10
Amrapaali / January 2015
The royal flag of Manipur. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia
History says that, the Tarao tribe was
brought by Maharaja Ching – Thang –
Khomba (1748–1799) who was a Manipuri
monarch of the 18th century CE, to look
after his orange tress at Komlathabi. The
Maharaja had an orchard nearby Pallel.
This tribe was engaged in plantation of
fruits like banana, papaya, pineapple, etc.
and were confined within just four villages
having
population
of
above
few
thousands.
WORDS
Moreover, the government has not
declared them as Minority Community
and have not been available for this
endangered community and plus this
ethnic
tribe
does
not
have
any
representative in the Autonomous District
Councils or larger state organisations as
per reported by Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial,
on December 20, 2014. But, some Tarao
representatives
appealed
to
the
government to make efforts for saving the
Tarao
language
and
culture
from
extinction.
On other hand, Dr. Chandramani, the
Convenor of Tribal and Endangered
Language Promotion Board said, “Though
the extinction of Tarao language was
declared in a report by the UNESCO in
2009, I have conducted a research under
the
Ministry
of
Human
Resource
Development which had revealed that the
language is still being spoken by a little
less than a thousand people.”
L Morre, the President of Tarao Culture
Literature Society of Manipur showed his
concern on the UNESCO’s report at the
Imphal Movie Club to media personals on
November 28, 2014 as published in
Matterindia.com on November 29, 2014.
This press conference was organized by
Tarao Tribe Union, Tarao Culture
Literature Society along with Tribal and
Endangered Languages Promotion Board.
Earlier, there were fifty families at
Sanakeithel in Ukhrul district. Amongst
them forty families were moved to
Chandel during the time of MK Priyobarta.
Now, only 10 families remain in Ukhrul. L
Morre also added that, D r. RK Nimai
representing the state government, have
made efforts to collect the scattered Tarao
tribe from areas like Tarao Laimanai,
Leishokching,
Khuringmul
and
Heikakpokpi areas.
Photo above: Section of Tarao shawl
Source: e-pao.net
"Mutua Bahadur's book on "Tribal hand woven
fabrics of Manipur"