Charles C yuhlung

The paper focuses on one of the most controversial identity issues prevailed in Manipur. As a paradigm it attempts to highlight the ethnic identity of Sorha alias Thaowon Saamtharnu the biological mother of King Pamheiba (Garib Niwaz) of Manipur that was conceal for more than three centuries which is proven only by the Chothe folklore. It explains how because of her controversial marriage life, politico-religion and primogeniture issues in the king’s court her true identity was concealed. It also highlights, how her story served as a living example for such anonymity and suppressive attitudes of the valley people in the process of cross-cultural marriage system, especially towards the tribal women of Manipur. The paper analyses both the oral narrations as well as few literatures to substantiate the point of view. Thus, highlighting the prevailing superior and inferior suppressive attitude and culture in Manipur based on politico-religious ground that was developed and rooted from ea...

The paper focuses on ethno-medicine practiced by the Chothe an indigenous tribe of Manipur. They have been practicing ethno-medicine since early days but nowadays their tradition is deteriorating with ignorance of its traditional values. But, few herbs and plants are still used in the treatment of various ailments and diseases till date. There are about 47 ethno-medicinal plants and 8 religious significant plants identified that are considered useful to our fragile health. Most of these plants identified are consumed as daily food items, while some are used for specific remedial purposes in the treatment of certain types of ailments and diseases like fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis, gastritis-ulcer, jaundice, piles, etc. Besides, some of these plants have religious significance too. The changing environmental conditions worldwide have also impacted on their food habits, health and lifestyle which now pose a threat to their existing life.

This paper centres on the identity of the lengendary King Chothe Thangwai/ Thangmei Pakhangpa of Manipur whom the Chothe believe and worship him as the avatar or the Divine-incarnate of their Principal Supreme God Pu Lungchungpa (the Dragon-Python God). It also attempts to throw light on the doubt and confusion surrounding with the mysterious identity of “Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa” the assumed first historical king of Manipur by the Meitei. The study reveals that Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa and King Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa to be one and the same person. This assertion is substantiated with the sacred manuscript under the titled, ‘Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa’ written in ancient Meitei language and Meitei (Mayek) script and also supported by other important manuscripts of Manipur like Cheitharol Khumpaba and Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba etc. besides the Chothe oral history. The paper calls for the review of the Manipur history as it reveal many insights in the nature of inter-relationship in the past and the confusion and doubt existing between the Hill people and the valley people.

The Chothe is a distinct and indigenous tribe of Manipur. It has its own distinct social, cultural, religion, economic and political institutions. The Chothe belongs to a Mongolian racial stock and speaks Tibeto-Burman language. It is concentrated mainly in two districts of Manipur viz, Bishenpur and Chandel respectively (irrespective of sparse settlements inside and outside the state of Manipur). The community has 18 villages in all and shares a population of about 3000, with a literacy rate of 40%. Based on the agglomeration the community is divided into three zones or groups viz, a) Eastern group, b) Central group and c) Western group. There are several small tribes in Manipur and S.A. Ansari has categorized the Chothe and the Purum as very small and very, very small tribes of Manipur respectively. We know that the two tribes are distinct and are of different entity with different historical backgrounds. The earlier British Political Agents has classified them as Old Kuki-Chin groups, on the basis of their early advancement or immigration to Manipur. Therefore, the objective of this note is to clarify and to purely distinguish between the two small communities, because of the paradox of the identity confusion especially by academicians, intellectuals, scholars of Anthropologists and Sociologists. And many intellectuals and scholars also have written on these two tribes. To name some of them are like, McCulloch The former three British Political Agents have written briefly on these two tribes as a different entity and do not cite the exact location of their settlements. While the rest of the Indians researchers who are mostly doing their Tribal (village) studies seems to have been confused because of their ignorance. One such serious case is observed between these two tribes of Manipur. The confusion and misnomer began with the monograph book of T.C. Das, "The Purum: An old Kuki tribe of Manipur" (1945). The error does not lie totally with him, but lies with lack of awareness by the operating census officials of Manipur. Das, an Anthropologist, from Calcutta University, who was suppose to study on the Purum tribe, was wrongly directed by the higher officials to the Central Cluster (Azouhu groups) of Chothe. These Ajouhu groups consist of four villages with a prefix of "Purum" in three of the village names viz, Purum Khullen, Purum Chumbang, Purum Tampak and Changninglok. This synonymous term of the Purum with some of the Chothe villages was the key issue of the confusion and misnomer of tribe name. Actually, it was a common reference term usually used by the neighbouring Manipuris for their place of settlements from where they came. While the operating census officials mistook for the Purum community and reported wrongly in the Census of

The paper is an attempt to survey and understand the various ethnobotanical plants used by the Maring tribe of Manipur as medicines in the treatment of various ailments and diseases. The reason being no study have ever been made in this area on them. In the present study more than 39 indigenous medicinal plants are used by the Maring in the treatment of about 34 ailments and diseases. They uses both single plant and compound plants in the treatment. Besides, they used certain insects, animal's part, thunderbolt stone and even magical charms in certain cases in healing and curing certain ailments. The significant of the study is that certain plants are believed to have multi-chemical properties in healing and curing as it differs from other neighbouring communities. Common diseases are like diarrhoea, malaria, piles, fever, snake bite, tiger bite, and mumps. Leaves and fruits are most widely used. Some of them still depends on such indigenous medicine rather than pharmaceutical medicines.

This paper centres on the identity of the lengendary King Chothe Thangwai/ Thangmei Pakhangpa of Manipur whom the Chothe believe and worship him as the avatar or the Divine-incarnate of their Principal Supreme God Pu Lungchungpa (the Dragon-Python God). It also attempts to throw light on the doubt and confusion surrounding with the mysterious identity of " Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa " the assumed first historical king of Manipur by the Meitei. The study reveals that Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa and King Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa to be one and the same person. It also describes his childhood, parentage, wife and his egnimism. This assertion is substantiated with the sacred manuscript under the titled, " Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa " written in ancient Meitei language and Meitei (Mayek) script and also supported by other important manuscripts of Manipur like Cheitharol Khumpapa and Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba etc. besides the Chothe oral history. The paper calls for the review of the Manipur history as it reveal many insights in the nature of interrelationship in the past and the confusion and doubt existing between the Hill people and the valley people.

The paper focuses on one of the most controversial identity issues prevailed in Manipur. As a paradigm it attempts to highlight the ethnic identity of Sorha alias Thaowon Saamtharnu the biological mother of King Pamheiba (Garib Niwaz) of Manipur that was conceal for more than three centuries which is proven only by the Chothe folklore. It explains how because of her controversial marriage life, politico-religion and primogeniture issues in the king's court her true identity was concealed. It also highlights, how her story served as a living example for such anonymity and suppressive attitudes of the valley people in the process of cross-cultural marriage system, especially towards the tribal women of Manipur. The paper analyses both the oral narrations as well as few literatures to substantiate the point of view. Thus, highlighting the prevailing superior and inferior suppressive attitude and culture in Manipur based on politico-religious ground that was developed and rooted from early 18 th century with the arrival of Vaishnavism/ Hinduism in Manipur, and that continues to be so by some.

Abstract: The paper focuses on ethno-medicine practiced by the Chothe an indigenous tribe of Manipur. They have been practicing ethno-medicine since early days but nowadays their tradition is deteriorating with ignorance of its traditional values. But, few herbs and plants are still used in the treatment of various ailments and diseases till date. There are about 47 ethno-medicinal plants and 8 religious significant plants identified that are considered useful to our fragile health. Most of these plants identified are consumed as daily food items, while some are used for specific remedial purposes in the treatment of certain types of ailments and diseases like fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis, gastritis-ulcer, jaundice, piles, etc. Besides, some of these plants have religious significance too. The changing environmental conditions worldwide have also impacted on their food habits, health and lifestyle which now pose a threat to their existing life.

The evaluation report is about a project implemented by the Naga Women’s Union Manipur’s: Initiative for a Just and Sustainable Society. The organisation is based in the state of Manipur, North Eastern Region of India. Manipur has an area of 22327 sq.km, and 9/10th of the total area of the state is hilly and mountainous region. The total population of the state is 22,93,896 persons (approximately), and the population density of per sq.km. is 82. The state is divided into nine districts; 5 in the hilly region, and 4 in the valley (plain) that is Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Bishnupur, and Thoubal. The four districts in the valley are mainly populated by the Meitei and Meitei-Pangal (Manipur Muslims), and other communities. They constitute 55 percent of the total population of the state. The tribal communities like the Nagas and Kuki-Chin Mizo occupy the hilly region. Out the five districts in the hilly region, the Nagas, Zomi and Chin-Kuki groups inhabit 4 districts. The Zomi and Chin-Kuki groups reside in the district of Churachandpur. The Naga populated districts are Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati.

This paper centres on the identity of the lengendary King Chothe Thangwai/ Thangmei Pakhangpa of Manipur whom the Chothe believe and worship him as the avatar or the Divine-incarnate of their Principal Supreme God Pu Lungchungpa (the Dragon-Python God). It also attempts to throw light on the doubt and confusion surrounding with the mysterious identity of “Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa” the assumed first historical king of Manipur by the Meitei. The study reveals that Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa and King Nongda Lairen Pakhangpa to be one and the same person. This assertion is substantiated with the sacred manuscript under the titled, ‘Chothe Thangwai Pakhangpa’ written in ancient Meitei language and Meitei (Mayek) script and also supported by other important manuscripts of Manipur like Cheitharol Khumpaba and Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba etc. besides the Chothe oral history. The paper calls for the review of the Manipur history as it reveal many insights in the nature of inter-relationship in the past and the confusion and doubt existing between the Hill people and the valley people.

This chapter highlights the significant of popular cross-cultural marriage among the Chothe with the neighbouring communities that poses threat to their traditional endogamous prescriptive marriage system. However, it indicates that despite the declined the system is still ideal, stable and adaptable. The declined of their traditional marriage system does not mean that the system is totally breaking down but rather a deviation. It indicates that the increased in cross-cultural marriage was develop due to their exposure, liberal worldviews and flexibility in their socio-cultural norms influenced by the thoughts of modern education, Christianity, westernisation and modernisation, etc. This liberal attitudes impacted by such factors allow a person to have more options in choosing a girl or a boy outside his/ her tribe. On the basis, a new trend of love and arranged marriage becomes popular a blend of tradition and modern marriage, common even among other North-eastern tribes of India.