Ajay Kumar at 12:58, 31 August 2023

2023-08-31T12:58:44Z

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{{Short description|Tribe in India}}
{{Sources|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Anāl people <br /> Anāl Naga people
| image = Anal naga.jpg
| image_caption = The Anāl people are a scheduled tribe found in Manipur, India and in Myanmar, who are traditionally farmers, carpenters and weavers, although modernization has caused the traditional methods to be abandoned.
| population = 123,377 approx <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/Section%20Table/Section1Table.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011093314/http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/Section%20Table/Section1Table.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| languages = [[Anal language]]
| religions = [[Christianity]]
| related = [[Zo people|Kuki-Chin-Mizo people]], [[Naga people]]
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Anāl (also spelled as Anaal) '''are some of the oldest settlers of the present day Manipur. They belong to the [[Naga people|Naga]] tribe native to [[Manipur]] state in [[North-East India]] and part of [[Myanmar]]. The name "Anal" was given by the [[Meitei people]] of [[Imphal Valley|Manipur valley]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sipra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQQNCU-QWBAC&q=name+Anal+given+by+Meithei&pg=PA48 |title=Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography |date=1992-01-01 |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7099-310-0 |location=India |pages=48 |language=en}}</ref> They are listed as a [[Scheduled Tribe]], in accordance with The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 [[Indian Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|title=1THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES)|access-date=2016-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212634/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-date=2017-09-20|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/7%20-%20Act%201976%20No%20108%201976.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011101308/http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/7%20-%20Act%201976%20No%20108%201976.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Anāl tribe is one of the 'sixty six Naga tribes' of the Naga ancestral homeland.<ref>{{cite thesis|author=Mhnuna, Lalsia |title=The political problems of Mizoram with special reference to the hmar peoples movement|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/67748 |location=Gauhati University|degree=PhD|year=2007}}</ref> The members of this tribe are found both in [[India]] and Myanmar. In India, they are situated in the States of Manipur and [[Nagaland]] but mostly concentrated in the former. In the State of Manipur, the Anāl Naga population concentrated in [[Chandel district|Chandel]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ijirs.com/vol3_issue-6/17.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822103934/http://www.ijirs.com/vol3_issue-6/17.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a few Anāl villages are located in its neighbouring districts, [[Churachandpur district]] has about three villages and [[Thoubal district]] has one or two.<ref name="e-pao.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.A_Brief_Narration_of_Anal_Naga_Tribe|title=A brief narration of Anal Naga tribe|publisher=e-pao.net}}</ref>

The Anāls in Myanmar live in the [[Sagaing]] sub-division. The Anāl population in this part has been dwindling. At present, there are three Anāl villages, 'Nga Kala, Napalun and Haika'. Formerly the Anāls had no problem to move or visit Anāl areas now in Myanmar and vice versa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nagasinmyanmar-burma.com/|title=Nagas In Myanmar (Burma)|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217162519/http://www.nagasinmyanmar-burma.com/|archive-date=17 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, with the demarcation of boundaries, they came under two distinct units and the consequent restriction imposed on the movement of the people of both sides, the Anāls had to stop such free movement between them. Consequently, there has not been any interaction between the members of the same tribe now existing under two different countries. The Anāl community is one of the oldest inhabitants of the hill areas in [[Manipur]] state. The archaeological findings at [[Chakpikarong]] also point it. According to [[Census of India 2001|Census]] of India, the Anāl population was 94,242 and 1991 census placed as 82,693.<ref name="censusindia.gov.in">[http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_manipur.pdf Census data] censusindia.gov.in</ref>

The Anāl Naga is recognized as a tribe in [[Manipur]] since 1951. This recognition of Anāl tribe was done by [[Rochunga Pudaite]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hmarram.com/important-documents/rochunga-pudaites-letter-to-prime-minister-nehru-on-hmar-hills-autonomous-district-council/ |title=Rochunga Pudaite's Letter to Prime Minister Nehru on Hmar Hills Autonomous District Council – HMARRAM |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220020127/https://hmarram.com/important-documents/rochunga-pudaites-letter-to-prime-minister-nehru-on-hmar-hills-autonomous-district-council/ |archive-date=20 December 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who met the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi in 1951 and requested him to give Scheduled Tribe recognition to the [[Hmars|Hmar]] tribe of Northeast India. The PM then asked him if he knew of the existence of other tribes which had not been included in the list. Rochunga then added the tribes of Anāl, [[Kom people (India)|Kom]], [[Paite people|Paite]], [[Vaiphei people|Vaiphei]], [[Ralte]], [[Chothe people|Chothe]] and others, thus paving the way for their recognition. However, it was only after the Scheduled Tribes Reorganisation in 1956 that all the aforementioned tribes were recognised by the Manipur government. Therefore, Anāl Naga is one of 33 tribes in [[Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trimanipur.com/masters/title.aspx?ref=tribes_of_manipur |title=Tribes of Manipur |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820134807/http://www.trimanipur.com/masters/title.aspx?ref=tribes_of_manipur |archive-date=20 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Anāl Language falls under [[Tibeto-Burman languages]] family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mhrd.gov.in/language-education|title=Language Education - Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development}}</ref> Anāls are recognised as one of the "Naga" tribes of [[Manipur]] and part of the [[List of Naga tribes]] by the state government of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/nagatribesofmani00hods|title=The Naga tribes of Manipur|first=T. C. (Thomas Callan)|last=Hodson|date=1 January 1911|publisher=London : Macmillan and Co., limited|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

==History==
The Anāl tribe is one of the oldest [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] tribes in the state of [[Manipur]] in [[Northeast India|Northeast]] India.<ref name="e-paolive.net">{{Cite web |url=http://www.e-paolive.net/download/PR/Naorem_Sanajaoba/Sanajaoba_Roots-MPP_Vol_3_2009.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011091522/http://www.e-paolive.net/download/PR/Naorem_Sanajaoba/Sanajaoba_Roots-MPP_Vol_3_2009.pdf |archive-date=11 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Chakpikarong]] is a land of the Anāls since the time the earliest settlers occupied the hill country of [[Manipur]]. The Anāls settled both in [[India]] and [[Myanmar]], their settlements crossed the Indo-Myanmar border. In [[India]], the members of the tribe are found in the state of [[Manipur]], mainly in [[Chandel district]] and a few villages in [[Churachandpur district]] and [[Thoubal district]]. There are a hundred and forty one villages in [[Chandel district]]. The neighbouring districts, [[Churachanpur district]] has three Anāl villages, namely Kolen, Dutejol and Warkhu, and the [[Thoubal district]] has one Anāl village- Moirankhom. Under the [[Myanmar]] administrative unit, there are three Anāl villages namely, Ngakala, Napaleen and Haika. According to the census report of 2001, the total Anāl population in India is 21,242. The Anāl population in [[Myanmar]] is not known because many of them are assimilated to the major community. Originally, the Anāls were animistic but are now largely Christian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/religion/district/378-chandel.html|title=Chandel District Religion Data - Census 2011}}</ref> However, Christianity became a religion for the Anāls only after India's independence. Today, more than 95 per cent of Anāls are [[Christians]] and are concentrated in [[Chandel district|Chandel]] of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manipurtalks.com/index.php?threads/updated-2011-data-manipurs-population-by-religious-community-2001.7237/|title=[Updated 2011 data] Manipur's population by religious community, 2001|access-date=2019-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819085720/http://manipurtalks.com/index.php?threads%2Fupdated-2011-data-manipurs-population-by-religious-community-2001.7237%2F|archive-date=2016-08-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Anāls are amongst the [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] of [[Manipur]]. The history of Moirang (a Meitei kingdom) and the Anāl traditional songs and tales suggests an existence in the presence of inhabited areas since the beginning of the 1st century AD or much earlier.<ref name="e-paolive.net"/> The Anāl cultural and traditional relationship with the Meitei brethren dates backs to 33 AD{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} Legend has it that the Meitei King Wangbarel (Pakhangba) married an Anāl woman belonging to the Wanglum clan of Anāl Khullen.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

==Folklore==
In the words of Horam,<ref name=Horam>{{Citation | author1=Horam, M | title=Naga polity | date=1975 | publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10930369 | access-date=4 August 2016 }}</ref> in ‘Naga Polity, "it can be said that the Nagas at first live in stone caves or in the womb of the earth".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CBuAAAAMAAJ|title=Comparative history of the Nagas, from ancient period till 1826|first=Yanao Lungharnao Roland|last=Shimmi|date=1 January 1988|publisher=Inter-India Publications|via=Google Books|isbn=9788121002103}}</ref> YL. Roland Shemmi also writes,{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} "Angami, Lotha, Rengam belief that they came out from the earth hole. [[Tangkhul Naga people|Tangkhul Naga]] came out from earth hole at Hundung. Ao tribe believes that they were the first to come out of underground cave". Thus cave theory as an epicenter of their origin is common among many tribes and all the Nagas tribe shared this theory. Anāl legend states that the Anāl, together with the other Pakan tribes, originated in Mongolia.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} They lived in a cave guarded by a man-eating tiger. Two Anāls, Hanshu and Hantha, killed the tiger with the help of birds from the sky. After the tiger's death, the tribes left the cave, traveling through [[China]], [[Tibet]], and numerous other areas before settling in [[Manipur]].<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1515–6}} The Anāls are divided into two groups based on who they believe they are descended from, Hanshu and Hantha .<ref name=Bareh07>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Manipur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&q=%22anal+language%22+india&pg=PA120|access-date=12 July 2011|year=2007 |publisher=Mittai |volume=III |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0}}</ref>{{rp|119–120}}

== Etymology ==
The origin of the name Anal is not clear. One hypothesis is that the name derives from the [[Meitei language|Meitei]] word ''anan'', which means "clean," suggesting that the group had a reputation for cleanliness. The Anaal generally describe themselves as the Pakan.<ref name="Prakash07">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Prakash |first=Col Ved|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxkC9S2jYCkC&q=%22anal+language%22+india&pg=PA1515 |access-date=12 July 2011|year=2007 |publisher=Atlantic |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-269-0708-3}}</ref>{{rp|1515}}

==Ethnic identity==
The political relationship between the Nagas and the [[Kukis]] since the eve of [[British Empire|British]] [[colonialism]] to post-British era has always been opposed to one another. In [[Chakpikarong]] (The Anāls Naga habitation) Stone Age culture age has been explored and found the existence of this culture.<ref name="inflibnet.ac.in">{{cite thesis|author=Tohing, SR |title=Ethnic Identities : a case Study of relations between the Nagas and the Kukis 1826 1997 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/21873 |location=Jawaharlal Nehru University |degree=PhD |year=2014}}</ref> This shows the Anāl Naga tribe is one of the oldest tribes of [[Manipur]] state.

==Demographics==
The Anāls live in the [[Manipur]] region of [[Northeast India|Northeast]] India, which is surrounded by the [[Imphal]] valley to the north, [[Churachandpur district]] to the west, the [[Chin Hills]] to the south and [[Kabaw valley]] to the east. The area is very hilly, with thick jungles and many wild animals. According to the 2001 census, there are approximately 94,242 Anāls in [[Manipur]].<ref name=gov>{{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_manipur.pdf |title=Manipur Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes|year=2001 |publisher=Census of India |access-date=12 July 2011}}</ref> In 1981 they were living in 95 villages.<ref name=Bareh07/>{{rp|120}} In 1981 they were living in 95 villages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reimeingam.blogspot.in/2012/09/scheduled-tribes-population-in-numbers.html|title=Marchang Reimeingam Ningshen: Scheduled Tribes Population in Numbers, Manipur|access-date=2 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311224025/http://reimeingam.blogspot.in/2012/09/scheduled-tribes-population-in-numbers.html|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://planningmanipur.gov.in/pdf/MSDR/Chapter%203_Demography.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001144759/http://planningmanipur.gov.in/pdf/MSDR/Chapter%203_Demography.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Literacy and educational level==
According to Census [[India]] in the year 2001, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in [[Manipur]] recorded 65.9 per cent literacy, which is above the national average for STs (47.1%). Of the thirteen major STs, the Anāls recorded the fourth highest literacy rate of 73.9% while Hmar recorded the highest literacy of 79.8 per cent, followed by Paite (79%), Any Mizo tribes (74%) and [[Tangkhul Naga people|Tangkhul]] (72.7%).<ref name="censusindia.gov.in"/>

==Social life==
The Anāls have many unique social practices and customs. One such trait is the division of the tribe's clans into two distinct groups, viz., 'Mosum' and 'Murchal'. Marriages may occur only between the members of these two blocks. Intra-marriage (such as a member of a Musum clan marrying someone from another Musum clan, or vice versa) leads to ostracism of the concerned couple. Another practice is that of adopting a person from another tribe (especially an in-law) into a clan from the group opposite to the spouse's group. This is done to show the newcomer familial affection and provide him/her with a tribe connection should any need arise where the original family is too far away to help or intervene.

The economy of Anāls is primarily based on crude agriculture.<ref name="e-pao.net" />

The Anāls' political system, since time immemorial, is democratic in nature and practice. This could be evinced by the election of village authority: the chief and his associates are elected by either voice vote or raise hand.<ref name="e-pao.net"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://prezi.com/qsm3y4dqjral/a-cultural-snapshot-naga-people-anal-tribe/|title=A Cultural Snapshot: Naga People- Anal tribe}}</ref>

The Anāl traditionally lived in windowless wooden houses with [[thatch]]ed roofs, erected above ground level. The houses had two doors of different sizes and two rooms, a bedroom and a storeroom ({{lang-anm|zuhmun}}).<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1516}} Now, however, it is rare to see such houses as the people moved on to more efficient and modern buildings in keeping with the times.

Anāl men traditionally wear a ''lungi'' (similar to a [[dhoti]]) and a simple shirt, called a ''pakan lungum''; they also strap on a basket ({{lang-anm|vopum}}) for carrying ''dao'' and other tools.<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1516–7}} Women wear undergarments, a skirt, blouse, and shawl, which cover them from their heads to their knees; they also carry a basket(Anal:Bowl).<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1516–7}} Both sexes can wear jewellery, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets, as well as special long [[earring]]s made from insect wings.<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1517}} Traditionally clothing is made by the women.<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1517}}

Anāl are traditionally [[monogamous]], although cases of [[polygyny]] have been reported. In order to marry, an Anāl man must pay a [[bride price]] ({{lang-anm|jol min}}); after marriage, the wife moves to the husband's home. Divorce ({{lang-anm|ithin}}) is permitted among the Anāl, although a fine may be incurred.<ref name=Bareh07/>{{rp|122}}

The Anāl were traditionally [[polytheistic]], believing in a supreme creator named Asapavan, as well as a secondary deity named Wangparel and numerous spirits. The largest Anāl rite is called Akam, which is divided into six stages (''Judong'', ''Bhuthawsing'', ''Hni'', ''Sapia'', ''Akapidam'', and ''Dathu'') and takes six years to complete. During the Akam, the Anāl sacrifice [[Gayal|mithun]] and pigs and offer a feast to the community. Most Anāls have now converted to [[Christianity]].<ref name="Prakash072">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2007 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |publisher=Atlantic |location=New Delhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxkC9S2jYCkC&q=%22anal+language%22+india&pg=PA1515 |access-date=12 July 2011 |last=Prakash |first=Col Ved |isbn=978-81-269-0708-3}}</ref>{{rp|1517}} The term Asapavan is now used to refer in general to [[God]]

Traditionally, Anāl men work as [[carpenters]], particularly the manufacture of [[bamboo]] furniture, and in [[basketry]]. Women traditionally specialized in [[weaving]] and spinning [[cotton]], which is grown locally. Due to [[modernization]] and competition from factory-produced goods, many traditional methods have been abandoned.<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1517–8}} They are also farmers, harvesting [[rice]], [[corn]], [[Yam (vegetable)|yam]] [[soybeans]], [[pumpkin]]s, [[tomato]]es, and [[gourd]]s.<ref name=Bareh07/>{{rp|125}}

The Anāl have many traditional [[musical instruments]], including the ''khuwang'' ([[drum]]), ''sanamba'' (three-stringed [[fiddle]]), ''dolkhuwang'' ([[gong]]), ''pengkhul'' ([[trumpet]]), ''tilli'' ([[flageolet]]), ''rasem'' (a pipe instrument), and ''diengdong'' ([[xylophone]])<ref name="Prakash07"/>{{rp|1517}} They are good dancers and their traditional dances include the ''kamdam'', which is performed by young people for the ''akam'' festival, and the ''ludam'', which celebrated victorious [[headhunting]].<ref>{{citation |title=Women of Manipur |last1=Ghosh|first1=G. K. Ghosh|last2=Ghosh |first2=Shukla |publisher=APH Publishing |year=1997 |isbn=978-81-7024-897-2}}</ref>

Notable festivals include the Chavan Kumhrin[http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Festival_of_Manipur.Chavan_Kumhrin_Fest_of_Anal_Tribe] celebration, observed every year on the 23rd of October. It is a kind of harvest festival, where the people give thanks for the harvest by bringing paddy, vegetables and fruits of the season's first crops and offer them to God. The day is marked by a church service in every village where the people gather to pray and offer a portion of their harvest. It is also followed by sports or festivities, and even a feast in the village. Other festivals are traditional celebrations such as Christmas holidays and New Year's. Both are celebrated in a grand manner, with the youths putting up decorations in their respective villages, holding carols, night services and organising sports or contests.

Food habits of the Anāl include fish, eggs, beef, pork, and other kinds of meat as well as fruits and vegetables.<ref name="Bareh07" />{{rp|121}} Although traditionally they do not drink milk, some families now drink it with tea. A form of rice beer, known as ''zupar'' or ''zuhrin'', is also drunk.<ref name="Bareh07" />{{rp|121}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Naga tribes}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anal Naga}}
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Manipur]]
[[Category:Indigenous peoples of South Asia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Manipur]]
[[Category:Naga people]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Meitei as a second or foreign language]]

Anāl people - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 12:58, 31 August 2023