Zeliangrong

Zeliangrong people
Total population
500,000
Languages
Zeliangrong language
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Naga tribes: Makhel, Angami, Chakhesang, Rengma, Mao, Poumai, Maram, Thangal Rongmei, Zeme, Liangmei, Inpui

Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. The term "Zeliangrong" refers to the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Naga tribes combined together.[1] The proper noun Zeliangrong does not denote a tribe but, rather, a union of tribes or, rather, the apex tribe of three aforementioned tribes (Zeme Naga, Liangmai Naga, Rongmei Naga).

The descendants of Hoi of Makuilongdi (Makhel) were divided and were made peripheral appendages to three political entities - Manipur, Naga Hills (Nagaland) and the North Cachar District of Assam.

The Zeliangrongs number around four hundred and fifty thousand according to the 2011 census, though their population may actually number around five hundred thousand in the three states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. The Zeliangrong may be classified as an ethno-cultural entity. The Zeliangrong belong to the larger Southern Mongoloid population and their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages.[2]

The Zeliangrong have been living in the present location of their land since time immemorial, in a compact and contiguous geographical setting of approximately 12,000 km2 lying between 93 degrees E and 94 degree E longitude and 94.40 degrees and 24 degrees N latitude in N. C Hills of Assam; Peren district of Nagaland; Tamenglong district, Sardar hills of Senapati district, northern part Henglep subdivision of Churachanpur district, Jiribam subdivision of Imphal district, Imphal valley and Silchar Town along with various villages such as Binnakandi, Lakhipur, and its adjoining slopes in Manipur.

Etymology

The ethnonym ‘Zeliangrong’ is traced back to the three kindred brothers. The three brothers are the Zeme (dwellers of the warmer) or Mejahme (lower region), Liangmai (men of the North) the original Northerner; on the other hand the term Rongmei (people settled in the south) and finally Inpui (Puimei). The word Zeliangrong was first coined on the 15th February 1947 at Keishamthong Imphal.[3] The terminology Zeliangrong was coined in coherence with the solidarity movement after India’s independence. The Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei dominates the demography in the districts of Peren in Nagaland, Tamenglong in Manipur, Haflong and other parts of North Cachar Hills in Assam. Not to forget the parts of the Barak Valley, Kohima the capital of Nagaland, Dimapur the commercial hub of Nagaland, Loktak, Bishnupur also Imphal the capital of Manipur comes under the fold of Zeliangrong people.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ G. K. Ghosh, Shukla Ghosh (1997). Women of Manipur (illustrated ed.). APH. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-7024-897-2.
  2. ↑ "'Salt' of the Soil-The Zeliangrong Story", North East and Me, Food For Thought, retrieved August 23, 2011 External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.opinions.Opinion_on_Manipur_Integrity_Issue.Bill_108_of_2011_and_need_to_understand_the_words_Naga_Zeliangrong_and_balkanization
  4. ↑ "A brief account of the Zeliangrong People", Zeliangrong Identity:, Makaam Foundation, retrieved August 23, 2011 External link in |publisher= (help)
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