Monsang Naga

The name Monsang is derived from the name of the village called Mosang by the Meiteis and others whereas they themselves called sirti or southerners. They live mostly in the Chandel district in five villages namely Liwachaning, Heibunglok, Liwa Sarei, Japhou, and Monsang Pantha. They speak a similar language with the Anals. They use Meiteilon while conversing with Tangkhul, Maring, Thadou and other communities. The Monsangs come in regular contact with other communities through economic activities maninly at Pallel, Kakching, and Chandel and Imphal. Monsang parents attach great importance to education. Their population was about 1,139 in 1981 census. In 1920, they joined Christianity.

Clans

Generally in Monsang Tribe there are two clans namely (A) Simputi and (B) Rinheti. Each clan is again divided into several sub-clans.

(A) SIMPUTI CLAN:- 1. Ngoruh 2, Kiirii 3.Thumhlii, 4.Ngoru-Hranglum, 5. Chahlii, 6. Eenhla Buwangjiir and 7. Serbum. (B) RINHETI CLAN:- 1. Rohin, 2. Wanglar 3. Thesong, 4. Hongam 5. Shongir 6. Khartu, 7. Khartu Bungpi.

Inter-marriage

Marriage between the Sub-Clans of Rinheti and Simpuwti can marry within its sub-clans i.g. marriage between Ngoruh and Kiirii, Kiirii and Thumhlii so on. The sub-clans of Rinheti may also marry within sub-clans of ig. Wanglar and Thesong, Hongam and shongsir,so on. But in the Simpuwti clan marriage within the sub-clan of Ngoruh and Ngoruh-Hranglum and in Rinheti clan marriage within Rohin and Wanglar, Hongam and Thesong and Khartu and Khartu Bongpi are prohibited. They are treated as close blood relation known as Ijuwr. If these happen to be any marriage between the above said clans then village authority will impose fine as per the Monsang customary law.

Chiefs

Chiefs are not hereditary, they are elected by the people. The tenure of Chiefship is not fixed period. He holds the post as long as he enjoys confidence of his villagers. The Chiefs can be removed when his villagers do not have confidence on him or when he is too old.

Villages officials

(Duties and Functions of Village Authority)

1. Chief (Eruwng) - Over all administrator.
2. Senapati - Next to Chief. Assisting the Chief.
3. Khulak - Assisting the Senapati
4. Lulak - -do-
5. Mantri - -do-
6. Pakhanglak - Guiding the male (unmarried ones)
7. Ningolak - Guiding the female (unmarried ones)
8. Chingsanglak - To give information about the surrounding village.
9. Meitei Lambu - To enquire & verify outsiders who visit village.
10. Langching - To lead villagers in any social work or other community work in the village.
11. Wangkhera -
12. Nahara -
13. Selung -
14. Yupaar - Usher of Ekam ritual (Ekam offered by well of people. Offered meat, food, drink etc with ritual songs and dances.
15. Kerung - Ushers of any ceremony.

Land holdings

Each and every individual, sub-clans, family owned land which comes down from their forefathers or grant parents known as Lhenhiing. The land is not easily transferable from one clan to another or family. It can be given or transferred to others is two conditions (1) If the particular land owner does not have male issue, it can be given to his daughter. Transferred to his son-in-law on his daughter’s marriage.

1. If the land owner is too old and his family members are not interested in jhum cultivation then the land can be given to his nearest relatives or can be sold to other sub-clans. Land sole to outsiders is not encouraged as it is immovable property. The above said land rules are followed only in the time of Jhum cultivation but when there is no cultivation is taken place then whole land is treated as common land.

2. A land own by individual i.g. wet paddy field (survey/patta land) is treated as individual land own property.