The Rongmei Nagas or Ruangmei - also known as Kabui, are an indigenous Naga tribe living in the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. They were divided when the official boundaries were set by the Government of India. Most Rongmei live in the Tamenglong district of Manipur. Some reside in Imphal valley. The Rongmei tribe is one of the major tribes of Manipur. They are patrilineal and patriarchal. The Rongmei dance “Gaan-Ngai“ is the most popular festival dances which is celebrated annually in December or January.
People in Silchar come across Gaan-Ngai gate near Old Lakhipur-Berenga-Fatak Bazar Road-Pan Patty junction during winters.
Linguistically and phonetically it is Ruangmei (according to the way they call themselves). Rongmei tribe also have their individual endogamous groups.
The four major clans are the Kamei, Gangmei, Gonmei and Pamei followed by other sub-clan like Malangmei, Phaomei, Maringmei, Riamei, Daimei, Panmei, Dangmei,Thaimei, Ruanghmei (pronounce slightly different from the official tribe name Rongmei). Kamei and Pamei are major clan.
Ruangmei is a combination of two words RUANG and MEI meaning SOUTH and PEOPLE respectively.
Thus Ruangmei stands for the southerners, the ancestral home of the Ruangmei lies in the mountain ranges in the Tamenglong district of Manipur and adjacent mountainous areas of Nagaland and Assam. The Ruangmei settlement area within the territory of Manipur happens to be the southern portion of the vast tract of Naga country and hence those who settling in the southern part of their habitat within Manipur call themselves the Ruangmei - (Rongmei) the southerners.
The word KABUI has been widely used within and outside Manipur and the name Ruangmei is less known to the other communities.
The Ruangmei territory was conquered by the British in the nineteenth century. Under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang and his successor Rani Gaidinliu, they rebelled against the British rule in the 1930s.
Rani Gaidinliu was jailed by the Britishers but was released when India attained independence. Rani Gaidinliu was a spiritual leader and freedom fighter who was very close to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. India is proud of her daughter – and the Ruangmei community!
Barak Gana Parishad SALUTES Rani Gaidinliu AND the Rongmei's.
BARAK GANA PARISHAD for SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE
:::::::::::::ANSWER YOUR HEARTS CALL:::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::Join BARAK GANA PARISHAD::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::JAI HIND:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Picture : Rani Gaidinliu (Left) in 1970
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