Centre recently sanctioned Rs 9 crore under Jan Man Scheme for Maram Naga tribe development, welfare projects, and cultural preservation in Manipur.
About Maram Naga Tribe
The Maram Naga tribe is a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Senapati district of Manipur, Northeast India. They are known for their distinct language, rich cultural heritage, and traditional practice of wet-rice cultivation.
Key Characteristics
- Location: The Marams primarily reside in the Senapati district of Manipur, with their main area falling under the Tadubi sub-division.
- Population: The estimated population of the Maram people is around 43,577 according to the 2011 census, spread across approximately 38 villages.
- Language: They speak the Maram language, which is part of the Sino-Tibetan language family and has been listed as "vulnerable" by UNESCO's endangered languages database. The Meitei language is used as their second language (L2).
- Occupation: The main occupation is agriculture, particularly a labor-intensive form of wet-rice cultivation on hill terraces, making land a crucial form of property.
- Culture & Traditions: The Maram culture is rich in oral history, folklore, and indigenous crafts. A notable traditional practice is the erection of large megalithic structures as memorials, which continues even today. The significant village of Maram Khullen is considered a repository of their culture.
Society and Religion
- Social Structure: The society has traditionally been patriarchal, with customary laws and practices often limiting women's participation in mainstream decision-making, though some sources note they have more privileges than other Naga women.
- Religion: While most Marams today identify as Christian, elements of traditional animism, including the worship of nature spirits and ancestors, still persist.
- Modernization: Like many tribal societies, the Maram community is undergoing significant social and economic changes due to modernization, which poses the challenge of balancing progress with the preservation of their unique cultural identity. The government of India has recently sanctioned development programs aimed at the preservation of their cultural heritage and ancestral practices.
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