Mao Naga tribe

Who are the Mao Naga tribe? 

The Mao Naga is one of the predominant tribes constituting the Nagas; inhabiting the Northern phase of Manipur, India. They are a diagnosed ‘Scheduled Tribe’ underneath the Constitution Scheduled Tribes order of 1950.

The people of Mao are recognized as Ememei or Memei in their personal language. They have stunning attires for each man and women folks.

They undergo a vital place in the history of migration and dispersion of the Nagas. Makhel being the first settlement area of the Nagas and the Chütebu- Kajü, the area of dispersal of the Nagas are placed in the Mao territory, the Mao Naga can be considered as the pioneer settler among the Nagas.

Till today, the Mao continue to play an important role in the politics of the Naga for their strategic place and as an everlasting member of the Tenyimi Peoples.

The Mao Naga tribe occupy the northernmost part of the state unfold across Senapati district, bounded by using comparable Nagas like Angami and Chakhesang in the north, Maram and Zeme in the west and south, and Tangkhul and Poumai in the east.

The major vicinity of their habitation falls underneath Mao-Maram Sub-Division. According to 2011 census, the complete populace of Mao Naga beneath Mao-Maram Sub-Division is 1,16,374.

There are fifty-eight Mao Naga villages, out of which 38 villages are income village and the closing 20 are the federal unit. The Maos are also observed in large numbers in the areas of Senapati, Dimapur and in capital cities Imphal and Kohima of Manipur and Nagaland state.

They have shaped unions to unite and coordinate among themselves in different areas, the places they have settled permanently as Mao Senapati Union, Mao Imphal Union, Mao Kohima Union, Mao Hoho Dimapur and Mao Union Jalukie in the respective town.

Mao Naga Language

The Mao community communicates ‘Mao’ or ‘Emela’ language which belongs to Angami-Pochuri crew of Tibeto-Burman language household (Burling, 2003).

Mao language is a formally known language which is taught as a problem up to ten standards in the state. In 2016, the Mao language is recognized to be taught up to classification 12 tiers with the aid of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur.

On August 12, 2016, Mao language is chosen as a language problem for Language Certificate Programme in North Eastern Language at Namaste, Centre for Studies on North Eastern States, Nitte University, Derlakatte, Mangalore.

The usual habitation area of the Mao Naga tribe is also recognized as ‘Mao’. Mao is located at an altitude of 5762 ft above the sea level. It is about one hundred ten km from the city of Imphal.

It is a strategically important location connecting the two north-eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland.

National highway 2 pass through the heart of the Mao inhabited area. This motorway is the only effective land connection of the landlocked Manipur kingdom with the relaxation of the country.

Why Mao Tribe are well known in the region of Manipur and Nagaland?

The region of Mao is the oldest hill stations of Manipur bordering Nagaland. Majority of the Mao Naga tribe are Christians. Agriculture and animal husbandry is the top occupation. The Mao tribe lives in an exceedingly tiny house that typically have thatched roof, bamboo splits, and mud-plastered walls.

They have a village headman who administers the village day-to-day activities. Mao is well-known for plum fruit production. Varieties of plums are on hand within the month of June.

Not only that it is well-known for organic manufacturing of fruits and vegetables. Mao is an idle area to live in with proper weather condition.