Rongmei Naga

Rongmei Naga
Total population
Approx. 190,000
Languages
Rongmei language (Tibeto-Burman), Songbu dialect
Religion
Christianity (86.15%),
Hinduism (1.41%),
Animism (0.03%),
Unknown (12.32%).[1]
Related ethnic groups
Other Naga peoples

The Rongmeis are a major Naga tribe indigenous to Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in the North-East India. The Rongmei Naga is a scheduled tribe under the Constitution of India.[2] The Gaan-Ngai festival is celebrated annually between December–January. They are well-known for their most colorful dances among the Nagas.

Overview

The ancestral home of the Rongmei Naga lies in the mountain ranges of Tamenglong and adjacent mountainous areas of Peren and Halflong. The Rongmei settlement is the southern portion of the vast tract of Zeliangrong Naga [3] region and hence those settling in the southern part of Manipur call themselves Rongmei which etymologically is "Ruangmei", the southerners. The Rongmei territory was conquered by the British in the nineteenth century. Under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang [4] and his successor Rani Gaidinliu,[5] they rebelled against the British rule in the 1930s. This rebellion against the foreign invasion gave birth to the idea of 'Naga Raj' among the Nagas. Till date these two gigantic figures stands tall to prove the importance of Rongmei Naga tribe in the Naga family and will be throughout the sands of time.

Religion

The traditional religion of Rongmeis is known as Tingkao Ragwang Chap (TRC) or Pou-Pei chapriak (ways of our forefather). When the Christian missionaries arrived, majority of the Rongmeis got converted to Christianity. However, some of the Rongmei people still follow the ancient traditional practices. Conversion from Rongmei traditional religion to Christianity was a tough call earlier. Change of faith in a typical traditional Rongmei village can involve excommunication from the village along with payment of penalty in cash or kind by the converted person or family.

Economy

The economy of the Rongmei is agrarian in nature. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the people. Jhum cultivation is practiced in a great way. Greatly skilled in bamboo, wood, blacksmith and pottery works where Bamboo baskets, mats, shields etc. are manufactured in abundance.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17033/IN
  2. ↑ "The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes): Order, 1950". Ministry of Law and Justice (India).
  3. ↑ G. K. Ghosh, Shukla Ghosh (1997). Women of Manipur (illustrated ed.). APH. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-7024-897-2.
  4. ↑ G. K. Ghosh (1 January 1992). Tribals and Their Culture in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Ashish Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7024-455-4. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Kusumlata Nayyar (2002). Rani Gaidinliu. Ocean Books. ISBN 978-81-88322-09-1. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
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