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Khiamniungan (Khiamnungam) Naga

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The Kharam Tribe: An Ethnographic Profile

Introduction

The Kharam are an indigenous Tibeto-Burman tribal community inhabiting Manipur's Kangpokpi District in Northeast India. Officially recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian Constitution's Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act of 1976, the Kharam maintain a distinct cultural identity while facing significant sociocultural transformations.

Historical Context and Ethnogenesis

The Kharam's origins remain shrouded in oral traditions, with competing etymological theories about their ethnonym:

  1. The "khwa ram" (that land) hypothesis suggests territorial identification
  2. The "kha ram" (southern land) theory indicates possible migratory origins

Linguistically classified within the Kuki-Chin-Naga group of Tibeto-Burman languages, Kharam shows notable affinities with Kom, Purum, and Aimol dialects. The language remains vital in seven core villages, with Kharam Pallen serving as the cultural epicenter.

Sociopolitical Organization

Traditional Governance

The Kharam developed a complex gerontocratic system featuring:

  • A non-hereditary, democratically selected chief (Lal)
  • The Kataar council of elders as legislative body
  • Food taboos and strict behavioral codes for leaders

Modern Adaptations

Post-Christianization reforms introduced:

  • Five-year electoral terms
  • Bifurcated leadership (Christian Secretary + traditional chief)
  • Current unified Chairman system

Social Structure

The society organized through:

  1. Lomtang Shakteng and Thangteng - Gatekeeping clans
  2. Kalen Nai - Auxiliary security group
  3. Defunct clan-based dormitory system (Luchu) for marital socialization

Religious Transformation

From traditional animism, the community has undergone near-total Christian conversion, with only 2-3 households maintaining indigenous practices. This shift has significantly impacted cultural transmission mechanisms.

Clan System and Demography

The twelve original patrilineal clans (including the extinct Keilaam, Inthiet, Neisaam, and Makan) have faced severe depopulation due to:

  1. Colonial-era epidemics (1890s plague, 1918 malaria)
  2. 1917-1919 Kuki Rising disruptions
  3. Interethnic conflicts with Chothe communities

The Rangla clan's internal Khouchung-Khounoi lineage dispute exemplifies ongoing identity negotiations within the community.

References

Further Reading

  1. Primary Sources
    • Kharam Tribal Council. Customary Laws of the Kharam People. Kangpokpi: KTC Press, 2010.
    • Manipur State Archives. *Census Reports of the Hill Tribes, 1901-1951*. Imphal: Government Press.
  2. Academic Studies
    • Bhadra, Mita. Tribal Transformation in Northeast India. New Delhi: Mittal Publications, 2015.
    • Singh, M. Amarjeet. Demographic Changes Among Manipur's Tribes. Guwahati: North-Eastern Hill University Press, 2017.
  3. Contemporary Issues
    • Kharam Youth Association. *Language Preservation Initiatives, 2010-2020*. Kangpokpi: KYF Monograph Series, 2021.
    • Northeast India Studies Journal 14, no. 2 (2022): Special Issue on Kuki-Chin Tribes.

 

References

Bareh, Hamlet, ed. Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Nagaland. Vol. 6. New Delhi: Mittal Publications, 2001.

Census of India. “Primary Census Abstract: Scheduled Tribes.” Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, 2011. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html.

India International Centre Quarterly 28, no. 1 (2001): 99.

Pillai, Sushil K. “Anatomy of an Insurgency: Ethnicity & Identity in Nagaland.” South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). Accessed October 24, 2011. https://www.satp.org/.

Prakash, Ved. Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Vol. 5. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, 2007.

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