The AnÃÂl are a Naga tribe native to Manipur state in North-East India and part of Myanmar. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe, in accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 Indian Constitution. The AnÃÂl tribe is one of the 'sixty six Naga tribes' of the Naga ancestral homeland. 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 AnÃÂl Naga population concentrated in Chandel and a few AnÃÂl villages are located in its neighbouring districts, Churachandpur district has about three villages and Thoubal district has one or two.
The AnÃÂl in Myanmar live in the Sagaing sub-division. The AnÃÂl population in this part has been dwindling. At present, there are three AnÃÂl villages, 'Nga Kala, Napalun and Haika'. Formerly, the AnÃÂl had no problem moving to or visiting AnÃÂl areas now in Myanmar, and vice versa. However, with the demarcation of boundaries, they became grouped under two distinct units, and with the consequent restriction imposed on the movement of the people of both sides, the AnÃÂl had to cease such free movement between these 2 places. Consequently, there has not been any interaction between the members of the same tribe now existing in two different countries. The AnÃÂl community is one of the oldest inhabitants of the hill areas in Manipur state. Archaeological findings at Chakpikarong confirm this. Despite this, the AnÃÂls' total population remains small. According to Census of India, the AnÃÂl population was 21,242, and the 1991 census was totaled at 10,642.
The Naga AnÃÂl have been recognized as a tribe in Manipur since 1951. The recognition of the tribe was made official by Rochunga Pudaite who met the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi in 1951 and requested him to give Scheduled Tribe recognition to the Hmar tribe of Northeast India by wearing a traditional Hmar attire. The PM then asked him if he knew of the existence other tribes which had not been included in the list. Rochunga then added the tribes of AnÃÂl, Kom, Paite, Vaiphei, Ralte, Chothe and others, thus paving way for their recognition as well. However, it was only after the Scheduled Tribes Reorganisation in 1956, that all the aforementioned tribes were recognised by the Manipur government. Therefore, the Naga AnÃÂl are one of 33 tribes in Manipur. Referred to them as one of the Naga tribes of Manipur and recognised as part of the List of Naga tribes by the state government of Manipur.
The AnÃÂl tribe is one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the state of Manipur in Northeast India. Chakpikarong is a land of the AnÃÂl since the time the earliest settlers occupied the hill country of Manipur. In India, 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. Neighbouring districts, like the Churachanpur district, has three AnÃÂl villages, namely Kolen, Dutejol and Warkhu, and the Thoubal district has one AnÃÂl village - Moirankhom. Under the Myanmar administrative unit, there are three AnÃÂl villages - namely: Ngakala, Napaleen and Haika. According to the census report of 2001, the total AnÃÂl population in India is 21,242. The AnÃÂl population in Myanmar is not known, because many of them have assimilated into the majority populations. Originally, the AnÃÂl were animistic, but are now largely Christian. However, Christianity became a religion for the AnÃÂl only after India's independence. Today, more than 95% of AnÃÂl are Christians and are concentrated in the Chandel of Manipur. One of the positive impacts of Christianity among the AnÃÂl is education.
The AnÃÂl are amongst the indigenous of Manipur. The history of Moirang (a Meitei kingdom) and the AnÃÂl traditional songs and tales suggests an existence in the presence of inhabited areas since the beginning of the 1st century AD, or much earlier.
In the words of Horam, in âÂÂNaga Polity, "it can be said that the Nagas at first lived in stone caves or in the womb of the earth". YL. Roland Shemmi also writes, "Angami, Lotha, Rengam belief that they came out from the earth hole. 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 the origin story of their people is common among many tribes, and all the Naga tribes shared this theory. AnÃÂl legend states that the AnÃÂl, together with the other Pakan tribes, originated in Mongolia. They lived in a cave guarded by a man-eating tiger. Two AnÃÂl members, Hanshu and Hantha, killed the tiger with the help of birds from the sky. After the tiger's death, the tribes left the cave, travelling through China, Tibet, and numerous other areas before settling in Manipur. The AnÃÂl are divided into two groups based on who they believe they are descended from - either Hanshu or Hantha.
The origin of the name AnÃÂl is not clear. One hypothesis is that it is derived from the surname of R.D. Angnal. Another theory is that the name was taken from the Meitei word anan, which means "clean," suggesting that the group had a reputation for cleanliness. The AnÃÂl generally refer to themselves as the Pakan.
The political relationship between the Nagas and the Kukis since the eve of British colonialism to the post-British era has always been opposed to one another. The AnÃÂl's oral history says they were always at war with the Kukis. In Chakpikarong (The AnÃÂls Naga habitation), Stone Age culture age has been explored and found the existence of this culture. This shows that the AnÃÂl Naga tribe is one of the oldest tribes of Manipur state. The oral history of the AnÃÂl says that the AnÃÂl were oppressed by the Kukis during the Kuki rebellion of 1917.
The AnÃÂl live in the Manipur region of Northeast India, which is surrounded by the Imphal valley to the north, Churachandpur districtto 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 21,242 AnÃÂl in Manipur. In 1981 they were living in 45 villages.
According to 2001 Census India, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in Manipur recorded a 65.9% literacy rate, which is above the national average for STs (47.1%). Of the thirteen major STs, the AnÃÂl recorded the fourth highest literacy rate of 73.9%, while Hmar recorded the highest literacy of 79.8%, followed by Paite (79%), Any Mizo tribes (74%) and Tangkhul (72.7%).
In social practices, many of them are unique. One conspicuous trait is the division of tribe's clans into two distinct groups, viz., 'Mosum' and 'Murchal'. As intra-marriage can occur between the members of these two groups, ostracism of the couple in question can occur. The economy of the AnÃÂl is based primarily on crude agriculture.
The AnÃÂls' 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.
The AnÃÂl traditionally live in windowless wooden houses with thatched roofs, erected above ground level. The houses have two doors of different sizes and two rooms, a bedroom and a storeroom ().
AnÃÂl men traditionally wear a lungi (similar to a dhoti) and a simple shirt, called a pakan lungum; they also strap on a basket () for carrying dao and other tools. Women wear undergarments, a skirt, blouse, and shawl, which cover them from their heads to their knees; they also carry a basket(Anal:Bowl). Both sexes can wear jewellery, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets, as well as special long earrings made from insect wings. Traditionally clothing is made by the women.
AnÃÂl are traditionally monogamous, although cases of polygyny have been reported. In order to marry, an AnÃÂl man must pay a bride price (); after marriage, the wife moves into the husband's home. Divorce () is permitted among the AnÃÂl, although a fine may be incurred.
The AnÃÂl are traditionally polytheistic, believing in a supreme creator named Asapavan, as well as a secondary deity named Wangparel, and numerous other spirits. The largest AnÃÂl rite is called Akam, which is divided into six stages (Judong, Bhuthawsing, Hni, Sapia, Akapidam, and Dathu) and takes six years to complete. During Akam, the AnÃÂl sacrifice mithun and pigs and offer a feast to the community. Some AnÃÂl have converted to Christianity.
Traditionally, AnÃÂl 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. They are also farmers, harvesting rice, soybeans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and gourds.
The AnÃÂl 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 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.
The AnÃÂl are omnivores, eating fish, eggs, beef, pork, and other kinds of meat, as well as fruits and vegetables. Although traditionally they do not drink milk, some families now consume it with tea. A form of rice beer, known as zupar or zuhrin, is also drunk.