Dr. Kailadbou Daimai

Introduction: Set on a picturesque mountain, Tharon, a small Liangmai village in Tamenglong district of Manipur is endowed with pristine natural beauties. The village has about two hundred households and most of them live an agrarian lifestyle. Flora and fauna thrive abundantly. Green virgin forest surrounded the village and there are numerous crystal-clear streams and rivers. One will also find mysterious caves and resplendent waterfalls adorning the village surroundings. Life in this village exudes beauty, freshness and peace. Far from the hustle and bustle of towns and cities, one experienced tranquility here. One cannot help but only admire the simple and yet vibrant way of living of the villagers.

I present a small memoir of a day in Tharon village through the lens. Come! Let us spend a day inTharon.

1. View of Tharon Village.

A typical day in the village starts at the crack of dawn. Pounding rice, fetching water and cooking comprises the first activity of the day. These activities are usually done by womenfolks. Women are the backbone of the family.

2. Rice pounding.

The act of pounding rice is known as athoubo. It is done by a heavy wooden pestle called kamaih pounding on a big wooden mortar called kapen. Athoubo loosens and shatters the covering of the paddy and gradually separates rice from the husk.

3. Young girls learning the trade early on.

4. A village woman preparing to cook for the household.

5. A young girl fetching water from a nearby water source.

6. Village market shed.

Village folks come to sell products from their kitchen gardens, fields and even from forest, which are all organic. At times the villagers would just exchange their products. This activity happens atleast twice or thrice a week.

7. Khunh: village water source.

Mountain spring provides water for the village. Villagers construct a pond near the spring to hold the water. Such pond is known as khunh. There are three to four khunhwhere one can draw cool, crystal-clear water all year round. Khunh plays a significant role in the lives of the villagers. There are different timings for different age group to go to khunh. People usually draw water for drinking and other purposes early in the morning when the water is believed to be cleanest. Elderly people go in the afternoon to wash and bathe, whereas young maidens go in the evening followed by bachelor at dusk. Besides this essential purpose, khunh also served as a romantic rendezvous for village bachelors and damsels.

After brunch, at around 8 O’ clock in the morning, villagers, commonly the middle-aged people go to work in the paddy field. Teenagers and the aged also participate depending on the workload and during some special occasions.

8. Women folks on their way to paddy field.

9. These long walks to the fieldare filled with chit-chatting and laughter.

Traditionally, one of the most important characteristics of men is gallantry. They protect their elderly, women and children with great sense of responsibility and pride. In olden days, men can be seen guarding women both in the front and rear holding their spear or dao/machete, as they go forest or field, protecting them from wild animals, enemies or any potential dangers. Even to the present day, keeping tradition, few men usually accompany a group of women on their way to field.

10. Crossing bridge on the way to field.

Depending on agricultural cycle, the distance of the field may vary from a couple of kilometers to more than ten kilometers from the village. They crossed hills, streams and rivers; they toil tirelessly in rain and sun to provide food for the family.

11. One of the bridges on the way to field.

The bridge is made of a long and big log of wood and bamboos, supported only by boulders on both ends.

12. Jhum Field.

The villagers practice jhum or slash-and-burn agriculture. This is the traditional way of agriculture andpeople have been practicing it since time immemorial. The villagers follow a cycle of farming where one area of field is cultivated after a decade or so, giving time for nature to replenish and balance the environment.

13. A shed for resting in the field known as lupah or apah.

14. A village hut.

A typical village hut is made of thatch with bamboo or mudwall. In Liangmai culture a kitchen is considered to be the most important part of the house as all kinds of family activity takes place here.It also served as a sitting room for members of the family, neighbours and guests. Hence, kitchens are spaciously built with high roof and multiple doors and windows for proper lighting. Bedrooms are built separately.

15. Interior of traditional kitchen.

A unique characteristic, (if you must note), of this traditional kitchen is the fireplace or hearth known as kamang, which is set up of three smooth curved-out cylindrical stones (called tasa or tamsa) that served as stove. Above kamang is a two-tier wooden structure suspended on a rope. This first one calledkarap, which has multiple tier of its own, served the purpose of drying firewood, paddy, meat and other vegetables for preservation. About two feet above karap is the second tier known as kangaa, which is used to store dried items and other valuable objects. Above this two-tier structure one will see kasingh, where bigger and heavier objects of the house are kept. This kasingh also served as the ceiling of the hearth or kamang.

16. The roof of a kitchen.

The bamboo basket seen is used for storing dry meat, dry chillies, pulses and cereals. This type of basket is known askarei orchakou. A kitchen also served as a storing room for all the products and objects used in the house. One will also find variety of baskets in it.

17. Variety of bamboo and cane baskets.

18. The elderly stayed at home and engaged themselves in handicrafts and arts.

19. An old couple taking a break from their work and striking a pose for the lens. The old man’s hat is made of cane. He specializes in making such hat and other cane products that are both for used and sale.

20. An elderly man making a traditional basket known as kaluang. Kaluang is made of thin strip of bamboo. This type of basket is mainly used for carrying and storing paddy and other cereals.

21. Another variety of traditional basket known as kakhah. This is used for carrying firewood, vegetables and also in carrying water jars.

22. An elderly lady drying out paddy in the sun. Paddy from the field are dried in the sun or put above the hearth for couple of days before it is pounded.

23. An old man making traditional basket of cane known as tamthu. This tamthu is used for storing vegetables and fruits in the kitchen.

24. It is also common for elderly men to gather at a particular place/house, and chit-chat as they work on their respective craft such as making bamboo basket, bamboo strip and other cane and wooden craft.

25. A woman working on a yarn. The object/tool she is using is known as kariah. It is made of wood, bamboo and string which rotate as one wind the yarn into a ball of thread.

26. A traditional healer mixing medicinal herbs to treat his patient.

27. Boiling the herbs

28. An old man on his way to visit a friend.

29. A young girl baby-sitting her younger sibling.

Another common characteristics seen among the villager is that the older children of the family act more or less as substitute-parent to the younger ones. The elder sibling will take care and baby-sit their baby brother or sister full-time as their parent busied away in the paddy field. Baby-sitting is one of the first responsibilities rendered to children. They also start cooking and cleaning at an early age.

30. Meanwhile the blithesome lads set to roll in their four-wheeler. Made out of wood, at least two to three can be accommodated depending on their size and weight. Normally, the wheels have to be greased with some greasy herb before taking off. Well, the joy and the thrill of the ride, as it wheeled down the slope, can only be felt by the riders.

31. Making pellets out of mud for their catapult.

32. The pellet is ready and in position, the rubber stretched as the shooter aims to take his shot.

33. Slabs of stone.

Stones and rocks are highly significant. It is used for various purposes. Slabs like these are used to build wall around the village for security (especially in olden days when enemies from neighbouring villages prowled and hunt). Stones are also erected at every important occasion.

34. Inscriptions on the rock.

35. Rock art.

36. Shape of a foot curved on a rock.

37. This particular rock art also served as board game.

38. Mirror mirror on the ground. This curved-out stone was used as mirror in olden days. The hollow section of the stone will be filled with clean water and then one can see his or her reflection clearly.

39. The village primary school.

40. Meanwhile at the field women reapers at work.

41. Taking a break for a cup of refreshing black tea and some laughter.

42. A tool known as singbua used for threshing.

43. Homeward bound after a long day of hard work.

44. A woman with a basket on her back, loaded with all the goods returning from field.

45. Children thronged around a story teller as evening sets in.

46. And as the fiery evening sky glowed away.....

47.…..into the pale, silvery horizon, I could only smile and savour this beautiful sight, then and always.

Throughout the day I met and interacted with the villagers, young and old. They are all very cheery and helpful. They live a simple life yet they are very contented. Sincerity, hard work and humility are the traits found among the villagers. It has been a humbling experience for me. I, however, have some concerns regarding certain things, such as, the education system in the village, healthcare, road and connectivity which are still lacking and need lot of improvement and upliftment. Lately environmental issues regarding slash-and-burn farming are also raised to villagers. Yet in order to stop this practice, proper sensitization on adopting other means of livelihood is required and alternative sources have to be brought upon.

Overall, it’s been a day well spent.

This article was first published in kailadbou.blogspot.com on July 10, 2020.