History of Lozaphuhu Village
In Brief
The word Lozaphuhü is derived from ‘Lozape,’ a kind of edible mushroom yellowish in colour that was found blooming in abundance at the village site when the first settlers arrived centuries ago. Thus, the place came to be called as Lozaphuhü which means a place where Lozape mushroom grew.’ The village was also known as Züdemi (which means vast hinterland) in olden times.
Due to its strategic location, the British Indian troops set up military camp and the Americans an air surveillance outpost at the higher elevation of the village known as Cepi during World War II (old remains and abandoned trenches at the site still available). The Japanese too came to the village in 1944 during World War II and the villagers managed to establish a friendly relationship with them too.
Some Basic Facts:
· With the coming of the British rule, the first Gaon Buras (village elders) were appointed in 1896 namely Lt. Chusayi, Lt. Hukhu, Lt. Potsonyi and Lt. Muthahu to assist the government in the administration of the village.
· The first modern school though rudimentary was started in the year 1923 under the initiative and care of Lt. Suramü Rhakho, the first literate man in the village. Then in the year 1951 under the initiative of Lt. Thiyiesuyi Khamo, a private primary school was started which was eventually taken over by the Government and thus the first Government Primary School came into being in 1955.
· The first jeepable road to the village was constructed by the British during World War II in 1943 and the State PWD took over the same in 1978.
· Two times the village was razed to the ground by fire when in 1938 a wild fire burnt down the whole village and on 20thApril 1956 when the Indian Army burnt down the village during the heyday of Indo-Naga conflict.
· In the year 1977, the village produced its first Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mr. Chiekhutso to Nagaland State Assembly who was elected consecutively for three terms.
· Electricity reached the village in 1976 and the first Health Centre was established by the State Govt. in 1983.
