User:Thenkholal baite/Baite (people)

THE BAITES OF MANIPUR

LD MATE, IRS

Terminology: The term Baite literally means one who cannot walk properly due to injury (J. Baite, 1978).

Recital and linguistic affinity: The Baites racially and linguistically belong to the Kuki sub – family of the Tibeto – Burman, race and language group. The Baites of Manipur possess medium stature and dark hair. The Baite tribe is closely connected with Rangkhol, and on being, together with this latter tribe, driven out of the Lushai Hills by the Thadous. (Baites – Beites p. 191. G.A. Grierson: 1904)

Origin: The Baites believe that they came from ‘Khul’ (Cave). According to the Baite traditional folk history, Songza and Zahong once lived together in the sub-terranian world. Their progenitor Zahong decided to come to the Chungkha (the above world). But, the door of the Khul (Cave) was closed by a great serpent called Gulheopi. Zahong cut the serpent into three pieces with his sword and thus he came out of the Khul. Many people followed and came out after him; among them were Chongthu, the progenitor of the Thadous. It was because he opened the door of the Khul for many, – that, he was called Zahong (Za – Many, or hundred, Hong – open, open for many people) (J. Baite: 1978 0

Settlement: The Baite inhabit 67 villages, 50 in Manipur State and 17 in Assam State. Their populations are approximately 10,000 and 3,500 souls in Manicure and Assam respectively. The Baites are found in the District of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Thoubal and Churachandpur in Manipur State.

Baite Social Structure: The Baite society is basically composed of 12 clans and a number of sub-clans and lineages.

Marriage: The Baites, like other Kuki tribes prefer matrilineal cross – cousin marriage (MCCM) i.e. a Baite boy has to marry his mother’s brother’s daughter. This type of marriage is arranged by the parents of the boy and girl and is locally called Chongmou. There is often a man who takes a woman as wife due to the premarital pregnancy. Such a marriage is called Jolgai. There is also another type of marriage practiced by the Baites locally called Kijammang (Elopement).

Bride price: A bride price of a Baite girl is eight mithuns, one Dak (gong), one Khi (Necklace), one Lutom (a fine cloth for her father), and one Laisui (a traditional cloth for her mother). The marked value of one mithun is Rs. 10,000. Hence, a monetary value of a Baite bride costs (Rs. 10,000 x 8 =80,000), eighty thousand but this value is hardly followed. Fixation of the cost of a mithun or the entire bride price is settled by both the groom and bride parents and their household council.

Pregnancy Taboo: When a woman became pregnant – she is prohibited to eat a certain taboo food such as crabs, meat of bear, meat of Vui (Guineapig), and banana. The husband of the pregnant woman is also prohibited to kill snake, should not make ropes, and should not cut Sukto (mortor stick). It is a popular belief amongst the Baite that if the pregnant woman and her husband do not abstain from such things, the fetus would dissolve into liquid or it would be born in deformity.

Birth and Birth Ceremony: When a child is about to be born, a Baite village mid-wife prepares cloths for taking the child and man prepared an edge – sharp bamboo blade (now steel blade is used with dettol etc) for cutting umbilical cord of the new born child. As soon as the child is born, a temporary name is given so that, the evil spirits (thilha) may not hurt the child.

Naming ceremony: At the time of birth, a temporary name is given to the newly born child. A permanent name is given to the child, when Naojuneh (serving ju, rice – beer) in the name of the child is being done. The first son or daughter must, be named after the paternal grand father’s or grandmother’s name of the child. On this day, the parents of the child offer rice-beer along with cooked rice and meat to the gathering people.

Death and Burial ceremony custom: When a Baite dies, in the olden days, the dead body – corpse should be cleaned with warm water. After a clean bath, the dead body should be tied at Sutkhom (the main pillar of the house) with Sanglai (frame of bamboo pieces). The dead body should be buried in the courtyard of the house. No common burial place was there in the past – but, these days, Christian Baites bury the dead body at the common village cemetery.

Burial ceremony (Mortuary): Before carrying out the dead body for burying men folk stands in two rows by holding one stick each and strike the surface of the house saying ‘du, du, du, du, ra, ra, ra, ra and ru, ru, ru, ru, many times and then the dead body is allowed to be buried. It is done so that, the spirit of the deceased may go to heaven without any obstacle. The dead body is buried with his cloths and other belongings. The Baites usually slaughter mithun for the mortuary feast, all the relatives of the deceased participated in the mortuary feast. The Baite described death into two types — Thise and Thipha (bad dead and good dead) Thise is unnatural death and bury the dead body outside the village and Thipha, natural death, bury the dead body inside the courtyard or in the village cemetery.

Baite Social institutions: Som (youth dormitory): All young Baite boys of a village sleep together at night in the house of a som girl. A family without any girl cannot be selected for som. There could be one som or more in a Baite village. Just after dark is spoken as ‘Somlenphat’, meaning, the time for going to their ‘Som’, Som boys made baskets, comb, Nam (rope) etc. Hence, in Baite society Som serves as a training center for the young boys above 15 year. The Som boys also help the Baite village council in the protection of their village from enemy and wild animals. With the coming of Christianity in the Baite areas, the institution of Som becomes gradually redundant. It is mostly due to the establishment of missionary schools at the Baite villages.

Baite economic acivities: Lou Jhum or shifting cultivation is the main agricultural occupation of the Baites. Rice is the staple food, supplemented by cash crops such as cucumber, pumpkin, bean, sesame, maize etc.

Trade and commerce: The dwelling Baites traded with the Meiteis in the kingdom of Manipur. They mainly supplied chilies, pumpkin, cotton, yarn beans, potato, dried fish and meat etc. the Baites also traded with the Burmese (Myanmarese). They imported Dak (gong), Khi (Necklace), spiral gunpowder etc.

The Tribes of ASSAM, INDIA north Cachar Hills District, Assam, India

The Biates : Believed to be an off shoot of the Lushai-Kuki-Chin group, the Biates migrated from Central China and entered India to settle in northern part of Mizoram from where they were pushed by later immigrants to present day North Cachar Hills in the early 19th century.

The Biates have their own dialect and cultureal traits which are expressed through many a festivals in different occasions. Among them the agriculral festivals like Cemchoikut, Pamcharkut, Lahangkut harvest festival observed by families separately Jolsuak and Salulam to honour the brave hunters of ferocious animals.

During the festive days they consume liberal quantities of Zu fsice beer while dancing and singing their traditional dances like Buontumlam, Kolrikhelam, Rikifacholam, Partonlam, Sulribum-lam, Thingpuilethluk-lam, Meburlam and Darlam in tune with their musical instruments named Dar-ribu, Jamluang, Rossm, Khuang etc.

Both the boys and girls wear their traditional dresses and ornaments during performance of these dances. The girls put a decorated cane ring as a head gear and drape their favourite Jakua, Choipuan, Puanbomzia etc. The boys wear Lukom Jakua, Diarkai etc. The girls ornaments include Rithai, Kuarbet, Bangun, Ritai etc.

On the first day of broadcasting seeds in their jhum fields, the Biate women perform Meburlam dance to please ‘Nbupathien’, their god for crops and bounty. They dance with bamboo tubes in their hands and touch each other’s in a rhythmic way.

After they return from the fields the women sometimes gather in a courtyard and dance dance Rikifachoilam, imitating the wild parrots pecking grains from their jhum fields.

In winter, almost all Biate women go to a nearby stream or riverlet and dance Tuipuilen thluk in praise of the legendary mermaids. They break their bodies like waves in a ocean in tune with the accompanying flute.

SOME IMPORTANT PERSONS FROM BAITE COMMUNITY 1. TUNKHOPUM BAITE HE ORGANISED AND FOUNDER THE CHIN LIBERATION ARMY IN THE 60s.

2.Thansgo Baite, Born 1953 is an Indian politician and a great leader of the Vaiphei Tribe. He is a member of the Lok Sabha represented the Outer Manipur constituency in Manipur state in north-eastern India and entered the 15th Lok Sabha after winning the elections as a candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party. 3. Lamkhosei Baite The first All India Service (AIS) officer among the Baite after he got the post of Indian Forest Service and allotted Manipur-Tripura Cadre. Presently serving as The Chief Conservator of Forest, Govt. of Manipur, he is a great leader and God fearing man.

4. Holkhopau Baite Joined the Lok Sabha Sectt. and presently working as Deputy Director,Parliamentary Affairs Wing.Served the Zillai Delhi as PResident.Devoted christian and served as church leader in the Kuki Worship Service, KWS Delhi. 5. Thangkholet Baite one of the foremost theologians to be a Master in Divinity amongst the Baite Community. Served as Prject Coordinator, EFFICOR, Delhi.

6. Robert J Baite A journalist, beaureacrat and poet. Served as DO in the Life Insurance Corporation of India. Joined the Indian Information Service, IIS and posted in the rank of Deputy Editor, Manipur DD Kendra.

7. Mangkhosei Baite The first and foremost christian Leader in the Baite community. served for more than two decades as Executive Secretary, Evangilical Church of Manipur.

8. George Ginkhosei Baite The first priest to become a father in the Raman Catholic Church, Manipur.

9. Ngamkholal Baite Elected MDC and chief of Sugnu Tribal, Sugnu, Manipur

10. Jangngam Baite Elected MDC at a very young age.

11. Tongkai Baite Hailed from a chief family of T. Lailoiphai and elected MDC as one of the youngest politicians during the MDC election.

12. Tunminlian Baite recruited direct 2nd Lieutenant of the Indian Navy and posted in Mumbai.

13. Mangboi Baite, become Kuki actor and first in the community.

14. Thenkholal Baite Joined the Central Secretariat Service at a young age, and presently posted as GroupB officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI. Served the Zillai (Vaiphei Students' assn.) as President, Zillai Delhi Branch and true and vibrant christian leader and served in both the executive and missions of the Vaiphei Christian Fellowship, Delhi. Mobilised and worked for the Vaiphei Welfare Association Delhi.