Imphal, August 08 2010: Close on the heels of Aimol tribe leaders expressing strong resentment against the UNESCO report that exterminated the indigenous people along with other tribes settled in Manipur, the Tarao community has invalidated the same report of the global organisation.

It may be noted that a recent UNESCO report under 'List of Endangered Languages in the Online Version of the World Atlas of Endangered Language (vis-a-vis census) 2009' had classified the Tarao dialect as one of the extinct languages suggesting either dilution or nonexistence of the tribe, which Tarao leaders condemned as outrageous.

A joint statement issued by Tarao Tribe Union, Tarao Students' Union, Tarao Chotnu Jurie and Tarao Tribe Literature Committee of Chandel district pointed out that inspite of only about a 1000 strong population, the Taraos are very much alive with its dialect thriving.

While the Tarao bodies asserted that population strength is not the sole criteria to define or identify a people.

The culture and tradition are being preserved since ages, it is informed that as per Cheitharol Kumbaba (The Royal Chronicle of Manipur) the Taraos had been in existence since AD 1263-1467 .

The joint statement also informed that out of six Tarao villages in Manipur five (Leisok Ching, Bukthrol, Khuringmul, Ratenphai and Heikakpokpi) are in Chandel district with Atung Atang in Ukhrul being the other settlement hub of the tribe.

The UNESCO report was intimated to the Tarao leaders by Chief Resource Person of Mysore-based centre for Tribal and Endangered Languages Dr Th Chandramani Singh, who is currently in the State along with his Technical Assistant namely FM Basha to establish veracity of the UNESCO claim as well as document population of indigenous tribes of Manipur whose languages have been listed as extinct in the report.

The report mentioned extinction of Aimol, Andro/Phayeng, Chairel and Chakpa dialects apart from terming as 'vulnerable' languages of other indigenous tribes.

Noting the UNESCO report as 'serious', the Tarao bodies affirmed that their resolve to preserve the language and identity has been strengthened as efforts would be made for documentation of presence of Tarao tribe to prevent the populace from being doomed to 'unnatural death'.

With apparent reference to the UNESCO report, they pointed out the survey activities of Census Commissioner of India (Languages) covers only those tribes who population number is more than 10,000 .

Ridiculing the said report, the Taraos cited content of the Minorities Commission Report and The Official Language resolution (3) of 1968 which considered languages listed in 'the Eight Schedule' as major languages of the country.

Further, programmes of Action Document 1992 on national Policy on Education 1986 considered the aforesaid languages as Modern Indian Languages, it maintained.

Highlighting that Indian Census has recorded 1576 rationalised languages along with 1796 mother tongues out of which 69-72 languages are taught in educational institutions in India and radio networks broadcast in 146 language and dialects, the bodies opined that the UNESCO report should have been compiled through more intense and thorough research work rather than draw conclusions from table-works.

Expressing resentment that research works on tribal population are mostly carried out without spot visit as indigenous people are scattered far and wide in remote areas, the Tarao bodies also called upon research scholars to extend their academic support in the preservation and documentation of the Taraos so as to negate claims of extinction.

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