‘Forgotten’ Manipur tribe has just 1 member left who knows its folk songs, musical instruments

Snippets from the vibrant Northeast that capture politics, culture, society and more in the eight states.

Representative image of Manipur | chandel.nic.in

New Delhi: Ch Lamtachao, the chief of Heikakpokpi village in Tengnoupal district of Manipur, is the only person from his tribe, known as Tarao, who knows its folk songs and can play as well as make the traditional musical instruments.

An endangered and marginalised tribe, Tarao has a population of less than 900 presently. In 2009, the UNESCO declared the Tarao language extinct. Over the years, the tribe members have been struggling to preserve their identity.

“When I first started learning the traditional instruments and folk songs in 2011, there were around four-five elders from different villages who could play the traditional instruments and sing the Tarao folk songs. I’m the only one left now as they, including my own brother, have passed away,” Lamtachao, who is in his late sixties, told the Imphal Free Press.

Tarao people primarily inhabit five villages in Manipur — Laimanai, Leishokching, Khuringmuul and Heikakpokpi — apart from the Sanakeithel village in the state’s Ukhrul district.

The Taraos are also called the ‘forgotten tribe of Manipur’ since the community is on the verge of extinction.

In a first, Nagaland village inducts women in its council

Chizami village in Nagaland has inducted four women in its village council and six others in the management committee of the village development board (VDB).

According to a report in The Morung Express, this is the first time in the history of Nagaland that women will take active participation in the decision-making process of a village council.

While the Nagaland VDB Model Rules state that 25 per cent members of a development board should be women, Colo Mero, the VDB secretary of Chizami, reportedly said that Naga villages do not follow this.

And even if they do, the women are included “only to serve”. “I didn’t want cooks and for service … whether men or women, they must be part of the discussion,” he said, according to The Morung Express.

“Women can bring in more details, and in many cases, women are more practical, men will think big and plan big but all big things also stem from the minute details,” added Mero.

DC office in Assam has ‘selfie zone’ to increase voter participation

A red-coloured British-era building that houses the deputy commissioner’s office in Assam’s Jorhat district now has a selfie zone. A blue-coloured ‘selfie frame’ has been set up outside the office with an aim to promote voter participation in the upcoming assembly polls in the state.

The landmark building in Jorhat is perhaps the only one of its kind in terms of its architecture and size.

The selfie frame has slogans in Assamese and English pledging to vote on 27 March, when the three-phase election begins. One can take selfies or group photographs and upload them on social media platforms.

Jorhat Election Officer Dinsengfa Boruah was quoted as saying that the district administration thought a selfie zone could be an interesting way to draw people’s attention on the topic of voter participation.

Boruah added that a sizeable number of people, from various age groups, visit the office every day and hoped the initiative would be successful in achieving its objective.

Arunachal rapper to compose music for Varun Dhawan & Kriti Sanon-starrer Bhediya

K4 Kekho, a rapper from Arunachal Pradesh, who shot to fame with his 2018 composition called ‘I am an Indian’, will reportedly compose the original sound track for the Bollywood movie Bhediya.

Directed by Amar Kaushik and starring actors Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, Bhediya will be shot in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district, Sagalee, Papum Pare district, and parts of Pakke Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Kekho, according to reports, was approached by Kaushik himself and music production for the film is likely to begin soon. Bhediya is slated to be released in April 2022.