Officer-in-Charge of police station in Naga Hills: Sub-Inspector I. Chetia - The First Naga Woman GB (gaonbura): Mrs. Teli Kiba – from Ighanumi village (1940s)
PRE-STATEHOOD
- First Chairman of the Interim body: Dr. Imkongliba Ao
- First President of NNC: T. Aliba Imti (1946)
- First NNC Secretary: T. Sakhrie (1947 – 1956)
- First President of Naga People’s Convention: Dr. Imkongliba Ao
- First Naga People’s Convention was held on: 22nd-26th Aug,1957, Kohima
- First Chairman of Naga People’s Convention: Dr. Imkongliba Ao
- First Political ’Martyr in the Naga Independence Struggle: Zasibito Nagi
- First Superintendent of Police (SP) Office in Naga Hills District : SP Office Kohima, on 28 December 1953
- First Superintendent of Police: Shri. Kumar Randip Singh, IPS, SP Kohima posted on 28th December 1953.
- First police station: Kohima North Police Station, 1933
- First Peace Talks with Naga insurgents: 1964 between GOI and NNC
- First Naga Martyr: Mr. Zasibeito Nagi (killed October 18, 1952)
- The first Naga national flag was hoisted on March 22 , 1956, at Parashen, under Tseminyu (Rengma Area).
GOVERNMENT / POLITICS
- First General Election held in Nagaland State (10 Jan. 1964).
- First Nagaland Legislative session was held on 11 Feb. 1964.
- First Governor of Nagaland: Vishnu Sahay (1963)
- First Chief Minister of Nagaland: P Shilu Ao (1963 – 1966)
- First Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland: SC Jamir
- First Speaker of Nagaland: T N Angami (5 March 1964)
- First Chief Secretary of Nagaland: U N Sharma
- First Deputy Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly: K.Shikhu Sema (5 March 1964)
- First Secretary of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly: H. Zopianga
- First General Election in Nagaland was held in: 10th-16th Jan, 1964(46 seats)
- First Nagaland Legislative Council constituted: Feb,1964
- First MP from Nagaland: Melhupra Vero (1964)
- First Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland: Melhupra Vero (1964)
- First Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland: S C Jamir (1967)
- First woman Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland: Rano M. Shaiza (1977)
First Naga Woman President of the United Democratic Party, Nagaland: Rano M. Shaiza
First president of the Women’s Federation, Naga National Council: Rano M. Shaiza - First woman Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland: S Phangnon Konyak (2022)
- First woman MP from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha: S Phangnon Konyak (25 July 2023)
- First Naga to be appointed as Governor of an Indian State: Hokishe Sema (April 1983)
- First Naga Woman to be Chairman of a Village Council (2005): Tokheli Kikon, Naharbari Village, Dimapur
- First Lokayukta of Nagaland: Justice Uma Nath Singh (2019)
- First Upa-Lokayukta of Nagaland: Mayang Lima, Principal District & Session Judge (Retd)
- Longest serving Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio
- First Naga Woman MLA : Hekani Jakhalu (NDPP) / (2023) / 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly
- The first Naga woman cabinet minister : Salhoutuonuo Kruse (NDPP) / 2023 / 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly
- First time woman elected to Nagaland Legislative Assembly: 2023 / 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly
BUREAUCRACY / ADMINISTRATION / PUBLIC SERVICE
- First Naga officer: A. Kevichusa
- Recipient of Member of British Empire (MBE)
- First Naga to be a magistrate of British India: A. Kevichusa
- First IAS Officer: Shri Temem Aonok
- First Naga woman IAS officer : Banuo Z. Jamir (1977)
First Woman Chief Secretary of Nagaland: Banuo Z Jamir (2014) - First IPS Officer: Shri Lungalang
- First Naga woman IPS Officer: Amongla Aier (2006)
- First Naga Woman IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer: Neichulieu Nikki Haralu
- First Naga to serve as an Indian ambassador: Ms. Neichulieu Nikki Haralu , (Retd) IFS
- Served as Ambassador to Panama from June 1978 to July 1980 with additional charge of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
- First Inspector General (IGP) of Nagaland Police: Shri K. J. Nanavaty in 1863
(Served from 01.03.1963 – 19.02.1966) - First Director General (DGP) of Nagaland Police: Shri. K.K. Zutshi, in 1987
(Served from 11.09.1987 – 30.10.1990) - First Nagaland Armed Police battalion established: 1st NAP Battalion – Chumukedima (1964)
- First Director of Health Services in Nagaland (1963): Lt. Col. S.M.Das
- First Chairman of Nagaland Public Service Commission: Shri K. Sachidanandam (03.03.66 to 23.02.67)
- First Naga Supreme Court Judge: Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.K. Sema (appointed on 9th April, 2002)
- First Naga woman member of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC): Dr. P. Kilemsungla
(01.02.2007 to12.09.2012, and performed as Acting Chairman from 13.09.12 to 31.01.2013) - First Naga or the first Naga woman Member of the UPSC: Dr. P. Kilemsungla (2015)
- First Transport service inaugurated in Nagaland: Kohima-Dimapur, 1965 (Nagaland State Transport Estd. December 1964)
- First Women Police Station in Nagaland: Women Police Station, Kohima (October 19, 2016)
- The first Police Commissionerate in Nagaland: Dimapur Police Commissionerate (April 2015)
- The first Commissioner of Police in Nagaland: Shri Liremo Tsopoe Lotha, IPS (April 2015) – Commissioner of Police, Dimapur
- First railway station in Nagaland: Dimapur Railway Station, 1903
- First Deputy Commissioner of Tseminyu district: Dr. Zasekoulie Chusi, IAS. (Jan, 2022)
- First Superintendent of Police of Tseminyu district: Kanchan Kandpal Kumar, IPS (Jan, 2022)
- First Deputy Commissioner of Niuland district: Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS.
- First Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima district: Abhinav Shivam, IAS (2021)
- First Deputy Commissioner of Shamator district: Thsüvisie Phoji (2022)
- First Superintendent of Police of Shamator district: Amit Kumar, IPS (2022)
- First Police Station/ Government Office in Nagaland to receive ISO certification for Quality Management System: Kohima North Police Station (in 2020)
(ISO: International Standard Organization 9001 Certification ) - First Naga lady to be Secretary of NPSC: Smt. Chubala Ao
EDUCATION / QUALIFICATION
- First Naga matriculate (passed class 10): Neilhouzhu Kire (1918, Shillong GHS)
- Second Naga matriculate: A. Kevichusa
- First Naga Graduate (BA): Shri. A. Kevichusa (1924)
Second Naga Graduate(BA): Shri. Lhoulienyu Suokhrie
Third Naga Graduate: Shri. Mayangnokcha (1927) - The First Naga Lady Graduate (1936): Sokhrieno Angami
(Also known by the name: Rusokhrienyu Sakhrie or Rosalind Sokhrieno Lungalung) - First Naga graduate in science stream (PCM): Mr. L. Lungalung
- First Naga medical doctor : Dr. Harielungbe Haralu
- Licentiate in Medical Practice (LMP) in early 1911.
- First Naga MBBS: Dr. Talimeren Ao, 1950
- MBBS from Carmichael Medical College, Kolkata and retired as Director of Health Services Nagaland in 1978.
- First Naga lady doctor / MBBS: Dr. Khrielieü Kire
- Licentiate Medicine Surgery (LMS), Women’s Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab
- The first Naga Dental Surgeon / Dentist from Nagaland: Dr Tsenchamo Murry
- Graduated from Madras Dental College in the year 1973, joined Nagaland state service in the year 1974
- First Naga Post-Graduate: Mr. Sashimeren Aier
- First Naga Doctorate (Ph.D): Dr. Vichazelhu Iralu
- First Naga Lady Doctorate (Ph.D): Prof Temsula
- The first Naga Nuclear Scientist: Chireuding Zeliang
- First Bachelor of Divinity (B.D): Dr. I Ben Wati (1948)
- First Naga lady to passed Bachelor of Divinity (B.D): Mrs. Khrieleno Terhüja, Union Theological College, Bangalore in 1966.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
- First School in Nagaland: Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur, Mokokchung.
- Established on April 11, 1895 by American Baptist Missionaries
- First College in Nagaland / Oldest College in Nagaland : Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung (Inaugurated on 8 September 1959)
- First University in Nagaland: Nagaland University (1994) (HQ: Lumami, Zunheboto)
- First School of Engineering in the State of Nagaland: Nagaland University’s School of Engineering & Technology, established in 2007 at D.C. Court Junction, Dimapur, Nagaland.
- First Autonomous College in the North East / Nagaland: Patkai Christian College (Estd: 1974), Dimapur, Nagaland
- First American Baptist missionary to start a school in Kohima: Mr. C.D. King
- First Veterinary college inaugurated at Jalukie, Peren (2016)
- First Medical College established in Nagaland (Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR)) in 2023, located at Phreibagei , Kohima.
Inaugurated by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
RECOGNITION / AWARD
- First recipient of KING SCOUT award from Nagaland: Samuel Mezhur Sekhose (1940)
- First Naga (and only Indian) to be awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM): Samuel Mezhur Sekhose
- First Naga to be receive a Padma Award : Shri.Thepfürüya Haralu (T Haralu), 1964, Padma Shri Award for “Civil Service”.
- First Naga recipients of Padma Bhushan Award: Ms. Rani Gaidinliu | Year: 1982 | Field: Social Work
- First Naga Lady Padma Shri: Smt. Chubalemla Ao
- First Naga to be awarded Guiness World Records: Mr. Melhite Kenye (Tallest Paddy )
- First Naga or Naga Woman to conquer Mount Everest: Major (Dr.) Neikhrietuonuo Ginuo Linyu (25 May 2012)
- First Green Village in India: Khonoma Village, Kohima District
- First Naga to receive Arjuna Award: Chekrovolu Swuro
SPORTS
- First Naga Olympian: Dr. Talimeren Ao (Football | 1948 Olympics at London )
- First Naga Woman (or second Naga) Olympian: Chekrovolu Swuro (Archery )
- First Naga to captain a football team (India): Dr. Talimeren Ao
- Independent India’s First Football Captain: Dr. Talimeren Ao
- First footballer from Nagaland to be signed by an Indian Super League (ISL) club: Kivi Zhimomi, North East United FC (2018)
- First Naga to join an European football club: Ratobe Poireng, Lilla Torg FF in Sweden (August 2019).
- First Naga First Class Cricketer / First Naga to play IPL Cricket: Hokaito Zhimomi
- First Naga cricketer to score a century in first-class cricket: Rongsen Jonathan (Ranji Trophy 2018-2019)
- The First Naga sportsman to represent India at the Asian Games for “Sepak Takraw” : Viseyie Koso (China, 2010)
- First athlete from Nagaland in the discipline of bodybuilding and physique sports to represent India: Moalong Yaden (2021).
He secured the fifth place at the 12th edition of World Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championship 2021 held during October 2021 at Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
RELIGION / CHRISTIANITY
- First Missionary to the Naga Hills / First Baptist missionary to the Nagas: Rev.Miles Bronson
- First Naga to be baptized: Hubi (12th September 1847 – Source: NBCC History)
- First Missionary to Nagaland: E W Clark (1869)
- First Baptist church in Naga Hills: Molungkimong by Rev EW Clark (1872)
First Church established in Naga soil: Molungkimong (by E.W.Clark in 1872) - First American Baptist Mission in Naga Hills: Molungyimsen village in 1876 by Rev. E. W. Clark.
- First Evangelist to the Nagas: Godhula
- First Naga tribe to embrace Christianity: Ao
- First Bishop of Nagaland (Kohima): Rt. Rev. Abraham Alangimattathil
- First Naga Baptist Church in USA: Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Texas, US (officially inaugurated on 11 August 2019)
- The most Baptist state in the world: Nagaland
- First Naga Reverend: Rev. Kijungluba Ao
- First Naga lady Reverend: Rev. Dr. Noksangla
BUSINESS
- First daily Engligh Newspaper of Nagaland: Nagaland Post
- First Newspaper in Nagaland to be published in multi-colour: Nagaland Post
- First Mobile Service launched in Nagaland: BSNL, 2003. Launched by Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Kohima
- Nagaland’s first satellite television network: Hornbill TV
OTHER PROFESSIONS / SERVICE
- First Naga novelist to write in English: Easterine Kire
- First Naga pilot: Vizol Angami (Indian Air Force during World War II)
- First Woman Pilot from Naga Tribe: Roveinai Poumai (from Manipur)
- First King Scout (Award): Shri. Samuel Mezur Sekhose (1940)
- First girl of NCC Nagaland to fly a sortie: Cdt Senchumbeni
- First woman doctor among the Sumi Tribe: Dr Toshevi Keditsu Sema ( MBBS, Gauhati Medical College in 1977 )
- First Miss Nagaland – Toshirenla Ao (1981)
- The First Transgender Model from Nagaland : Kenny Awomi (Read More)
- First lady Army Officer from Nagaland: Major K Kuotsu (retired)
ART / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT / FILMS
- The First Naga (Woman) Bollywood Film Producer: Rebecca Changkija
- First Hornbill festival: 2000, Kohima.
- First YouTube Channel from Nagaland to cross 100,000 subscribers: Dreamz Unlimited (August 5, 2018)
- First from Nagaland to get YouTube’s Silver Creator Award: Dreamz Unlimited (2019)
- First Virtual Reality (VR) Lounge launched in Nagaland at: The Hammock Resort, Wokha (22 April 2019)
CENSUS
- First official census in Naga Hills: 1891
- First census covering the entire area of Naga Hills district: 1961
- First census of Nagaland State: 1971
- successive censuses have been held in 1981, 1991 and 2001
[Source: UNDP Human Development Report Nagaland 2008, p.18]
OTHERS
- First in North East to get level 2 food laboratory: Nagaland Food Laboratory
- First Mini Gene Bank: State Agriculture Research Station (SARS) Yisemyong, Mokokchung , inaugurated on May 24, 2019.
- First in Nagaland to introduce Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): District Hospital Kiphire
- First COVID-19 / bio-safety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory in Nagaland: Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), 2020
- First President of India to visit Nagaland: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1963)
- First Prime Minister of India to visit Nagaland: Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (March 1953)
[To be further updated. If you want to submit, write to us – Contact ].
References:
- Teli Kiba – the first Naga woman GB
- Who is Talimeren Ao?(The Hundu)
- Neichiilieii Nikki Haralu – A life of Testimony (MorungExpress)
- Trans Model from Nagaland breaking barriers (EasternMirror)
- Newspapes of Nagaland
- UNDP : Human Development Report 2009 – Kohima
- The Incredible Story of the Nagaland Doctor Who Was India’s First Football Captain!
- Culture change among the Angami Naga (Thakro, Zhanuo)