Churachandpur
Encyclopedia
Churachandpur is the largest district in the India
n state of Manipur
.
The town's population is made up of a number of communities including the Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Paite, Lusei, Simte, Milhiem, Gangte, Zou and immigrants Tedim Chin mainly from Myanmar (now Burma). These communities mainly belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi groups of the Tibeto-Burman family. A significant number of Meitei and other plain communities also live in the town but the population is mainly dominated by the Paites and the Thadous. Though each and every tribe can understand the different dilects, Paite of the Kuki group is the most popular language in the district.
on the hills surrounding the Churachandpur valley. They simply avoided the malaria-prone Churachandpur valley till the introduction of wet rice cultivation sometime during the inter-War period. The neighboring Mizo (Lushai) tribes - probably from Champhai valley - were credited with the introduction of wet rice cultivation in the area. A Thadou legend has it that rice grain was first discovered in the nest of a squirrel beside the Chindwin river (Shaw 1929: 29). Though paddy cultivation took off only in the 1930s, knowledge of this grain was as old as legend among the Chin-Kuki-Zomi communities.
Here the shift from jhum hoe to paddy plough in the 1930s was nothing less than an agricultural revolution
. For the first time, the availability of surplus food led to the birth of specialised services which sustain a tribal township in Southern Manipur. With this division of labour
emerges a new tribal middle class
-- merchant
s, shop-keepers, pharmacist
s, clerks, contractor
s, civil servants, clergy
, teacher
s and bankers -- who populate the provincial town of Churachandpur. Since then this little hamlet called Churachandpur expanded towards the west bank of the Tuitha (Khuga) river. Note that "Tuitha" literally means "good river" in Lushai dialect. Henceforth, the river valley
ceases to be the haunt of killer malaria, dreaded as a "malignant spirit" in the past. In recent years, urban sprawl put pressure on land, resulting in price hike. It led to the loss of agriculture land to housing sites in order to accommodate new urban settlers. This process will increase CCpur's dependence for food grain
on outside supply. Given Manipur's fondness for bandhs and blockades, the prospect of increasing dependence on external food supply seems none too exciting.
In 1921, a lambu (colonial interpreter) renamed Songpi village as Churachandpur in honour of a Meitei prince from the Imphal valley. Mahajara Churachand visited Songpi village during a feast thrown for returning war veterans who had served in the Labour Corps
in France during World War I. Later, Christian missionaries (NEIG Mission) set up their headquarters at Songpi village in 1930 (Nengzachin 1974:11). Thus, Songpi became Mission Compound or Old Churachand. The new name of Songpi village later extended to include the commercial town of Lamka, which sprung up around two market centres, Old Bazaar and New Bazaar. Whereas Lamka began as a bazaar
at the confluence of roads, the western Songpi village was a Christian Mission Compound. The converging interests of tribal traders and entrepreneurs at Lamka, along with Christian missionaries (at Songpi), gave birth to the present vibrant Lamka town.
s, Songpi mission and Tuibuong offices. Churachandpur town, therefore, consists of at least four distinct layers of settlement histories. Though Lamka loses much of its skilled population to other big cities, the town population keeps growing due to a continuous stream of rural migrants from interior villages. Like most Indian towns, the urban infrastructure of Lamka suffers from lack of investment
, lack of urban planning
, and poor management
. As the town expands without upgrading its infrastructure, the ugly side of urban growth like solid waste, traffic congestion and air pollution
are now at the doorstep of CCpur town.
project kick-started a new economic process fueled by construction
and related activities. This project, it appears, is partly responsible for the recent increase for demand and consumption of cement
and steel
(partly an index of economic health) within Lamka town for private housing construction. The Khuga dam
has already created a beautiful artificial lake at the southern tip of Lamka town near Mata village. This multi-purpose project irrigates 150 square kilometres of land within 20 km of the dam site and will also supply 5 million imperial gallons (23,000 m³) of drinking water and 1.75 MW of electricity for the town. The dam project began in 1983 with an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crores. It was set to be completed within four years; however, the project came to a standstill due to alleged financial irregularities. The ethnic conflict of 1997-98 also hampered further progress. When the project was resumed in 2002, the estimated cost had risen to over Rs. 280 crores. Till date, this multi-purpose project remains the biggest investment made by the Govt. of India within Churachandpur district. The structure of the earthen dam has been completed, but some components of this multipurpose project remain incomplete. June 2007 is the revised dateline for the completion of the project. The project received negative media attention and a lot of resentment due to inefficient handling of land acquisition and compensatory payments to the displaced people around the dam site. The project's undue delay also complicates the problem of compensation.
Though Churachandpur is the second biggest town of Manipur, it has no urban status according to the latest official records. On 11 July 2006, A.K. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of Autonomous District Council, CC Pur, declared some parts of the town as "census town". The list of localities included in the town census are Tuibuong
, Bijang, Sielmat, Zenhang Lamka, Rengkai, Luooa Veng, Nehru Marg, New Lamka
, Salem Veng, Hill town, Upper Lamka, Chapel Lane, Headquarter Veng, Chiengkonpang, D Phailian, Bungmual, Pearsonmun, Thingkangphai, Ngathal, Kawnpui, Mualkot, Gangpimual, Mission Veng, Lhangmem, Gangte Veng, Zenlang Veng, Pangzawl, and Lanva (28 in total). In the absence of any clear criteria for inclusion or exclusion, the whole exercise was arbitrary. There are certain localities at the very heart of the town which are excluded form the census town - such as Zomi Colony
, Hmar Veng, Simveng, Hiangzou
, and Zoveng
.
named Churachandpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts
(out of a total of 640
). It is one of the three districts in Manipur currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Churachandpur town is well-served by telephone companies like Airtel and Aircel in addition to BSNL, which formerly monopolized the telecom service.
has a population
of 271,274 , roughly equal to the nation of Barbados
. This gives it a ranking of 575th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 59 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.03 %. Churachandpur has a sex ratio
of 969 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 84.29 %.
The district is inhabited by several tribes, mainly belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group, such as Thadou, Hmar
, Paite
, Vaiphei
and Zou
tribes. Apart from these, there are the Gangte
, Simte
, Mizo, Tedim
Chin
, Milhiem
/Miria and some Manipuri Meiteis. There are also other non-Manipuri ethnic groups like Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis. While the Nepalese excel in the milk industry, the Malwaris are well known for their business acumen. Despite the commercial origin of Churachandpur town, the indigenous people have few entrepreneurs and traditionally worked in the government sector. In fact, the town has been over-represented in civil services at the national level.
, a Sino-Tibetan tongue with less than 3000 speakers, written in the Latin script.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
.
Origin of Churachandpur on the bank of Khuga (Tuitha)
Located southwest of Manipur, Churachandpur District covers an area of 4570 km² and is the largest district within the state of Manipur. The terrain of the district is mainly hilly, with narrow valleys that support wet rice cultivation. Churachandpur town is the district headquarters. Churachandpur (given from the name of Manipur Raja Churachand Singh) is the second-largest town of Manipur, after the state capital, Imphal. Churachandpur is called the "second town" of Manipur and remains the fastest growing town in the state. The inhabitants of Churachandpur town are sometimes called "CCpurians" (since CCpur connotes the entire district population).The town's population is made up of a number of communities including the Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Paite, Lusei, Simte, Milhiem, Gangte, Zou and immigrants Tedim Chin mainly from Myanmar (now Burma). These communities mainly belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi groups of the Tibeto-Burman family. A significant number of Meitei and other plain communities also live in the town but the population is mainly dominated by the Paites and the Thadous. Though each and every tribe can understand the different dilects, Paite of the Kuki group is the most popular language in the district.
Reclaiming the marshlands of Lamka
Before WW II, the Churachandpur valley (or Thutha valley) was a tiny, mosquito-infested village on the west bank of the Tuitha (Khuga) river. The indigenous tribes traditionally survived on jhum or shifting cultivationShifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
on the hills surrounding the Churachandpur valley. They simply avoided the malaria-prone Churachandpur valley till the introduction of wet rice cultivation sometime during the inter-War period. The neighboring Mizo (Lushai) tribes - probably from Champhai valley - were credited with the introduction of wet rice cultivation in the area. A Thadou legend has it that rice grain was first discovered in the nest of a squirrel beside the Chindwin river (Shaw 1929: 29). Though paddy cultivation took off only in the 1930s, knowledge of this grain was as old as legend among the Chin-Kuki-Zomi communities.
Here the shift from jhum hoe to paddy plough in the 1930s was nothing less than an agricultural revolution
Agricultural revolution
Agricultural Revolution or Agrarian Revolution may refer to:*The Neolithic Revolution , the initial transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture in prehistory...
. For the first time, the availability of surplus food led to the birth of specialised services which sustain a tribal township in Southern Manipur. With this division of labour
Division of labour
Division of labour is the specialisation of cooperative labour in specific, circumscribed tasks and likeroles. Historically an increasingly complex division of labour is closely associated with the growth of total output and trade, the rise of capitalism, and of the complexity of industrialisation...
emerges a new tribal middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
-- merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s, shop-keepers, pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
s, clerks, contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
s, civil servants, clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s and bankers -- who populate the provincial town of Churachandpur. Since then this little hamlet called Churachandpur expanded towards the west bank of the Tuitha (Khuga) river. Note that "Tuitha" literally means "good river" in Lushai dialect. Henceforth, the river valley
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
ceases to be the haunt of killer malaria, dreaded as a "malignant spirit" in the past. In recent years, urban sprawl put pressure on land, resulting in price hike. It led to the loss of agriculture land to housing sites in order to accommodate new urban settlers. This process will increase CCpur's dependence for food grain
Food grain
thumb|150px|Barleythumb|150px|LentilGrains are small, hard, dry seeds harvested for human food or animal feed Agronomists also call the plants producing such seeds grains or grain crops....
on outside supply. Given Manipur's fondness for bandhs and blockades, the prospect of increasing dependence on external food supply seems none too exciting.
Westward Expansion: Songpi (Old Churachand)
The post-War period witnessed the rapid growth of Lamka village until it engulfed the old village of Songpi (also known as Old Churachand or Mission Compound) further west. The western village of Songpi was originally a separate village, 15 km west of Lamka village. The western frontier of Songpi (Old Churachand) and the eastern frontier of Lamka had different origins until they recently merged. For a long time, Songpi village was regarded as more important than Lamka village. When the Manipur hill areas were reorganized in 1919, Songpi was made one of the four sub-divisional headquarters. The following year, B.C. Gesper was posted at Songpi as the first SDO of the new administrative area. (See Chinkhopau 1995; Neihsial 1996).In 1921, a lambu (colonial interpreter) renamed Songpi village as Churachandpur in honour of a Meitei prince from the Imphal valley. Mahajara Churachand visited Songpi village during a feast thrown for returning war veterans who had served in the Labour Corps
Labour corps
Labour Corps may be:*A forerunner of the British Royal Pioneer Corps*Solomon Islands Labour Corps, a Second World War organisation in the British Solomon Islands*Chinese Labour Corps, a British corps in the First World War...
in France during World War I. Later, Christian missionaries (NEIG Mission) set up their headquarters at Songpi village in 1930 (Nengzachin 1974:11). Thus, Songpi became Mission Compound or Old Churachand. The new name of Songpi village later extended to include the commercial town of Lamka, which sprung up around two market centres, Old Bazaar and New Bazaar. Whereas Lamka began as a bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
at the confluence of roads, the western Songpi village was a Christian Mission Compound. The converging interests of tribal traders and entrepreneurs at Lamka, along with Christian missionaries (at Songpi), gave birth to the present vibrant Lamka town.
The Northern and the Southern Frontiers
By the 1970s, the commercial frontier of Lamka in the east and the missionary frontier of Songpi in the west had practically merged together. The next possible direction for urban expansion was in the north and the south. Tuibuang in the north sprang up as the administrative frontier that houses most of the district headquarters. Meanwhile, New Lamka became the southern frontier of new urban settlers. In fact, New Lamka is a miniature CCpur town that combines different historic personalities associated with Lamka bazaarBazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
s, Songpi mission and Tuibuong offices. Churachandpur town, therefore, consists of at least four distinct layers of settlement histories. Though Lamka loses much of its skilled population to other big cities, the town population keeps growing due to a continuous stream of rural migrants from interior villages. Like most Indian towns, the urban infrastructure of Lamka suffers from lack of investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
, lack of urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
, and poor management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. As the town expands without upgrading its infrastructure, the ugly side of urban growth like solid waste, traffic congestion and air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
are now at the doorstep of CCpur town.
Khuga Dam: Artificial fresh water lake
The resumption of the Khuga damKhuga dam
Khuga Dam is a multi-purpose project located to the south of Churachandpur town , India. The project, which will supply electricity and water, was started in 1983 and resumed in 2002 after being at a standstill for a period of time...
project kick-started a new economic process fueled by construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
and related activities. This project, it appears, is partly responsible for the recent increase for demand and consumption of cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
(partly an index of economic health) within Lamka town for private housing construction. The Khuga dam
Khuga dam
Khuga Dam is a multi-purpose project located to the south of Churachandpur town , India. The project, which will supply electricity and water, was started in 1983 and resumed in 2002 after being at a standstill for a period of time...
has already created a beautiful artificial lake at the southern tip of Lamka town near Mata village. This multi-purpose project irrigates 150 square kilometres of land within 20 km of the dam site and will also supply 5 million imperial gallons (23,000 m³) of drinking water and 1.75 MW of electricity for the town. The dam project began in 1983 with an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crores. It was set to be completed within four years; however, the project came to a standstill due to alleged financial irregularities. The ethnic conflict of 1997-98 also hampered further progress. When the project was resumed in 2002, the estimated cost had risen to over Rs. 280 crores. Till date, this multi-purpose project remains the biggest investment made by the Govt. of India within Churachandpur district. The structure of the earthen dam has been completed, but some components of this multipurpose project remain incomplete. June 2007 is the revised dateline for the completion of the project. The project received negative media attention and a lot of resentment due to inefficient handling of land acquisition and compensatory payments to the displaced people around the dam site. The project's undue delay also complicates the problem of compensation.
Though Churachandpur is the second biggest town of Manipur, it has no urban status according to the latest official records. On 11 July 2006, A.K. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of Autonomous District Council, CC Pur, declared some parts of the town as "census town". The list of localities included in the town census are Tuibuong
Tuibuong
Tuibuang is the northern sector of Lamka or Churachandpur town of the India state of Manipur. It has a high concentration of the ethnic Thado-Kuki community. Tuibuang is one of the largest town wards in Lamka, and it houses some of the most important Government offices of Churachandpur district,...
, Bijang, Sielmat, Zenhang Lamka, Rengkai, Luooa Veng, Nehru Marg, New Lamka
New Lamka
New Lamka is a residential colony of Lamka town in Churachandpur district, Manipur, India. It is located on the southern fringe of Lamka Town about a kilometer south of the civic centre.-History:...
, Salem Veng, Hill town, Upper Lamka, Chapel Lane, Headquarter Veng, Chiengkonpang, D Phailian, Bungmual, Pearsonmun, Thingkangphai, Ngathal, Kawnpui, Mualkot, Gangpimual, Mission Veng, Lhangmem, Gangte Veng, Zenlang Veng, Pangzawl, and Lanva (28 in total). In the absence of any clear criteria for inclusion or exclusion, the whole exercise was arbitrary. There are certain localities at the very heart of the town which are excluded form the census town - such as Zomi Colony
Zomi Colony
Founded by Pu M. Chinkham, Zomi Colony is a town ward within Churachandpur district or Lamka town in the Indian state of Manipur. It has a very high concentration of ethnic Zou community. Both the headquarters of the Zou Synod Presbyterian Church and the Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church are...
, Hmar Veng, Simveng, Hiangzou
Hiangzou
Hiangzou is a ward within Churachandpur town of Manipur, India. Situated on the bank of the Khuga river, this residential settlement developed from paddy fields. Its first settler, Upa P. Tuahchinhau, moved to Hiangzou on 31 January 1999...
, and Zoveng
Zoveng
Zoveng is one of the oldest town ward within Lamka or Churachandpur district of Indian state of Manipur. This residential area is mostly located along S. Chinzagin Road that branches off from Tedim road. The ward has a high concentration of ethnic Zou and Meitei communities.The Zogal Memorial Hall...
.
Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati RajMinistry of Panchayati Raj
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India looking after the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance in the States....
named Churachandpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts
Poverty in India
Poverty is widespread in India, with the nation estimated to have a third of the world's poor. According to a 2005 World Bank estimate, 41.6% of the total Indian population falls below the international poverty line of 1.25 a day...
(out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). It is one of the three districts in Manipur currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Churachandpur town is well-served by telephone companies like Airtel and Aircel in addition to BSNL, which formerly monopolized the telecom service.
Transport
Churachandpur town is connected to the state capital Imphal city by Tidim road (also known as National Highway 150). The town is just over a 1 hour drive from Imphal airport (about 65 km).Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 271,274 , roughly equal to the nation of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. This gives it a ranking of 575th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 59 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.03 %. Churachandpur has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 969 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 84.29 %.
The district is inhabited by several tribes, mainly belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group, such as Thadou, Hmar
Hmar
Hmar is the name of one of the numerous mizo/kuki/chin tribes of India, spread over a large area in the northeast. The Hmars belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes, and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India. Literally, Hmar means North or...
, Paite
Paite
The Paites are one of the constituting tribes of the Zomi who inhabit Burma, India and Bangladesh. The word paite means " a group of people marching " or 'Walkers' in a word,. The Paites are a recognised scheduled tribe in Manipur as well as in Mizoram. The Paites concentrated in Manipur, a...
, Vaiphei
Vaiphei
The Vaiphei are an ethnic group who inhabit the North-East part of India, Bangladesh and Burma. They are one of the old Kuki clans of Manipur and recognized as part of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribe by the state government of Manipur. The group is originally from the Tan valley located in the province of...
and Zou
Zou people (India)
The Zou people is an indigenous community living along the frontier of India and Burma. In India, they live with and are similar in language and habits to the Paite and the Simte peoples, all of which are called Zomi. In Burma, Zou are counted among the Chin people...
tribes. Apart from these, there are the Gangte
Gangte
Gangte is an ethnic minority community from northeast India with a population of 15,100 , primarily in Manipur's southern district and neighbouring States of Meghalaya, and Assam. Though nationally "Indian," this tribe displays East Asian-type features. They are considered part of the...
, Simte
Simte
The Simte are one of the ethnic groups in India. They are mainly concentrated in the southern parts of the state of Manipur. A significant number also are settled in neighbouring areas of Mizoram and Assam...
, Mizo, Tedim
Tedim
Tedim is a town in Chin State in the northwestern part of Myanmar. The name "Tedim" was derived from a pool on the top of the hills that used to be twinkling under sun's light, therefore, called "te " and "dim " in local Paite dialect.-Early history:As a result of lack of a formal writing system...
Chin
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
, Milhiem
Milhiem
The Milhiems are an ethnic group living in parts of Northeast India and Myanmar. Some writers refer to them as Milhem, Meriem, Mirem, Marrem or Miriam. They belong to the "Old Kuki tribes" of Manipur. The Milhiems believe that they descend from a common ancestor who came from a cave which they call...
/Miria and some Manipuri Meiteis. There are also other non-Manipuri ethnic groups like Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis. While the Nepalese excel in the milk industry, the Malwaris are well known for their business acumen. Despite the commercial origin of Churachandpur town, the indigenous people have few entrepreneurs and traditionally worked in the government sector. In fact, the town has been over-represented in civil services at the national level.
| Area: | 4570 km² | Rank 1/9 |
| Literacy Rate (2001) | 84.29% | Rank 2/9 |
| Literacy by Gender Gender Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity... |
Male 88.34% | Female 80.13% |
| Population (2011 Census) | 271,274 | Rank 5/9 |
| Population % to state population | 9.97% | (2011 Census) |
| Sex ratio Human sex ratio In anthropology and demography, the human sex ratio is the sex ratio for Homo sapiens . Like most sexual species, the sex ratio is approximately 1:1. In humans the secondary sex ratio is commonly assumed to be 105 boys to 100 girls, an assumption that is a subject of debate in the scientific... |
969 (2011 Census) | 993 (2001 Census), 1004 (1961 Census) |
| Temperature | 41oC Maximum | 0oC Minimum |
| Humidity | 89% Maximum | 20% Minimum |
| Longitude | 93.15oE | 94.0oE |
| Latitude | 24.0oN | 24.3oN |
| Altitude | 914.4 metres | (District Hqrs.) |
| Population Density Population density Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans... |
50 (2001 Census) | Rank 6/9 |
| Telephone Code | + 3874 | |
| Postal Code Postal code A postal code is a series of letters and/or digits appended to a postal address for the purpose of sorting mail. Once postal codes were introduced, other applications became possible.In February 2005, 117 of the 190 member countries of the Universal Postal Union had postal code systems... |
Churachandpur 795128 | Chiengkonpang 795158 |
| Digital Map of Churachandpur | http://www.mapmyindia.com/?cx=416826&cy=5710960&cz=8 | MapmyIndia |
Languages
Languages spoken include AimolAimol
The people of Aimol are settled in different regions in different districts of Manipur and some in Assam and Nagaland. Some people live in Senapati district and some are in Churachandpur district. Most of them are found in Chandel in the South-eastern part of Manipur...
, a Sino-Tibetan tongue with less than 3000 speakers, written in the Latin script.
Places of tourist interest
- Khuga damKhuga damKhuga Dam is a multi-purpose project located to the south of Churachandpur town , India. The project, which will supply electricity and water, was started in 1983 and resumed in 2002 after being at a standstill for a period of time...
near Mata village: It is one of the most beautiful artificial lakes of North-East IndiaNorth-East IndiaNortheast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
, comparable to Barapani (Umium) lake at ShillongShillong-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
. The dam site is just 7 km south of Churachandpur town; it has become a favourite picnic spot for local residents. - Indigenous arts & handicrafts: Bamboo or wooden art objects are available at several shops, including New Bazaar and Old Bazaar. A wide variety of tribal shawls is also available.
- Tribal museums: There are two small tribal museums at Tuibuong and Thangzam Road (Hill-Town).
- Ngaloi FallsNgaloiNgaloi is a village in Churachandpur district, in the Indian state of Manipur. It was founded in the year 1950 by Jangkhohen Haokip.The village is about 9km from Churachandpur town. The village has green, low-lying mountains. Ngaloimoul village is mainly famous for its waterfall, Ngaloi Falls. The...
at Ngaloimoul village, Tuibuong TD Block the latest sensation of the district. Enchanting Water falls with green scenery is emerging as the most important tourist spot in the district.
External links
- Official website of Churachandpur District http://ccpur.nic.in,/
- Google map of Churachandpur http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Churachandpur,+Manipur+India&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=0,24.347101,93.707886&ll=24.325825,93.612442&spn=0.259033,0.453186&t=h&z=11&om=1
- Bungmual.com http://www.bungmual.com
- Website related to Zomi, Lamka, news, articles and discussion forums http://www.zogam.com,
- The Zomi Social Network http://www.zogamonline.com
- Zogam on-line news, including Hornbill Cable Video News (in Paite dialect) http://www.zogam.net,
- Infobase of the indigenous Hmar people http://www.hmar.net
- On-line news (in English and Hmar dialect) The hmar Web Portal
- Tourist information http://www.bharatheritage.in/manipur/churachandpur.htm
- News of Northeast India Sinlung News
- Website related to Kuki people http://www.kukiforum.com/
- The Paite tribe http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7798938964281962092&q=paite