Maram Nagas: A Socio-Cultural Study

The Marams are a Naga tribe of the State of Manipur numbering nearly 10,000. They inhabit the Senapati district of Manipur. British anthropologists and writers often referred to the Marams as ‘the great Muram tribe’. The Maram history is a sage of war and bloodshed, peace and prosperity, courage and determination, expansion and growth and famines and destruction. The social organisation and the cultural life of the Marams substantially delineate the Maram identity though in certain anthropometrical and socio-cultural traits they compare favourably with many of the Naga tribes of theNorth East India. Many of the social institutions of the Marams have been on the decline due to social charges and modernisation. But how should the Marams prepare himself to face the challenges of modernisation and social change without loosing his/her identity? That is the crux of the problem. This ethno-historical study pinpoints certain characteristics which are not part and parcel of the Maram ethos and have crept in through the back doom of alien influences. It is about time for the Marams to take his/her place by establishing his/her identity among the various ethnic groups of the North East and not remain any longer as a mere ethnic blur on the vast tribal spectrum of this part of India.

Dr. Joseph Athickai (b. 1955) did his M.A. (History) with a first class first, from Manipur University (Imphal), Manipur. He was awarded Ph.D. degree also from the Manipur University. Besides, he has also completed a 3 year Bachelor of Philosophy course from Salesian College of Sonada and a 4 year Theology course from Sacred Heart College, Shillong (affiliated to UPS-Rome). He is a teacher by profession and has won 4 times State Awards for excellence in teaching (1984-1988). He is at present actively engaged in tribal research.