Patsho/Pou (Morung)

Introduction

Beside the inheritance of rich culture and custom, the Morung(dormitory), a grand building was primarily the cornerstone of the village life. It was practically the educational institution of the young children and adult members of the village.

Significance

It was a home of the menfolk, where the elders propagated the spirit of patriotism, social etiquette and decorum, self-reliance, humility, unity and so on. It was a center of social, religious and political activities. Similarly, it was also a guard-house against the enemies.

Rituals associated with Morung

Seemingly, several rituals were consistently performed inside and outside the Murong in the ancient days. Such rituals have become obsolete in the present day. The conception that performing such rites fulfills the needs of individual and social commitments in daily life.

Conventional Methods and Superstitions

In the village, meetings were held in the Morung and the discussion and records of these gatherings were kept secret from the womenfolk. This paves the way to keep the secrets limited to a group of higher authority in the community. Thus, making sure that the security was highly maintained against enemy access. The night before a group of headhunters moved out to raid villages, they would sleep in the Morung for that particular night. In this time frame, men were supposed to avoid eating meals cooked by women in beliefs that their enemies would slay them in the battlefield. Moreover, these warriors in the post-war would again sleep over the night in the Morung as a way of redefining oneself and ready to settle a normal life.

Bamboo raised platforms

In those days women were neither allowed to enter the Morung nor on the raised bamboo platforms as people believed that it caused the death of menfolk in large numbers.

Log Drum/Slit Drum

Log drums of the Khiamniungans are huge enough to produce a loud tremendous sound which can easily be heard by the entire village. The size of these drums is enough for several people to sit inside in a row. These were carved far away from the village. It requires hard work, skills and months to complete the ordeal. But once it is completed, the elders in the village would command the entire menfolk to drag them to a village together. Once it is brought, this drum is finally kept inside the Morung against the side of the wall. In the traditional village society, these drums were beaten to signal the dangers and rare happenings and especially to warn the presence of enemies and also to keep all those who are in the line of duty more vigilant. Person(s) skilled in beating the drum were more favorable for it produces rhythmic and dulcet sounds which really resonate with the listeners. Either a single person or in a group can beat the drum in a manner that is synchronized or metachronous but should produce musical and exhilarating sound. Though the Log drum is still prevalent in the village, the significance of its use is vanishing and disappearing. The physical structure may dissipate but the image and features is worth eternal

Conclusion

Perhaps Morung(Pou) was an inevitable part of the tribal society, its significance lives only in the minds of the people as a great reward of their forefathers. There are no more gatherings inside the Morung, no more education being imparted, no more securities against enemies but living in peace and tranquility of an excitingly shared-culture and highly globalized world. All these have merely become a part of the memories that can be reflected through thoughts, images and can only keep the practice living through imitation and transmission forever more.