KaveriKumari2 at 20:55, 12 April 2026

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{{short description|Tribe of Manipur, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Uipo
| image =
| population =
| languages = [[Uipo language|Uipo]]
| religions = [[Christianity]], [[Animism]]
}}
'''Khoibu''' is an [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]] for the '''Uipo''' people and [[Uipo language|their language]], also known as the '''Uipo Khoibu''' (/ˌuɪː pə͜ʊ ˈkʰɔɪ buː/), who are a tribe in [[Manipur]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=M. Romesh|title=Tribal development in 21st century: an experience from Manipur|year=2003|publisher=Mittal Publication|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

==Other exonyms==

The neighbouring [[Tangkhul Naga people|Tangkhul]] people call them "Apo" whereas the [[Maring people]] call them "Uipowaa". They were called "Upong" in the Inthee (or "Ningthee" in [[Meiteilon]] and 'Chindwin' in English) basin civilization.
== Notified status of the tribe in India ==
With reference to the Ministry of States' letter No.D.4101-B-49, dated 28 April 1949, the Dewan of [[Manipur]] State, vide his letter No.2/AG/49/0695-96 dated 6 June 1949, gave the list [[Scheduled Tribes]] of Manipur mentioning 'Khoibu' at serial number 18 of the list for inclusion in the Draft [[Constitution of India]]. The latest recognition document is the one granted by Manipur Hill Area Committee, which is a [[statutory body]] under the [[Constitution of India]], in its Resolution No.4(HAC) 2002 dated 28 October 2002, vide order Memo No.4/3/2002-LA (HAC), Imphal dated 11 November 2002.<ref>{{cite book|last=Khoibu Students Union, New Delhi|title=Brief Historical Background of the Khoibu tribe|year=2004}}</ref> The [[Manipur Legislative Assembly]] Hill Area Committee (HAC), in the year 2002 and 2011, recommended the recognition of the Khoibus as a separate tribe to the authorities concerned.<ref>{{cite web|title=UMK puts record straight|url=http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/43556/umk-puts-record-straight|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103190556/http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/43556/umk-puts-record-straight|archivedate=3 November 2014|url-status=dead|date=30 September 2014|accessdate=3 July 2017|website=The Sangai Express}}</ref>

In the year 2015, the GPRN recognised the Uipo (Khoibu) as a separate Naga tribe. The Uipo Maruo Koukartuo (UMK) appreciated the GPRN for standing for the rights of the minority by looking into the matter objectively and taking a very mature decision. "The decision of the GPRN in recognizing Uipo (Khoibu) as a separate Naga tribe is a reaffirmation that minorities have hope and there can be justice. It has reaffirmed the people in the RULE of LAW," the UMK observed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Khoibu Apex Body Resents Baseless Allegations Against The Tribe|url=http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/khoibu-apex-body-resents-baseless-allegations-against-the-tribe/|date=30 September 2014|accessdate=1 November 2019|work=Imphal Free Press|archive-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101015300/http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/khoibu-apex-body-resents-baseless-allegations-against-the-tribe/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Settlements ==
Khoibu Khullen is the oldest and the first Khoibu settlement village in the eastern hills of [[Manipur]] bordering [[Myanmar]]. Despite their identity being ignored, suppressed and repressed by tribals and non-tribals, the Khoibu have been able to retain their identity so far.<ref>{{cite book|last=Priyoranjan Chongtham Singh|first=Priyoranjan Chongtham|title=Tribalism and the tragedy of the commons|year=2009|publisher=Akansha Pub. House|location=Delhi}}</ref>

== Rituals and festivals ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name of Ritual/Festival !! Month/Day of the year
|-
| Khoibu New Year || ''Phairen 1 ahanba''
|-
| Aitlaangthoy ||
|-
| Mawldaamthoy ||
|-
| Nawngyerkachier ||
|-
| Khanaa ka-ud ||
|-
| Chaa kabuthoy ||
|-
| Yui Kasyem || ''Lamta 3 humnipanba''
|-
| Rapal kasaa || ''Sajiphu 7 taretnipanba''
|-
| Raallu kalaam || ''Sajiphu 8 nipannipanba''
|-
| Yawn kashoy || ''Kaalen 1 nongmapanba''
|-
| Chaasang kadaa || ''Kaalen 3 humnipanba''
|-
| Khulpu Chaa Kousalaag || ''Kaalen 4 marinipanba''
|-
| Chim kasaa || ''Kaalen 5 manganipanba''
|-
| Intring kachier || ''Kaalen 6 taruknipanba''
|-
| Phu kabaang || ''Inga 2 ninipanba''
|-
| Ram kanam Kharu kashoy || ''Inga 29 kunmapan panba''
|-
| Khawngrui karaan || ''Thawaan 13 taraahumdoinipanba''
|-
| Chayun Kapen || ''Thawaan 14 taraamarini panba''
|-
| Thawng koumaru || ''Thawaan 15 purnimaada''
|-
| Phu kayaar || ''Thawaan 15 purnimaada''
|-
| Kaapkathawd || ''Laangbanga Mera marakta''
|-
| Khadunglam kalai || ''Mera 10 taraani panbada''
|-
| Khalaampui kathoy || '' Mera 11 taramathoini panba''
|-
| Khalaampui kathoypui || ''Mera 12 taraanithoini panbada''
|-
| Khanod kathrai ||
|-
| Koukanseng || ''Mera 12 taraanithoini panbada''
|-
| Haichingbawng || ''Mera 15 taraamangaani panba''
|-
| Tlaanglon kalai || ''Mera 17 tarataretni panbada''
|-
| Tlungsyel kalaad || ''Mera 19 taramapanni panbada''
|-
| Meirui kasaan || ''Wakching 1 nongma panbada''
|-
| Chaataangthoy/ Mawl kasaam || ''Wakching 5 mangani panbada''
|-
|Maiso Kayia ||
|}

== Uipo language ==
[[File:WIKITONGUES- Donyashel speaking Khoibu.webm|thumb|A Khoibu speaker, recorded in India.]]
[[Uipo language|Uipo (Khoibu) language]] is classified as a southern Tangkhulic language of the Tibeto-Burman family. It is spoken by approximately 2800 speakers in Manipur.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} With this low number of speakers, who are all at least bilingual with Manipuri, the language is endangered. Consequently, it is expected to be declared as an [[endangered language]] with the subsequent call for the protection of the cultural, linguistic and historical heritage.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bishwajit|last=Okram|title=An Article on cultural And linguistic rights of Some Tribes in Manipur|url=http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/an-article-on-cultural-and-linguistic-rights-of-some-tribes-in-manipur/|date=2 January 2012|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=Kanga Online|publisher=Online Manipur Area Converter|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811085946/http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/an-article-on-cultural-and-linguistic-rights-of-some-tribes-in-manipur/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2020 community activist Mr. Mosyel Syelsaangthyel Khaling became the first Indian citizen to receive the Excellence in Community Linguistics Award of the [[Linguistic Society of America]] – the most prestigious award for linguistic activism in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=
Uipo Language Activist to Receive 2020 Excellence in Community Linguistics Award |url=https://www.linguisticsociety.org/news/2019/11/22/uipo-language-activist-receive-2020-excellence-community-linguistics-award|accessdate=10 June 2020}}</ref>

== Political tensions ==
The Uipo tribe is a highly endangered community of Manipur and in great need of social recognition and constitutional protection from the Government since their identity, traditions and cultures are endangered and today hanging on the brink of extinction. The equation of powers among the ethnic enclosures in hill areas of the state also matters while deciding who should be recognised as a tribe or ST. Even the state that has the authority to recognise tribes as schedule tribe is influenced by the strong lobby of a powerful tribe who is against the recognition of certain groups as ST.

The case study of Khoibus is important because it is a case of negotiating a distinct tribal identity between the ethnic enclosures in Manipur. It is argued that the enclosures of tribes around the generic ethnic identities like Naga have made the cultural identity of the Khoibus invisible. The study is also important in the sense that despite non-recognition of Khoibu as an official tribe, they live themselves as an independent tribe.<ref>{{cite web|first=G. Amarjit|last=Sharma|title=Inside and Outside of Ethnic Enclosures: Khoibu as a Separate Tribe|url=https://thehouran.wordpress.com/khoibu-as-a-separate-tribe/|work=Hou Ran Online|publisher=WordPress|accessdate=3 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/an-article-on-cultural-and-linguistic-rights-of-some-tribes-in-manipur/|title=An Article on Cultural And Linguistic Rights of Some Tribes in Manipur|first=Bishwajit|last=Okram|date=2 January 2012|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=Kangla Online|publisher=Online Manipur Area Converter|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811085946/http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/an-article-on-cultural-and-linguistic-rights-of-some-tribes-in-manipur/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in Manipur]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Manipur]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]

Khoibu people - Revision history

KaveriKumari2 at 20:55, 12 April 2026