Socio-Cultural History of Shupfomei Naga Tribe: A Historical Study of Ememei, Lepaona, Chuluve and Paomata Generally Known as Mao-Poumai Naga Tribe

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The book, "A Socio-Cultural History of Shüpfomei Naga Tribe" deals with the origin, migration and departure of the different Naga tribes and particularly the four kindred groups namely, Ememei, Lepaona,

Paomata and Chüluve. In the past other Naga tribes knew these four groups as Shüpfomei but today they are officially called the Mao and the Poumai tribes. The term "Shüpfomei" was used in pre World War I era, followed by the decadence and the post-World War II, which witnessed the emergence of a new nomenclature called "Mao Naga Tribe". Initially, in the official record used by the Government of India, the term "Mao- Maram" was used. But slowly such a term "Mao-Maram" is much less used and though older generation did use it when making certain references in the office.

Shüpfomei Naga Tribe-concerning their oral traditions, socio-cultural, socioreligious, socio-politics and socioeconomic life. And further more, their untold and unwritten history of Shüpfomei tribe expressed through dance, music, folktales, folksongs, etc.

FR. WILLIAM NEPUNI is a Visiting Professor at Orien's Theological College, Shillong and at Don Bosco College, Maram teaching Cultural Anthropology and South East Asia in the department of history. He has translated the Mao Holy Bible, published Mao language dictionary and literature on Mao culture and religion. At present he is the Parish Priest and School Principal at St. Joseph, Tadubi (Manipur).

The dawn of a new millennium should usher in a new beginning, bringing races, cultures, peoples, nations, and tribes to a harmonious blending of globalization. Working together, sharing and building a world of unity without dominating either in economic, social, political, religion, or ecological, but as equal partners, giving room for every group to carve out their identity, at this juncture, the world is moving towards ethnic re-grouping and we focus an ethnic group who are yet to taste and experience the basic achievements of modern science and technology. And therefore, A Socio-Cultural History of Shüpfomei Naga Tribe A Historical Study of Ememei, Lepaona, Chüluve and Paomata, generally known as Mao-Poumai Naga Tribe is the outcome of the many questions raised by younger generations regarding their true identity in the sea of human race, colour, people, cultures and outlook. The search for words and lack of materials to respond to the questions becomes a crying need for educated people as well as for the coming generations.

There are many books written on the Nagas by foreigners. Indians and Naga scholars and did mention about as a reference to Mao tribe, but only once or twice I did found the word or term Shüpfomei was mentioned. With many scholars as social thinkers, philosophers, writers and social workers I feel the need to have a written history, a document which will pass on to the coming generations for their reference and study materials With the transitional phase of the modern society and much more the Naga society, such felt need is much stronger because each society and tribe is trying to assert its presence in the political, social, cultural stage Thus, the point of meeting will be when each group with their ethnicity bring their indigenous culture and history and shed their light to the others.

It does not necessary mean that tribes without written records do not have history. They do indeed have history which is stored in the memory of the people. For the study and reconstruction of the history of such people, one has to rely on oral history. Commenting on the special nature of oral traditions as historical sources, Prof. Jan Vansina, a noted French historian writes thus: "Oral traditions are historical sources of a special nature. Their special nature derives from the fact that they are "unwritten" sources couched in a form suitable for oral transmission, and that their preservation depends on the powers of memory of successive generations of human beings"

Dr. Fr. William Nepuni has adopted the methodology set down by Jan Vansina and his present book is mainly based on a critical study of Shüpfomei Naga's Oral Sources-Opfo ope lo. To supplement these sources, Dr. Nepuni has made intensive and extensive study of source materials collected through personal interviews with those who are well-versed in the oral folk literature and also other secondary published books and articles on the subject.

Dr. William Nepuni's book has therefore provided a deep insider's view into the processes of transformation which is taking place in the Shüpfomei Naga society today. Caught between the two waves of traditionalism and modernism, the Shüpfomei Naga and for that matter the Nagas in general, are now exposed to the new social forces in the form of new economic order and philosophical modern values. For a research scholar and even general readers, who are interested in tribal studies, Dr. Nepuni's book is a must-reading book.