Khujli Ghar: Nagaland’s traditional form of punishment

Khujli Ghar: Nagaland’s traditional form of punishment

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I- Culture/ Society

In news

• Some villages in Nagaland are trying to revive a traditional form of punishment to reduce crime. 

Key takeaways 

• Khujli ghar is a cramped, triangular cage made from the logs of Masang-fung. 
• Masang-fung is a local tree that causes irritation. 
• Social offenders of Naga customary laws dread this punishment due to humiliation within the community. 
• Such itchy cages are referred to as khujli ghar in Nagamese — a pidgin lingua franca — but each Naga community has its own name. 
• The Aos, one of the major tribes of Nagaland, call it Shi-ki (flesh-house). 
• The cage is usually placed at a central spot in the village, usually in front of the morung (bachelor’s dormitory) for the inmate to be in full public view. 

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