Dormitory system of Koireng tribe

Pr Kungsong Wanbe *

Koireng :: An Ethnic Doll display at Mutua Museum Cultural Heritage Complex, Andro

Many writers had mentioned that the Koirengs are one of the smallest tribes of India's Northeastern region which is a meeting group of various racial and cultural elements in this part of Asia. Despite their small population, the Koirengs have a rich cultural heritage of which the people themselves are proud of. Their folklore, religious hymns and beautiful songs speak volume for the cultural richness.

The Koirengs are referred by both the Chronicles of Manipur and the British writers. For today I'll not mention all the racial and cultural of the Koirengs, out of which let me write down the system of Koireng Dormitory.

The Koireng have a social institution of the male dormitory call by them Sier. Every Koireng village has one male dormitory. There is no female dormitory. Only the bachelors of the village can be admitted to the Sier after reaching the age of the puberty. There is no any particular rite of initiation of the boys to the Sier. So long the boy remains unmarried he continues to be a member of the Sier.

The dormitory is housed in and elder's house until they construct a separate Sier house. Usually the Sier is construct at the corner of the village. The function of the dormitory system is to impart informal educatiott in tradition life, craft and culture of the Koireng community.

The dormitory also provides a community life for the youths and inculcates a strong sense of unity, discipline and corporate life. They also acted as guard house and the members of the dormitory look after the difference of the village.

Naturally the rules ofthe dormitory are very strict and any violation of the rules brings heavy punishment on the erring boys. Attendance of the dormitory is compulsory. The boys come to the dormitory after evening meal and sleep there.

There are two grades among the members of the dormitory in the basis of age. Age is strongly respected in Koireng society. The senior members are called REIBAK whereas the junior are called SIERNAI.

Two persons from amongst the senior are known as SIER-UPA (Head of the dormitory). One interesting point is that the Sier Upa may chosen from amongst the members of the KHUO (the village council) which is the organization of the married persons including married females of the village.

The duties of the head of the dormitory are to control the affairs and activities of the dormitory to maintain discipline among the members and promote cooperative social action. The junior members are assigned with the collection of fire wood from nearby jungles. The members are taught to dance, sing, play, tell folk tales and folklore in the dormitory.

The seniors use generally to train the junior in handicraft specially basketry and warfare and in handling of weapons. Even moral instruction covering marriage affairs are also imparted. The dormitory also acts as a recreational centre for the youths of the village.

The members of the dormitory render joint communal service to individual families during marriage, sacrifices, housebuildings, harvesting or cutting jhum fields for cultivation or the village community works. The dormitory sometimes settle small cases mostly among its member even before reference to the village council.

One important function of the dormitory in early times was the protection of the village from enemies and wild animals. Thus all weapons, dao, spear, bow and arrows are kept in the dormitory. The leaders of the dormitory trains up the Youngman to be an ideal member of the Koireng community.

It may be mentioned that though the origin of the dormitory is obscure it can be safely summarized that the need to impart traditional education to young man and provide protection to the village from hostile enemies must have been the basic factors leading to the emergence of the dormitory which is a fundamental social institution of the Koireng tribe.

Thus with the coming of educational institution and safety and security provided by the regular administration, the functions of the dormitory have been greatly minimised leading ultimately to the decline of this institution. It has now become more or less a nominal organization, performing ritual roles during festivals, sacrifice and social actions.

Lastly but not the least, even though there is no female organization in the traditional Koireng society. It does not mean that the Koireng female occupy a low position in the society. The status of Koireng women is quite high. Their economic role is very important reason for the stability of Koireng society.

The women are given some role in administration of the village, women member is represented in the village council. There are many Koireng women well versed in Koireng folklore, custom and tradition and a lady informant of this survey is a recognized authority on Koireng customary laws.