Kharam people

The Kharam are a tribal people located in Manipur state, India. The history of their origin is shrouded in mysteries and so is the term "Kharam". They don't have any written document to support their support for their history other than the folk songs, folktales and story which is passed on to generation after generation. The word Kharam might have been derived from Kha (south in Meitei language) and lam (land) which the kharams used as ram (land)which means "Southland". They have a language affinity to the Purum, Koireng, Aimol, Chiru, Kom, and Halam tribes. The Kharam today inhabited in the seven villages of Manipur. and Among which The Kharam Pallen Village is the main village. Senapati District.[1]

It is recognised as a scheduled Tribe by the Government of India on 8th Jan 2003 as the 32 ST of Manipur. Which is also published in the Manipur gazette on the April 7th 2003(Imphal).At one point of time they were very large in number and had their own villages on the basis of Clans but as of today they constitute a very small number, and the "Ethno-history of the Kharam Tribe of Manipur". Gina Sangkham (2006) is the only sources that compiles the most relevant sources of the Kharam. But this book is also under serious criticism which comes from various quarter because the data written in there is distorted and manipulated.

Today most of the Kharams are already converted into Christians except 2-3 household still practising the old customary practices. It has various clans namely: 1.Shaichal 2. Rangla Khounoi 3. Rangla Khouchung 4. Mariem. 5. Saiphu 6. Seilon 7. Makan 8. Rakhou. 9. Keilaam. 10. Jaiche. 10. Inthiet.11. Neisaam. 12 Thanjol. But as of today keilam, inthiet, Neisaam, Makan, have extinct. among the causes for the decline in their population various reasons is cited but among them 1. Plague and malaria 2. Kuki Rebellion 3. conflict with Chothe Tribe are the main contributors. The notion of clan is a contested and contrasted views among the Kharams as for example the case of Rangla: it is divided into two lineage system Rangla Khouchung and Rangla Khounoi, but both the sub clans making a different claims and are the two sub clans even related is also a matter of disputes.

Society

The Kharam society is very complex, it is headed by a chief who is elected democratically and it is not hereditary, he will be supervised by the village councils who are collectively known as Kataar (Old people). The chief has to make sure that he adhere to various rules and regulation sets by the whole people, and he must be very strict in his food habit as well, or else it easily resulted in his termination of the term. There is no definite period for his term but in the later period especially after the conversion of most of its people to Christians they agree to set it 5 years of terms, and during the transition at one point of time the non Christian when they were in majority become the chief and one person among the Christian (Protestant) is to be the Village Secretary, but with passes of time the number of non Christian decline and today both of the post (chairman and secretary is elected) and The title of Chief cum chairman is terminated with the end of the reign of Pu R. Reikhoril. So today it is simply called as Chairman. The whole village was divided into two major groups Lomtang Shakteng and Lomtang Thangteng, and it is they who maintain the village gate clean, safe and secure. but during emergency they took the help of other group like kalen nai etc. The Kharam have dormitory system and it is mainly based on Clan wise where eligible/marriageable male would go sleep in the house of the family from another clan who have marriageable age group, but is not mandatory that they must necessarily marry from the house where they go sleep, but if the girl where they sleep got married off, then they automatically have to change to other house. But today these system is no longer practised.

Lapu group and Lapi Group (male and female song's leader) who are in charge of preserving the songs, dance and other cultural practices within the whole society plays an important role, and it is they maintain discipline within the upcoming younger generation, but today some member regrets that the discipline which was once very strict is no longer to be observed because there is no strict law enforcer.

References

  1. ↑ Haokip, P. (2011). Socio-linguistic Situation in North-east India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 53. ISBN 9788180697609. Retrieved 2014-11-26.

1.http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=11..061006.oct06 2.http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Rel_Kahoi_A_festival_of_the_Kharam_tribe_Part_2 3.http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-33863-rel-kahoi-a-festival-of-the-kharam-tribe/ 4.http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-33896-rel-kahoi-a-festival-of-the-kharam-tribeii/

Further reading

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