ZHOKHAMI

"On the foothills of Mt. Japfü, 16 kms south of the capital Kohima, lies "Zhokhazwü" or "Jakhama" its habitants known as "Zhokhami".

       The word "Zhokhami" suggests that its people are great warriors and courageous. Legends tell that, the first settler of Jakhama, Viken, the second son of Keyho-o was sent forward to protect his other two brothers from the frequent invasion of the Mezhomis (Zeliangs). Viken found "Phezhozwü" a few distance from the British Bungalow and overlooking the present day Jakhama Village to be a strategic location to fight his enemies, so he settled there and with tactical warfare stood the test of time and stopped the Mezhomi attack. In this way, the word "Zhokhami" was derived. "Zho" referring to "Mezhomis". "Kha" meaning "stopped" and "Mi" meaning "people". Thus Zhokhami means people who stopped the Mezhomis from invasion. Zhokhami later came to be know as Jakhama during the British Administration. 

       As population increased at Phezhozwü with the passage of time, its people shifted to the present day Jakhama Village. 

       Geographically, the Village with its cultivable land and forest reserved is spread over approximately 10312 acres of land at 25º 34.962' EW latitude and 09º08.346'NS longitude and is 1550 meters above mean sea level.

       With its picturesque landscape from the top of "Mt. Chenhiche" (partly occupied by the Army H.Q) and "Mt. Thwübo/Chieyiezho" (at the foothill of St. Joseph's College is located), to its forests and chain of terrace fields surrounding its village and being fed with fresh drinking water as well as irrigation water through rivers "Kehorü" (the river flowing through the Dzükou approach road) and "Chüchorü" (which flows through the GREF camp) topped up with its ever cheerful and fun loving people, Jakhama has never felt short of admiration to its visitors and passers-by.

      "This truly a masterpiece of God, a paradise here on earth. 

Source: JSU (bulletin 2008)