Discussion with Daiko Mao

(Shri R.K. Daiko Mao is the principal of the Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy in Imphal.)

(After seeing “Man Tiger Spirit” – the animation film from Nagaland, a story shared by the Mao community):

“I remember a story.  It took place after Jilli Mosiro’s time, when the world had become populated and there were plenty of villages.  In one village there was a very athletic youth.  You know, like a hero, he was brave, strong and tall; he was also good at dancing and playing music.  There was a girl from another village - of course she was the most beautiful, tall and strong.  But their parents did not agree to their marriage so they made a suicide pact to jump into a pond together and drown.  They stood at the end side by side and they tied their long hair together – even men had long hair in those days.  At the last minute the boy changed his mind and he cut the hair with his dao, so it was only the girl who jumped in and drowned.  After the boy had walked a furlong, he noticed two birds. He saw how devoted they were to each other, and he felt ashamed at what he had done.  He returned to the spot and he jumped in too.  
Two large bamboos grew out of that pond.  The one that remembered the girl grew to the east, while the one that was the boy grew to the west because cheated.  It is said that if you cheat, you will experience such a bad omen".

"The person who would really be able to tell you stories though, is Mr. N Saleo. He is about 92 years old and he lives in Mao.  In Manipur there are five tribal districts, with six major tribes and 27 smaller ones.  The major tribes are Mao, Thangkul, Kabui, Paite, Thadou and Hmar.  The languages are so different that we have to communicate with others through English, Hindi or Manipuri.  There are about 25 or 26 Mao villages in Manipur.  We still have wood carvings of mithun’s heads and on the cross pieces at the front of houses but since Christianity came we do not use morungs.   It was Pettigrew who converted the Maos. He first came to us more than a hundred years ago, on the Highway.  The practice of sending students out for studies has also affected our culture.  They may try to document our culture, but it is all theory, not practical.  

In the olden days there were no rituals or idols.  We just referred to the Supreme Being as the “Almighty”.  We had a special type of grass called Sepricolo and we offered it when we were afraid.   See, we worshipped the forces of nature and that grass was believed to keep evil forces away.  It was very fragrant – our forefathers would rub it and eat it because it also had medicinal properties.  The youth don’t have much idea of the details of our folktales. I do think that Mao children would enjoy animation films.  Here we have some cultural preservation by women’s groups and youth clubs that promote songs and dances and also try to publish things.  Here at this Dance Academy we teach tribal and Manipuri dance – traditional and folk".