Traditional self-governing institutions among the Zeliangrongs of NE India

Dr Budha Kamei

Introduction

The Rongmeis are one of the natives of North East India. Tradition holds that the ancestors of the Zeliang-rong emerged from a cave locally known as Mahou Taobei. They first settled in Makhel, then moved to Ramting Kabin, and subsequently to Makuilongdi, which is located in the present-day Senapati District of Manipur. From Makuilongdi, the Zeliang-rong migrated to different directions: the Zeme to the west, the Rongmei (also referred to as Kabui) to the south, and the Liangmai to the north. Today, the Ze-liangrong people are found inhabiting in Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. The Rongmeis have a rich tradition of self-governing institutions that manage the socio-cultural, political and judicial life of the village. These traditional systems existed long before the introduction of modern administration and continue to play a role in many traditional Rongmei villages.

A Rongmei village was a self-sufficient and self administering unit. Tradi- tional self governing institutions can be classified as follows: i) Khangchiu (the bachelors’ dormitory), ii) Ganchang Kaibang (the elders’ house), iii) Luchiu (the girls’ dormitory), i) Mathenmei Kaibang (the married women’s forum), and vi) Pei (the village council). The article aims to explore the traditional self-governing institutions of the Rongmei people, drawing from available sources.

Khangchiu

Khangchiu is an important institution in the village because it serves as a communal sleeping hall for boys. In olden times, it was a military barrack for the defense of the village. All boys who reach their teenage years become members of this dormitory, making participation compulsory for all boys and male members of the community. The institution is organized into three tiers. The three different categories are Gaanna (Shingkhang), Gaanpi, and Khangbon. (To be contd)