Pochury

Pochury

A book cover depicts a Pochury woman listening to a recording of her own singing
Regions with significant populations
Nagaland,  India	15908
Languages
Pochury
Religion
Christianity, Animism
Related ethnic groups
Other Naga tribes

Pochury is a Naga tribe of Nagaland, India. The tribe's native territory is located in the eastern part of the Phek district, centered on the Meluri town (166 km from the state capital Kohima).

The Pochury identity is of relatively recent origin. It is a composite tribe formed by three Naga communities: Kupo, Kuchu and Khuri. The word Pochury is an acronym formed by the names of three native villages of these tribes: Sapo, Kechuri and Khury. According to the Pochuri legends, these villages fought battles against each others, but united into a single tribe after their elders negotiated peace. Besides the three main communities, migrants belonging to the Sema, Sangtam and Rengma tribes have also been absorbed in the Pochury group.

According to the tribe's elders, the Pochurys are the earliest inhabitants of the region around Meluri. A local legend states that their ancestors lived in Puraka, a place near the present-day Phor village. Another legend states that they emerged from the earth near the present-day Akhgwo village.

The British administration classified the three Pochury communities as sub-tribes of other Naga tribes, describing them as "Eastern Sangtam" or "Eastern Rengma". After independence of India, the Pochurys campaigned to be recognized as a separate tribe. The Census of India recognized the Pochury as a separate scheduled tribe for the first time in 1991.

The exonyms used by other tribes for the Pochury include:

In 1959, the first modern school was opened in Meluri. In 1965, the Pochury territory was linked by road to the big towns like Kohima and Dimapur. Subsequently, the Meluri village developed into a town. The Christianity also spread in the Pochury society around this time. Electricity reached Meluri in 1975.

Historically, the Pochurys were dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Hunting, forest produce and fishing were the major subsidiary occupations. The Pochurys mainly practised jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn). Limited terrace cultivation was practised by those living in the basins of Tizu and Chichi rivers. For cattle trading, mithun and other cattle were procured from Burma. The trade was based on barter system, which worked well because the different villages specialized in different areas. By the British period, an iron piece (ato) was being used as a currency; two atos could buy a mithun.